The Mercedes-AMG One won’t arrive until 2021, but it packs 1,200 horsepower now
by Ciprian Florea, on LISTEN 04:03The Mercedes-AMG One is arguably the coolest car the German company has announced in recent decades. But it’s also one of those unicorn supercars that we know it’s coming, but there’s no specific timeline for it. It’s spectacular and frustrating at the same time. But come October 2020, and someone finally unearthed new data about the hypercar. According to the most recent rumor, AMG engineers have tuned the V-6 hybrid powerplant to develop more than 1,200 horsepower. And that’s massive news because it’s a significant step up from the initial 1,039-horsepower claim.
The Mercedes-AMG One comes with notable design changes
The last time we heard and saw the Mercedes-AMG One, it was August 2020, when the company began testing a close-to-production prototype. The camouflaged mule looked slightly different than the concept we saw back in 2017, but The Supercar Blog claims, quoting sources close to the project, that Mercedes-AMG is making more changes for the production model.
The biggest change will be in the rear, in the form of a motorsport-spec wing.
This aero device is described as a "larger fixed aerodynamic part at the rear," which means that the prototype’s active rear spoiler could be replaced. The source goes on to say that it could be part of an F1-inspired T-wing. And that makes sense because the AMG One makes heavy use of technology developed for the brand’s Formula One program.
The Germans are also meddling with the exhaust system. The prototype can be seen sporting three exhaust pipes in the rear, but this layout will be changed to four outlets. Mercedes is also reportedly working on reducing noise levels inside the cabin, which has been a big challenge. NVH materials are usually heavy, so Mercedes-AMG had to find a way to make the cabin a bit more comfortable sound-wise without ruining the car’s power-to-weight ratio.
The Mercedes-AMG One packs more than 1,200 horsepower!
The AMG One featureS a compact hybrid drivetrain that shares many components with Mercedes' Formula One cars.
It combines a turbocharged, 1.6-liter V-6 gasoline engine and no fewer than four electric motors. There’s a generator unit coupled to the crankshaft, another generator unit coupled to the turbocharger, and two motors that spin the front axle. The V-6 is obviously responsible for traction at the rear wheels.
Total output was originally projected at around 1,039 horsepower, but the hybrid unit is now said to be capable of more than 1,200 horsepower.
The extra power reportedly comes from optimization work that Mercedes made following some issues discovered during the development phase. With so much output at its disposal, the AMG One should have no issue in hitting its performance targets, including a 0 to 62 mph sprint of 2.2 seconds and a 0 to 186 mph benchmark of 11 seconds. Top speed isn’t that spectacular, though, at 217 mph, especially now that we have at least two supercars capable of going beyond 300 mph.
| Powertrain | Mid-mounted 1.6-litre V-6 with direct injection, four valves per cylinder, four overhead camshafts and electrically boosted single turbocharger, electric motor connected to the crankshaft |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1,200 HP |
| 0 to 62 mph | 2.2 seconds |
| 0 to 124 mph | 6 seconds |
| 0 to 186 mph | 11 seconds |
| Top Speed | 217 mph |
The Mercedes-AMG One arrives in 2021
The AMG One has been in the works for a few years now, but it seems the production model won’t be ready until 2021. According to Mercedes-AMG, first deliveries will commence in the second quarter of 2021, so that’s around six months away as of October 2020. The German company plans to build only 275 units, all of which have already been sold out. Each owner will pay around $2.6 million before options.
Source: The Supercar Blog
