The synergy of an F1-inspired hybrid powertrain positioned behind an F1-esque cockpit, curtailed by a gorgeous carbon-fibre monocoque wrapped in an enchanting aerodynamic body culminates into one of the most beautiful cars to have ever come from the Mercedes-Benz production line.
“With the Mercedes-AMG ONE, we have more than pushed the envelope. The immense technical challenges of making a modern Formula 1 powertrain suitable for everyday road use have undoubtedly pushed us to our limits.” – Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH
Here’s a quick breakdown of this unbelievable super sports car. At its core is a turbocharged 1,6-litre V6 mill supported by four electric motors, producing a total of 782 kW, and can rev up to 11 000rpm! The car’s top speed is limited to 352km/h, and its 0 to 100 time is said to be 2.9 seconds, but its speed and acceleration aren’t what makes this car stand above the rest, it’s the mind-boggling engineering…
One of those aforementioned electric motors can be found on the turbocharger (which produces a maximum of 3,5 bar of boost). This allows for higher torque at low speeds, better acceleration, aids in maintaining boost pressures, and offers a more direct response. The surplus exhaust gases from the turbo are also used to generate electrical energy that is either stored in the Ion battery or fed to the two 120 kW electric motors positioned on the front axle (this is known as the Motor Generation Unit Kinetic or MGU-K). Also found in the car’s hybrid powertrain system is the high-performance battery which has a range of 18,1 km and features onboard chargers which work in tandem with the myriad of alternative charging solutions spread throughout the AMG One’s architecture.
This athletic power plant is managed through a newly developed 7-speed automatic transmission mated to a hydraulically controlled 4-disc carbon fibre clutch. All of the power produced by the engine is fed to all four wheels that are overseen by the firm’s 4Matic+ system. The car’s all-wheel-drive system is compromised of a hybrid-driven rear axle and electronically driven front axle utilising torque vectoring. Its suspension is truly a marvel because supporting the car’s already light and nimble frame are five-link coil-overs on the front and rear with two-way adjustable push rod spring struts.
Unsurprisingly, the AMG One shares the same aerodynamic capabilities and prowess found in many F1 cars. The engineering team has managed to shape the frame and aerodynamic elements in such a way that the car can generate downforce from as low as 50km/h! The car has active aerodynamic features that change depending on the selected driving mode. With diffuser flaps, a variable rear wing, and louvers, this car is jam-packed with so many tech goodies to make it slice through the air with maximum efficiency. We’ll see one in action at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed from the 23rd to the 26th of June.
It’s almost in a league of it’s own. To think they were drunk when they gave this project the green light. Cheers to the team at Mercedes-AMG! You’ve outdone yourselves.
