Affalterbach has a habit of making thunder sound sophisticated. But this time, it’s different. Following the final tweaks to the CONCEPT AMG GT TRACK SPORT in late July, Mercedes-AMG is shifting from sketches to scorching laps. The prototype, still wrapped in a vivid camouflage of yellow and red accents, has entered its proving phase — where theory meets tire smoke.
This isn’t just another evolution of the GT line. AMG calls it the “youngest and most impressive offshoot” of the family, and from the first look, that doesn’t sound like marketing fluff. The TRACK SPORT is positioned as a radical rethink of the front-engine, rear-drive formula that’s defined the GT since its debut. If the standard GT is a sledgehammer in a tuxedo, the TRACK SPORT looks ready to rip off the jacket and hit the pit lane.
Beneath its sculpted bodywork lies the AMG-typical V8, likely the familiar twin-turbo 4.0-liter powerhouse that’s been refined to near perfection. But this concept isn’t about horsepower alone — it’s about balance, aerodynamics, and weight. AMG engineers have reworked the chassis for a sharper weight distribution, pairing intelligent lightweight construction with a more sophisticated aero profile designed to slice through air while pinning the car to the tarmac.
The test program now underway is as grueling as it gets. AMG’s proving grounds and race circuits will host countless hours of validation runs — the brand’s way of ensuring that every component, from differential tuning to cooling ducts, performs flawlessly under duress. It’s not just testing; it’s ritual.
“With the CONCEPT AMG GT TRACK SPORT, we are once again exploring the limits of what is possible,” says Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH and head of Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Maybach. “We have a world-class team working on this concept with incomparable AMG spirit. It takes us to the physical and driving dynamics limit. We have a vision and make a promise: The future will be extreme.”
Extreme is an understatement. The TRACK SPORT looks set to push AMG’s performance ethos to its rawest form — less grand tourer, more track weapon. And while it’s still a concept, it’s also a statement: that Affalterbach’s next chapter isn’t about restraint, but about engineering purity and the pursuit of the ultimate lap time.
We’ll be watching closely as the yellow-red prototype tears through its test schedule. If this is AMG’s idea of the future, it’s one where noise, precision, and passion collide — right at the limit.
Two decades ago, the name Saleen meant something. It was shorthand for big-horsepower Mustangs, tuner wizardry, and the outrageous S7—an American-built, mid-engined supercar that actually scared Europe’s best. Back in the early 2000s, the S7 wasn’t just a bold claim; it was proof that a U.S. startup could play in the same league as Ferrari and McLaren.
Fast-forward twenty years, and Saleen is trying to capture that lightning again. The difference this time? The next act, called the S11, isn’t being dreamt up in total secrecy behind California shop doors. Instead, it’s being shaped—quite literally—by committee.
Unveiled at The Birth of the American Supercar exhibit at LeMay America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, the S11 currently exists only as a full-scale clay model surrounded by sketches. There’s no engine, no performance data, no screaming prototype—just a bold idea and a sculpted promise. Visitors are invited to weigh in on what the final car should look like, inside and out.
Yes, really: Saleen wants you to help design its next supercar.
“It’s an honor to debut our S11 design at LeMay,” said founder Steve Saleen. “We’ll present enthusiasts with design choices throughout the year, and they can help decide what ends up in the final product.”
It’s a daring move. In the history of performance cars, “design by committee” hasn’t exactly yielded poster-worthy results. Supercars are usually the vision of a single obsessive mind—part genius, part lunatic—who refuses to compromise. Opening that process up to the public feels risky. But for a small-volume builder like Saleen, it might also be the smartest possible marketing play.
After years of radio silence and limited production, the company needs buzz, engagement, and cash flow—and letting fans shape the S11’s silhouette could tick all three boxes.
What we don’t know could fill an owner’s manual. Saleen hasn’t shared a single detail about the S11’s powertrain, chassis, or aerodynamic goals. All we’ve got is the cryptic promise that it’ll be “one louder” than anything else on the market—a callback to Spinal Tap and a wink at the brand’s trademark bravado.
We love the confidence. But we’ll admit, it’s hard not to be skeptical. The S7 was a bona fide supercar built in a different era—one where outrageous claims and hand-built ambition could still get you headlines. The modern world is tougher, stricter, and far more competitive. If Saleen truly wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with the greats again, the S11 will need more than nostalgia and fan votes.
Still, it’s good to see the name back in the conversation. The LeMay exhibit, curated by Steve Saleen himself, traces a century of American performance—from classic muscle to carbon-fiber dreams—and will evolve quarterly with new cars and features. Somewhere in that lineage, the S11 hopes to write its own chapter.
If Saleen can make it happen, we’ll gladly turn the volume up to eleven.
