[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/when-is-an-amg-not-a-mercedes\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/when-is-an-amg-not-a-mercedes\/","headline":"When is an AMG not a Mercedes?","name":"When is an AMG not a Mercedes?","description":"This AMG is NOT a Mercedes! If you didn\u2019t know, or have just forgotten, AMG wasn\u2019t always part of Mercedes. AMG was founded in 1967 and wasn\u2019t acquired by Mercedes until 1999, meaning that there were 32 glorious years of AMG operating freely which resulted in some interesting and often-forgotten projects, some of which had nothing to do with Mercedes-Benz at all. We\u2019re going to pay homage to two of those particular projects, known as the Mitsubishi AMG Galant and […]","datePublished":"2018-05-07","dateModified":"2018-12-05","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Mitsubishi-AMG-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Mitsubishi-AMG-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/when-is-an-amg-not-a-mercedes\/","about":["CLASSIC CARS","LATEST CAR NEWS","Mercedes-AMG","Mercedes-Benz"],"wordCount":536,"keywords":["amg","mercedes","mitsubishi"],"articleBody":"This AMG is NOT a Mercedes! If you didn\u2019t know, or have just forgotten, AMG wasn\u2019t always part of Mercedes.AMG was founded in 1967 and wasn\u2019t acquired by Mercedes until 1999, meaning that there were 32 glorious years of AMG operating freely which resulted in some interesting and often-forgotten projects, some of which had nothing to do with Mercedes-Benz at all.We\u2019re going to pay homage to two of those particular projects, known as the Mitsubishi AMG Galant and the Mitsubishi Debonair AMG.It\u2019s surprising to see a car without a Mercedes-Benz badge amongst AMG\u2019s portfolio, yet here lies the Galant, sticking out like a sore thumb. However, don\u2019t let the Mitsubishi badge dishearten you because this little Japanese exotic is just as phenomenal as all the other cars that have had the AMG treatment in the past. With only about 500 existing in the world, they are somewhat mystical beings that are incredibly rare. You\u2019ve got more chance of seeing a unicorn than seeing one of these in the wild, especially in any country other than it\u2019s homeland, Japan.The AMG Galant is an evolution from the original Galant which is a very ordinary midsize sedan, but the two models were worlds apart from each other. The AMG Galant kept the standard 4G63 2.0 litre engine which was then tuned to death to make it a well-optimised and more impressive engine thanks to some precision German engineering.It was upgraded with an onslaught of new components and re-tuned to eventually become a naturally aspirated, 170 horsepower engine that was capable of reaching 8,000 rpm, which was quite a feat to accomplish without turbochargers at the time. Along with the expertly tuned engine, the AMG Galant also featured AMG branded alloys, some wooden interior trim and a sporty bodykit.The second car we\u2019re going to mention here is the Mitsubishi Debonair AMG, another saloon car that received the German tuning treatment. However, in this instance, there was actually no tuning involved. AMG really let themselves down on this one because it\u2019s like all they did is add AMG badges and branding everywhere.On the steering wheel, on the front bumper, above the rear wheels…there\u2019s more AMG branding on here than there is Mitsubishi branding! Other than adding their logo onto everything, they also enhanced the exterior with some modifications, but finding what\u2019s different about the AMG model and the stock model is like playing a very hard game of spot the difference.Unlike the AMG Galant, the Debonair AMG is very unremarkable and it\u2019s no wonder you haven\u2019t heard of it before, because it\u2019s simply and utterly forgettable. If you compare it to what AMG are up to today, creating staggeringly powerful monsters such as the Mercedes-AMG GT R and the beastly V8-powered C 63, you could say they\u2019ve come a long way since the Mitsubishi days.Nonetheless, it\u2019s a fascinating bit of AMG history to know about the household name that we now know for making overpowered Mercedes-Benz cars.What do you think of Mitsu\u2019s AMG cars and do you know of any other lesser-known AMG projects? Let us know! "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"When is an AMG not a Mercedes?","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/when-is-an-amg-not-a-mercedes\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]