Mercedes-AMG Project ONE: 1,000 Horsepower, First Street Legal Formula 1 Car [News]

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE | LA Auto Show

  • Project ONE uses hybrid powertrain straight from Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 race development
  • F1 hybrid powertrain pushing 1,000 horsepower
  • Top speed 217 MPH
  • $2.54 million price tag

Originally unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE has made its North American appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show. What makes this street-legal hypercar special is the Formula 1 hybrid powertrain. The Project ONE is powered by four electric motors (one of which drives the turbocharger) in conjunction with a 1.6-liter V-6 mounted behind the rear seats. Together, they push 1,000 horsepower to all four wheels.

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE | LA Auto Show

The plug-in hybrid system is identical to a Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 car and features a complex 8-speed “manual” gearbox allowing for automatic cruising or paddle-shifting. Pneumatic valve springs, in part, allow engine revs to reach an F1-rivaling 11,000 RPM. The electric motors themselves spin at up to 50,000 RPM, which is more than double the current standard of 20,000. AMG says the car will accelerate to 124 MPH in under 6 seconds and reach a top speed of over 217 MPH.

In a pinch, the ONE can go 15 miles in pure electric mode.

“The Project ONE is the hottest and coolest car we have ever designed,” Daimler’s chief design officer Gorden Wagener said. “It combines our design philosophy of Sensual Purity with the performance of our Formula One racing cars and is the perfect embodiment of Performance Luxury. “This hypercar’s extreme design marks a milestone in design ‑ there are no lines, and the interior is stripped down to the essentials.”

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE | LA Auto Show
Exclusive 10-spoke forged aluminum wheel with center lock. 19″ at the front, 20″ at the rear.

Unique to the Project ONE are the 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels with center lock. The exclusive wheel has a radial carbon-fiber semi-cover with an aerodynamically sophisticated shape. By designing such a wheel, Mercedes-AMG improved the car’s aerodynamics and Cd figure by optimizing the airflow around the wheels.

At the core of Project ONE is Formula 1 race technology. However, at the end of the day this is still a street car. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, developed exclusively for the hypercar, provide the necessary grip for road driving. The Project ONE’s fuel system is tuned to work on premium unleaded gas rather than racing fuel.

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE | LA Auto Show

The F1-inspired Project ONE’s bodywork has a long rear end and a front splitter. The front splitter automatically extends at speed to give you more front end downforce. The air intake for the V6 engine is mounted on the cabin roof.

The interior of the Project ONE features an interior clad in carbon fiber. You also get power-adjustable adjustable bucket seats and an F1-inspired steering wheel. The car still has a few creature comforts like air conditioning and a 2-screen infotainment system. There’s even some storage, with a few bins in the cabin.

Only 275 units will be hand-made and all have already been spoken for. The asking price: a cool $2.54 million. If your budget can’t stretch to that car, check out our coverage of other models from the LA Auto Show! Keep checking back to TFLcar.com for the latest news on your favorite new models.

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE North American Debut: