Secret Mercedes-AMG prototypes you never knew existed

These secret AMG cars you never knew existed pushed Mercedes performance, Mercedes top speed, and Mercedes engine specs to experimental limits never seen by the public.

A recent video by YouTube channel HorsepowerHuntersYT revealed rare access to German engineering company HWA’s private facility in Germany.

Inside, they found prototypes that showcase a forgotten chapter of AMG’s engineering ambitions.

From compact V12-powered concepts to early hypercar attempts, the footage gives fans a rare look at what could have been.

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HWA’s secret AMG cars are shrouded from history

HWA is well known as the force behind many of AMG’s greatest racing and road cars.

From DTM [Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters] champions to Mercedes performance icons like the SL65 Black Series, their influence is deeply rooted in the Affalterbach-based company’s history.

But as the HorsepowerHuntersYT video shows, their work extended far beyond what ever made it to market.

The secret AMG cars they revealed were designed to push boundaries but were ultimately left behind in the prototype phase.

The SLK concept that wanted to be a CLK GTR

One of the standout prototypes shown in the video is a compact concept that blends SLK proportions with CLK GTR aggression.

It featured a fixed roof with a pronounced scoop and bodywork that hinted at serious Mercedes performance.

Though it never reached production, it was reportedly envisioned with a V12 engine, potentially pushing Mercedes engine specs into new territory.

The design alone makes it one of the most striking what-ifs in AMG’s history.

The SL Black Series that came too early

Before the facelifted SL65 Black Series was introduced, HWA had already designed a more aggressive version of the R230 chassis.

HorsepowerHuntersYT captured footage of the pre-facelift variant, complete with wide arches and deep aerodynamic cuts.

Built with Mercedes performance as the goal, this concept had all the ingredients of a hardcore Black Series model.

Despite its potential, it was never greenlit by AMG and remained just a mockup.

AMG’s first attempt at a mid-engined hypercar

Long before the Mercedes-AMG ONE entered development, HWA was already working on a mid-engined prototype aimed at supercar levels of Mercedes top speed.

Shown briefly in the video, this early design was meant to follow the CLK GTR with even more modern styling and reduced weight.

While few technical details were confirmed, its proportions and layout suggest high-end Mercedes engine specs and pure track capability.

The project was eventually shelved.

The first-gen CLK DTM that never raced

One surprising discovery in the HorsepowerHuntersYT footage is a wind tunnel model of a first-generation CLK DTM car.

Built from carbon fiber and loaded with racing aero, the prototype was allegedly designed for U.S. competition under a C63-style badge.

It represents a version of Mercedes performance aimed at motorsport that never got its chance.

The level of detail, even at half scale, is a clear sign of serious development work.

Where the prototypes are now

These secret AMG cars remain stored at HWA’s facility, scattered among production models and race machines.

One was said to produce 800 horsepower, had turbo inlets in the headlights, and no traction control, a clear step beyond any standard Mercedes engine specs.

Another focused purely on Mercedes top speed, with an aerodynamic profile that was ahead of its time.

They sit like museum pieces, quietly reminding us of the wild potential left unrealized.

These secret AMG cars tell a story of experimentation, risk, and missed opportunity.

As the video from HorsepowerHuntersYT makes clear, Mercedes performance, Mercedes top speed, and Mercedes engine specs were once taken to extreme levels behind closed doors.

Though the world never got to drive them, knowing they existed adds new depth to AMG’s legacy.

See the full video here:

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