Yahoo Autos Mercedes-AMG's One Is Not Coming to America
For what feels like a decade at this point, F1 fans from all around the world have been waiting for the arrival of the Mercedes-AMG One. Perhaps the most extreme hypercar to ever grace our green Earth, the Mercedes-AMG One promises to bring serious amounts of F1 technology to the road, including the 1.6-liter V6 engine Mercedes-AMG Petronas utilized to dominate the sport. Unfortunately for all of us here in the United States, it appears that powertrain is a regulatory problem. More specifically, a new report from Carscoops suggests that powertrain is going to keep the car out of the United States entirely.
According to the report, the publication reached out to Mercedes-AMG for some clarification about when U.S. deliveries are slated to begin now that production has officially begun. The German automaker was quick to inform the publication that it had already begun contacting customers in the United States who’d previously shown interest in the project, sharing the following message with them:
“The AMG-ONE was developed with a single goal in mind — a direct technology transfer of the World Championship winning Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 E PERFORMANCE drive unit — conceived for the road. The adaption of a complete Formula 1 drive unit in a road car is unprecedented.
With 1,000+ horsepower, four electric motors, and a blistering top speed of more than 217 mph, every component of the AMG ONE has been designed to redefine high performance. While its engine has its origins in competition, constant development and refinement have left us with a difficult decision for the U.S. market.
In order to preserve the unique character of its F1 powertrain, we have concluded that meeting U.S. road standards would significantly compromise its performance and its overall driving character. We have taken the strategic decision to offer the car for road usage in Europe, where it meets applicable regulations.”
In a somewhat odd role reversal, one of the major European automakers won’t be bringing a high-performance vehicle to the States due to not wanting to comply with regulatory pressures. And while that decision is apparently in the name of protecting the character of the car, its a disappointment nonetheless. Of course we’re sure that at least one of these cars will eventually make the jump across the pond with some help from our trusty Show and Display laws. It’s not like many of these F1-derived machines will do more than 2500 miles annually, regardless. That said, this is still an unfortunate moment for our well-heeled compatriots. The AMG One will almost certainly be the last range-topping machine from Mercedes to carry an internal-combustion engine, and an all-time special machine.
If you happen to be a multimillionaire who is unhappy about this move by Mercedes-AMG, may we suggest adding a French chateau with a decent garage to your portfolio. (Actually, send us an email if you want to chat.) For the rest of us mere mortals, it seems we might have a harder time spotting one of these hypercars than the 275 planned units might have initially suggested. That’s a genuine bummer.
Via Carscoops
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