Mercedes is often the brand that we dream of driving when we’re younger, with posters hanging on our bedroom walls for inspiration. The prestige of the badge, the meticulousness of the engineering and the head-turning aesthetics are something that we simply never tire of. But never in our wildest dreams did we expect what Mercedes unveiled at the recent Frankfurt Auto Show; a hypercar for the public to love and the competition to fear.
With a price tag of $2.8 million GPD, the AMG Project One will unfortunately be nothing but a dream for the majority of us, with release not slated until 2019, and only 275 models being produced. Combining the technology that has brought them recent F1 success with their formidable streetcar line-up, Mercedes is producing something that cannot be matched.
Its deceptively small 1.6L V6 engine produces enough grunt to push a top speed of 350km/h, and has a 0-200km time better than most 0-100km times. This is due to the F1 technology and mindset that Mercedes have employed for their hypercar, as the V6 engine produces approximately 700 horsepower and around 11,000 rpm, double what you’d find in your average streetcar. On top of the 700 horses found in the engine, Mercedes have crammed another 500 under the hood, hiding them in three electric motors, two of which drive the front wheels. A fourth motor is used purely for the turbocharger, ensuring that the drive is silky smooth between gear changes and acceleration.
On top of the raw power under the hood, the electric motors are also capable of propelling the car over 30kms, helpful for those trips to the shops or when the tank is empty. Mercedes also employs the F1 style powertrain, using energy from braking to fuel the next bit of acceleration. The price tag doesn’t just get you raw power, but efficiency as well.
Aesthetically, the Project One will look out of place on the city streets, like a wild animal that has escaped from the race track. Low, angled and with a style that exudes aerodynamics, the Project One is pocketed with air intakes, employs a shark fin for lateral stability, and uses retractable front wheel arches and a rear wing to improve downforce and reduce drag. And if you’ve never seen the cockpit of a F1 car, then the Project One is the same with a few creature comforts. The standard 10inch LCD screens take up the majority of the dash, with the racing style steering wheel the only other thing of note. After all, it is a race car.
There is a lot that can be said about the latest entry to the hypercar market, and a lot that Mercedes wants to prove with their model. But when it comes to cars that you wish you could drive but probably never will, the Project One is surely the top of the list.
All images © 2016 Daimler AG Media.