by Mercedes-AMG’s development program for the updated GT has suffered an expensive setback after one of its facelift prototypes caught fire during road testing in Spain. Dramatic video shared online by Instagram user @kikisnevada_pgarage shows the camouflaged coupe completely engulfed in flames as smoke pours into the air. Fortunately, nobody was injured, but the prototype appears to have been a total loss.
The incident occurred in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains, where automakers frequently conduct hot-weather testing. According to the person who recorded the video, the fire started in the rear of the vehicle before quickly spreading. By the time emergency services arrived, the AMG prototype had already burned to the ground.
Read: Car Salesman Burns Down Lamborghini After Commission Dispute
The original social media post claims the batteries in the car’s hybrid system were responsible for the fire, adding that onboard fire extinguishers were unable to stop the blaze. Importantly, that explanation is unverified, and Mercedes-Benz has not commented publicly on the cause of the incident.
The upcoming AMG GT facelift is expected to retain its V8-powered lineup while continuing to offer electrified variants, including versions using Mercedes-AMG’s E Performance hybrid technology. Whether this particular prototype was one of those hybrid models is also unknown.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kiki_Prelude29 (@kikisnevada_pgarage)
That didn’t stop folks from debating about whether or not lithium-ion battery-equipped cars should go through testing in areas like this one. Thankfully, the surrounding area didn’t catch fire. Regardless of whether or not this was indeed a hybrid AMG, it’s easy to be happy that the damage here remained entirely focused on the car itself rather than on people or the environment.
Again, investigators have not confirmed that a battery was involved here, making it far too early to draw conclusions. For now, the only certainty is that Mercedes has one fewer prototype to continue testing, and engineers will likely be eager to determine exactly what turned months of development work into little more than a scorched shell.
