Mercedes-AMG recently unveiled its flagship hypercar, the Project One. Inspired by Formula 1 race cars, the AMG Project One is powered by a reworked F1 engine coupled with four electric motors. Mercedes-AMG Project One also has three aerodynamic modes which open and close the louvres and ducts to aid in increasing or decreasing the downforce.
The Mercedes-AMG Project One will be limited to 275 units, and all of them have been accounted for at a price of GBP 2.2 million (roughly Rs. 22 crores) before taxes and duties. It was earlier planned to be released in 2019 but faced delays due to emission norms plaguing its high-tech F1-inspired engine and active-aerodynamics.
As mentioned earlier, the AMG Project One is powered by an F1-inspired 1.6-litre, turbocharged V6 engine that develops 573hp. Combined with its four electric motors, the combined total output of the Project One tallies at 1,063hp. Its direct rivals, the Aston Martin Valkyrie and Ferrari SF90 Stradale, develop 1,175hp and 999hp, respectively. The power is transmitted through a specially developed seven-speed automated manual gearbox with a four-disc clutch.
It gets six drive modes — Race Safe, Race, EV, Individual, Race Plus, and Strat 2 — the last two being reserved only for race tracks. In Race Safe, the Mercedes-AMG Project One utilises on-demand hybrid properties from the powertrain. In Race mode, the engine is fully engaged and charges the batteries, while the EV is a pure-electric mode.
Race Plus mode activates an active aerodynamic mode that fully engages the rear wing for extra downforce, lowers the ride heights, and uses a “special performance management” of the powertrain. Strat 2, which is derived from Mercedes-AMG F1 team’s Strategy 2 setting, dials everything up to 11 with extreme aerodynamics, firmer suspension, and full power from the powertrain.
Inside, the Mercedes-AMG Project One uses a mix of synthetic leather and carbon fibre. The non-adjustable seats are mounted to the floor of the hypercar, with the driver and passenger’s hips placed lower than their legs. It also gets an F1-inspired steering wheel but gets an airbag to meet with the regulations. It gets two freestanding 10-inch displays with one behind the steering wheel acting as the digital instrument cluster. Additionally, it also gets air-conditioning and electric windows as standard with two USB type-C ports in the central storage area.
The Mercedes-AMG Project One gets three aerodynamic modes — Highway, Track, and Race DRS. The first has the louvres and ducts closed with the rear wing retracted. In Track mode, the louvres and ducts are opened and the rear wing is extended to the maximum position to help increase the downforce. In Race DRS mode, the louvres and ducts are closed with the rear wing retracted completely.
[Featured Image Credit: Mercedes-AMG]
Satvik Khare