Yahoo Autos The Mercedes-AMG Project One Hypercar Shown Testing
UPDATE 9/27/18: Mercedes has announced the official production name for the hypercar: it will be called the Mercedes-AMG One. Aside from that, though, no new details were provided.
The Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar has begun real-world testing in the United Kingdom, and a batch of spy photos gives our first look at a camouflaged prototype in motion. The brand released a cheeky statement saying that the prototypes were photographed "driving around unnoticed on a secret test ground in England," and that the car's distinctive engine noise meant it was "difficult to keep this testing confidential." That all makes sense until you realize that AMG released the photos itself.
After its original debut, labeled as a "show car," at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show, these shots are our first look at the production car, and it looks as if almost nothing has changed. The prototype is missing final production details such as head- and taillights, side mirrors, rear grille mesh, and the massive finlike side skirts, but that is most likely due to this being a test car. As the Project One gets closer to production, expect styling elements from the show car to return.
Mercedes has been developing the new model for several months and doing testing that the automaker labels Project One Virtual Engineering. Hundreds of testing hours have been spent on the powertrain and hybrid components. Now, the first powertrains have been installed in physical Project One prototypes, and AMG has begun testing the car at racetracks and private testing facilities as shown in these photos.
The mid-engined Project One is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 engine derived from Mercedes' Formula 1 cars. The Project One is a plug-in hybrid with four electric motors-two at the front axle, one coupled to the engine, and another coupled to the turbocharger. According to Mercedes, the car can go about 15 miles on electricity alone. For comparison, McLaren's plug-in P1 hypercar had an EPA-rated electric range of 19 miles. Thanks to the two motors at the front, the Project One is all-wheel drive, and the two motors enable strong regenerative braking. Mercedes claims a power output of more than 1000 horsepower, a redline above 10,000 rpm, a top speed exceeding 217 mph, and a zero-to-124-mph time of under six seconds.
Production of the Project One will begin in the second half of 2019. AMG will only make 275 Project One cars at about $2.7 million each, but if you're interested, too bad-they're all already sold out.
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