A wealth of performance and emotion – the winter driving training sessions at the AMG Driving Academy in Sweden
Under the guidance of experienced instructors and AMG Brand Ambassadors from the world of motorsport, the AMG Winter Experience offers participants the opportunity to improve their driving skills on extensive and optimally prepared terrain in Swedish Lapland. A wide range of option packages enables the individual configuration of the training – perfectly matched to personal needs and prior knowledge.
From January 2022, the AMG Driving Academy will welcome interested customers to the AMG Winter Experience in Arjeplog, Sweden. On an exclusively used ice lake covering more than 337,000 m² and numerous perfectly prepared sections and handling tracks, the participants experience the fascination of AMG. In the process, they learn to control their vehicle in borderline situations and improve their driving skills, without, of course, neglecting the fun of driving. Throughout the event, qualified instructors will be on hand to provide expert advice based on their many years of experience in various motorsport classes. The customers thus improve their individual driving skills.
At selected training sessions, well-known racing drivers and AMG Brand Ambassadors Maro Engel, Bernd Schneider, Karl Wendlinger and Bernd Mayländer among others, will also be on hand to offer their professional expertise to answer any questions on proper vehicle handling. Maro Engel was runner-up in the British Formula 3 Championship in 2007. He competed in the DTM and is one of the world’s best GT3 drivers with his numerous victories, including the GT World Cup in Macau and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. With his five title wins, Bernd Schneider is the record holder in the DTM. In 2013, he won both the Dubai 24-hour race and the Nürburgring 24-hour race in an SLS AMG GT3. From 1991 to 1995, Karl Wendlinger was active in Formula 1® and was a driver in the DTM from 2002 to 2003. The Austrian has been a Mercedes-AMG Brand Ambassador since 2012. Since 2001, Bernd Mayländer has been the official driver of the Formula 1® Safety Car.
The AMG Winter Experience vehicle fleet
The fleet of vehicles used in the AMG Winter Experience includes the following models:
- Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ (combined fuel consumption 8.4-8.3 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 192-190 g/km)[1]
- Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ (combined fuel consumption 8.3-8.1 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 190-187 g/km)1
- Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé (combined fuel consumption 10.8 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 246 g/km)1
- Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé (combined fuel consumption 12.5 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions 285 g/km)1
The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ provides absolute top performance in the compact sports car segment with a 4-cylinder turbo engine developing 310 kW (421 hp) and 500 Nm. Unrestricted performance and maximum driving pleasure are guaranteed, which is why the compact car model is an ideal addition to the sporty vehicle range for the AMG Winter Experience. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ 4-Door Coupé marks the top spot of the four-door model range. Particularly when driving in a sporty style, the fully variable 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive ensures optimum traction. The four-door coupé not only accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds; thanks to the additional RACE driving program including Drift Mode, highly dynamic driving manoeuvres are also possible. Depending on the event format and option package, the vehicles will be single- or double crewed.
The right program for every driving ability
The AMG Winter Experience has something for everyone – from beginners to advanced drivers to experienced experts: the AMG Winter Experience offers the right programme for every AMG fan. The “Basic” training level is ideal for beginners. In the individual formats, such as the “Discover” event format, the focus is on driving safety and getting to know the Mercedes-AMG vehicles. The “Advanced” training level serves as additional training. Here, the driver can expand on the basics of driving physics that they have already learned. In addition, they delve deeper into the handling of high-performance vehicles in challenging situations and with the Mercedes-AMG driver assistance and performance systems. During the “Advanced Week”, participants have five days to improve their driving skills. For the “Pro” training level, sufficient previous experience gained in an already-completed AMG Advanced Training course or a comparable training course is a prerequisite. In the “Pro Week” event format, personal driving skills can be specifically improved through increased individual support in small groups. The “Masters” training level is ideal for very experienced drivers. In intensive technical discussions with experienced racing drivers on and off the training ground, they expand their knowledge and test driving at the absolute limit in the individual “Pro Plus” format.
As a special highlight, exciting contests such as a “Drift Competition” are on the agenda at selected events. Here, the participants can prove how safely they can perform a drift on the ice track. In the “Race of Champs” competition, the best drivers from various preliminary rounds compete against each other for victory. In some training formats, a spectacular ride in the AMG Ice Taxi complements the experience. With maximum traction and power, the AMG Ice Taxi with its special studded tyres shows what is possible in challenging conditions.
Exclusive highlights away from the training ground
For special feel-good moments beyond the driving experiences, the comfortable accommodation at Hotel Silverhatten**** and the AMG Lodge****, which is exclusively accessible to those taking part in the AMG Winter Experience, will be available. Only 18 km from the training ground, Hotel Silverhatten offers a great view of the wintry landscape of northern Sweden and has many amenities such as a restaurant, hotel bar, sauna, whirlpool, relaxation area and gym. The 4-star AMG Lodge**** is equipped with 29 exclusive single and double rooms and impresses with a dreamlike view of the surrounding mountains and lakes. Participants in the AMG Winter Experience receive complimentary access to all offers provided by the Silverhatten Hotel. Throughout the entire event, culinary delights await them with Swedish creations and international specialities.
About the AMG Driving Academy
In addition to the AMG Winter Experience, the AMG Driving Academy will be offering further exclusive driving events and training courses in Germany and Europe from spring to autumn next year. On the AMG Explorer Tours the AMG driving feeling is brought to life on selected and dreamlike routes. The participants will stay in exclusive hotels and be spoiled with culinary delights. At the AMG Racetrack Training sessions, participants improve their driving skills on the race track under the guidance of professional instructors from the world of motorsport.
Not only in Germany, but in a total of 15 markets, the AMG Driving Academy has been delighting its customers with exclusive dynamic driving events since 2007. These include, for example, Australia, China, Japan, Russia and the USA.
The training courses are conducted by the tour operator AMG Experiences. All training formats of the AMG Winter Experience can be booked now on its website (www.amg-experiences.com) or via the service hotline (+49 711 652000-222). Further information on the AMG Driving Academy programme is available from the Service Centre of the external and independent tour operator AMG Experiences GmbH at info@amg-experiences.com.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, a comprehensive hygiene and safety concept that goes far beyond the minimum legal requirements was developed especially for the AMG Driving Academy events. Detailed information on the hygiene and safety concept can be found on the website of the tour operator AMG Experiences at www.amg-experiences.com. All event dates and times are subject to the further development of the COVID 19 pandemic and the legal regulations in force on the respective event dates.
[1] The stated figures are the measured “NEDC CO2 figures in conformance with Article 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures. A higher figure may apply as the basis for calculating the motor vehicle tax. More information about the vehicles on offer, including the WLTP figures, can be found for each country at www.mercedes-benz.com