Mercedes-AMG GT Facelift Prototype Burns to the Ground During Testing in SpainMercedes-Benz's development program for the upcoming AMG GT facelift just suffered a rather dramatic and expensive setback. While conducting hot-weather evaluations in southern Spain, a camouflaged test vehicle unexpectedly caught fire and completely burned to the ground.As seen in a recent social media video circulating on Instagram @kikisnevada_pgarage, the prototype was completely engulfed in flames on the side of a mountain road as thick smoke poured into the air.The incident took place in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountain range, a highly popular destination for automakers looking to stress-test upcoming vehicles in high-altitude, high-temperature environments.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile testing under extreme conditions is designed to push mechanical components to their limits, things clearly went too far this time. According to the individual who recorded the footage, the fire reportedly originated in the rear of the vehicle before rapidly spreading to consume the rest of the car. By the time emergency crews arrived at the scene, the on-board fire extinguishers had proven entirely insufficient, and the prototype was reduced to a total loss.Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and the blaze did not spread to the surrounding dry brush.The Hybrid SpeculationBecause the fire seemingly started in the rear of the car, it has immediately drawn attention to the vehicle's potential powertrain.The upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT facelift is expected to continue offering electrified variants, including models utilizing the brand's E Performance plug-in hybrid technology. In these specific vehicles, heavy electrified components are positioned at the rear of the chassis to help optimize weight distribution.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the original social media poster speculated that the hybrid batteries were the culprit for the uncontainable blaze, that explanation remains unverified. Mercedes-Benz has not yet publicly commented on the exact cause of the incident or confirmed whether this specific prototype was indeed heavily electrified. For now, engineers in Affalterbach will be left analyzing the charred remains to ensure this catastrophic failure doesn't happen to a production car.