Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar concept. With its Formula 1 hybrid technology, the Project One has over 1,000 horsepower and can reach speeds over 217 mph.
Mercedes-Benz says that the Project One was developed in close cooperation with the Formula 1 experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth and with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team in Brackley. The Mercedes-AMG Project One is the first Formula 1 car that’s approved to drive on regular roads.
The Project One gets its speed from a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 1.6L V6 engine and four electric motors. One electric motor has been integrated into the turbocharger, another has been installed directly on the combustion engine with a link to the crankcase and the two remaining electric motors drive the front wheels. The plug-in hybrid system offers many different driving modes. The driving modes range from purely electric operation through to a highly dynamic mode which corresponds to a setting used in Formula 1 qualifying for optimum lap times.
“Motorsport is not an end in itself for us. Faced with intense competition, we develop technologies from which our production vehicles also subsequently benefit. We are drawing on our experiences and successes from three constructors’ and drivers’ world championships to bring Formula 1 technology to the road for the first time: in Mercedes-AMG Project ONE”, says Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The Mercedes-AMG Project One concept and the four-door AMG GT Concept provide a preview of the future performance-hybrid drive strategy of the sports car brand within Mercedes-Benz.
“The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE is the hottest and coolest car we have ever designed. It combines our design philosophy of Sensual Purity with the performance of our Formula 1 racing cars and is the perfect embodiment of Performance Luxury,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG. “This hypercar’s extreme design marks a milestone in design ‑ there are no lines, and the interior is stripped down to the essentials.”
Source: Mercedes-Benz
