Mercedes-AMG Project One: An F1 Racecar for the Road
CARS.COM — After debuting at the International Motor Show Germany in Frankfurt in September, the Mercedes-AMG Project One show car is on display at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show and it’s … it’s just so beautiful.
Related: More 2017 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Mercedes claims that this show car “gives specific indications of what to expect from the upcoming production model,” which is probably the best news of all of 2017.
The “supersports” car is powered by a hybrid drivetrain comprised of a turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 engine and four electric motors: One powering each front wheel, one integrated into the turbocharger and one installed directly onto the engine. Combined output is said to be more than 1,000 horsepower, propelling the Project One to a greater-than-217-mph top speed.
In true Formula One fashion, the engine is incredibly high-revving. Redline is 11,000 rpm, far beyond what most street-legal cars’ engines can reach. The Project One also borrows a technology similar to the racing series’ energy recovery system to store energy created during driving in the battery to replace energy lost or provide extra power for greater performance.
The exterior has the look of a hypercar, with gigantic vents along the front fascia and even more venting along the hood. There’s even an intake above the cabin, a throwback to the dominant CLK GTR racecar and road-going homologation versions.
Ground effects along the sides help keep the car planted, and attached to the roof air intake is a spoiler “spine” that runs almost to the very back of the car. A traditional retractable spoiler hides in the decklid. A giant diffuser and centrally located tailpipe complete the exotic look.
Inside you’ll find a racing-inspired cockpit complete with a nearly rectangular, F1-style steering wheel. Carbon fiber and microfiber are the dominant materials. Since rear visibility would have been a joke even with a rear windshield, the Project One forgoes the traditional rearview mirror and replaces it with a screen that displays real-time images from a rear camera.
Check out the gallery above and get excited for the release of the production car inspired by this concept.
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