In the 1960s, the Škoda 1000 MBX was a small but daring expression of style and optimism — a Czech coupé that carried the carefree confidence of its era without pretending to be a sports car. With frameless doors, no B-pillars, and the mechanical heartbeat of a modest 988-cc engine, it wasn’t built to outrun anything. But it looked like freedom, and that counted for a lot.
Now, more than half a century later, two Škoda designers — Antti Mikael Savio and David Stingl — have resurrected that same spirit in a new concept: a modern reinterpretation of the MBX, envisioned through the brand’s current Modern Solid design philosophy. The result isn’t retro cosplay. It’s something braver: a sleek, compact coupé that dares to blend elegance with everyday practicality in an age obsessed with aggression and performance.
A Friendly Face in a World of Frowns
“Our concept is sportier overall, yet still has a friendly look,” says exterior designer Antti Savio, whose Scandinavian touch brings a subtle confidence to the car’s face. “Modern sports cars often appear overly aggressive, while those from the ’60s and ’70s carried a certain elegance — even endearing charm. That’s what I wanted to preserve.”
He’s succeeded. The 1000 MBX concept’s stance is taut but approachable, its surfaces muscular yet unpretentious. There are gentle nods to the original MBX — raised headlamps perched above the bonnet line, a defined character crease along the flanks, and a distinctive C-pillar treatment. But there’s no nostalgia trap here. Instead of a rear window, a sculpted panel hides a generous cargo area, while a rear-view camera handles visibility. It’s clever, modern, and slightly rebellious — just like the original car’s frameless doors once were.
Savio admits to drawing inspiration from product design and brutalist architecture, infusing the bodywork with bold geometric simplicity. “I studied buildings and objects in that style,” he explains. “The goal was to create confident, unusual forms that express strength and character.”
Inside, Modern Solid Meets Modern Practicality
Interior designer David Stingl, just 24 years old, brings a fresh sensibility to the cabin — one that refuses to compromise between form and function. The interior is laid out in a 2+2 configuration atop a flat-floor electric platform. The front seats merge into a wide, lounge-like bench, while the two individual rear seats can tip up cinema-style to open up surprising cargo space.
“This car should encourage its crew to go exploring without hesitation,” says Stingl. “It’s not meant to be just a fun weekend coupé — it’s a vehicle with exceptional everyday usability.”
Fold those rear seats and you’ve got room for luggage, a bicycle, or sports gear. Add air suspension, and the MBX can raise itself for rough paths or lower for that perfect sporty stance.
The dashboard design is equally thoughtful: a glass-covered oval module projects essential information, a futuristic reinterpretation of the original car’s instrument panel. The oval motif repeats throughout — in the steering wheel, headrests, and trim elements — while chrome accents give way to illuminated graphics and ambient lighting, perfectly aligned with Škoda’s Modern Solid aesthetic.
A Design Born from Wine and Paper Napkins
The MBX concept wasn’t born in a sterile design studio under strict deadlines. According to Savio, one of the breakthrough ideas came “over a glass of wine in a bar.” He asked the waiter for paper and a pen, sketched the concept, and the rest flowed from there. “We met at least twice a week to discuss how the interior and exterior should connect,” Savio recalls. “Early sketches became digital 3D models, evolving into something that felt authentically Škoda.”
For Stingl, who began working in 3D environments at just 15, the project was a dream come true. “Design, to me, is like a great story made physical,” he says. His MBX interior tells that story — one of optimism, simplicity, and purposeful beauty.
A Tribute Without Nostalgia
The original 1000 MBX was derived from the humble 1000 MB sedan, Škoda’s first car with a self-supporting body and a revolutionary aluminum engine block. Built in small numbers between 1966 and 1969, only 2,517 MBX coupés ever left Mladá Boleslav. Today, the few surviving examples are cult treasures — charming reminders of an era when elegance and ingenuity mattered more than horsepower.
The new MBX concept doesn’t seek to revive that car in a literal sense. Instead, it captures the feeling — that sense of accessible sophistication and youthful curiosity. It’s a car designed not to dominate racetracks, but to inspire weekend escapes, to remind us that design can be kind as well as bold.
From Finland to the Future
Savio, a Finnish designer who’s been with Škoda for 17 years, describes himself as “a true youngtimer enthusiast” — and with 43 classic cars owned over the years, he’s not exaggerating. Stingl, meanwhile, represents the next generation of Škoda design: pragmatic, digital-native, yet emotionally connected to the art of the automobile.
Together, their reinterpretation of the Škoda 1000 MBX bridges eras — 1966 meets 2025 — with sincerity, not irony. It’s proof that even in the electric age, there’s still room for charm, elegance, and human warmth in car design.
In a world of angry grilles and overcompensating horsepower wars, the MBX concept smiles quietly — and invites you along for the drive.
