A Mercedes-AMG prototype believed to be an updated version of the AMG GT has been destroyed after catching fire during testing in southern Spain. The camouflaged development vehicle was undergoing evaluation in the Sierra Nevada mountains when flames engulfed the car, leaving it completely destroyed.
Videos circulating online show the fire appearing to originate from the rear section of the prototype before rapidly spreading throughout the vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the occupants were able to exit the car safely before it was consumed by the blaze.
Mercedes-AMG has not commented on the incident, and the cause of the fire remains unknown. At this stage, there is no official information indicating what triggered the blaze, and any suggestions regarding mechanical or electrical faults remain purely speculative.
Although losing a development vehicle is a setback, prototype testing is an essential part of the engineering process, with manufacturers routinely pushing vehicles to their limits in a wide range of conditions. There is currently no indication that the incident will affect Mercedes-AMG’s ongoing development programme.
As engineers continue testing future models across Europe, this unusual incident serves as a reminder of the demanding conditions prototype vehicles endure long before they reach production.
*Photo by @kikisnevada_pgarage
