Mercedes-AMG EVs will fake engine noise and gearshift to keep V8 lovers on board

Mercedes-AMG EVs are set to incorporate an inventive solution to an industry-wide challenge – recreating the driving experience of an ICE (internal combustion engine) car.

The German brand – and other brands – are facing some lingering resistance as they pivot towards the future.

Hardcore fans simply do not seem to want to buy EVs, because they don’t think they get the same experience as when driving gas-powered cars

So, Mercedes could be about to include fake engine noise and gearshifts to keep V8 fans onboard.

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Mercedes faces a big divide between two camps

Like other brands, Mercedes-AMG faces a significant challenge in the global car market.

The onset of EVs is clear and obvious for everyone to see.

In fact, the popularity of EVs only appears to be growing ever stronger.

However, a very large, hardcore fanbase remains ardently against EVs.

For those people, the V8 roar and gearshift is irreplaceable.

So, Mercedes-AMG finds itself in a conundrum of how best to proceed.

Does the German marque push full steam ahead into the future and focus entirely on EVs?

Or, does it stick to the past and appease its hardcore, petrol-head fanatics?

It turns out that the plan for Mercedes-AMG is to do… both.

Could Mercedes-AMG EVs actually be appealing?

At the launch of the AMG Concept GT XX, a fascinating philosophy emerged.

Speaking to Autocar, Mercedes-Benz tech chief Markus Schafer made some interesting comments.

Schafer suggested that Mercedes-AMG could simulate gearchanges and V8 vibrations in order to make EVs more appealing to hardcore fans.

The tech chief said, “How does the car feel in terms of noise, in terms of sound level, in terms of the vibration, in terms of the gearshift?”

“It has to touch the emotional side of you. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t do the job.”

“This is what AMG cars do, and that’s exactly what we transferred piece by piece into this AMG GT XX.”

Mercedes-AMG has already confirmed that the production version of the AMG GT XX will do exactly this.

It will use headlight-mounted speakers to emit the noise of an authentic AMG V8.

But reports suggest that Mercedes-AMG will go even further than this.

Mercedes-AMG EVs might even follow the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in simulating a combustible drivetrain to boost the engagement of the driver.

Schafer suggested that the flexibility of axial-flux electric motors could play a key part in this.

“The AMG is also an emotional experience from an acoustic standpoint, from noise and vibration harshness, and that’s exactly what you should expect in this car as well.”

Could this approach convince fans to swap into Mercedes-AMG EVs?

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