Key Points: Motorsport Styling Package, Formula One Derived V6 Engine, AMG One Bespoke Car Cover, 1 of 275 Examples Worldwide.
The Mercedes-AMG ONE is a limited-production plug-in dual hybrid sports car featuring Formula One-derived technology, originally unveiled in concept form at the 2017 International Motor Show Germany by the seven-time F1 world champion and Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton, who also formed part of the developmental test driving team. The production version was unveiled in June 2022, with production beginning in August.
The AMG One is limited to 275 hand-built units, all of which were sold prior to the beginning of production. Lewis Hamilton reportedly purchased two examples, one for himself and one for his father, Anthony. Other notable owners of the AMG ONE include former McLaren-Mercedes F1 driver David Coulthard, former Mercedes F1 driver and 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg, and former Mercedes F1 driver Valtteri Bottas.
Power comes from a mid-mounted 1.6-litre ‘PU106B’ E-turbo V6, modelled on hybrid technology featured in the Mercedes-AMG F1 W06. The unit revs to a mighty 11,000rpm, and is supported by four electric motors for a combined power output of 1,049hp, which drives a rear-biased four-wheel drive system through a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission with a four-disc carbon racing clutch. Charge is stored via an 800V lithium-ion battery, and the car can travel up to 11 miles on electric power alone.
The internal combustion engine works in conjunction with four electric motors: a 161 hp ‘motor generator unit-kinetic’ (MGU-K) coupled to the crankshaft, a 121 hp ‘motor generator unit-heat’ (MGU-H) coupled to the turbocharger, and two 161 hp electric motors at the front axle. The MGU-K and MGU-H are Formula One-style motors designed to recover energy and improve efficiency, with the MGU-K unit specifically responsible for generating electricity under braking, while the MGU-H serves to eliminate turbo lag and improve throttle response by keeping the turbine spinning at lower engine speeds, and to recover waste energy from the exhaust.
Notable aerodynamic features include adjustable slats specifically developed for the front wheel housings, active flaps on the front diffuser and a two-part extendable rear wing with an F1-inspired Drag Reduction System (DRS), which reduces drag by up to 20% and increases straight line speed by lowering the rear wing flaps and closing the front louvres.
Large front air inlets, a roof-mounted air intake and a large aerodynamic fin are responsible for generating downforce. The body is made entirely out of carbon fibre in line with its F1 counterpart, resulting in a final kerb weight of 1,695 kg. The car also features an F1-inspired exhaust with a large central outlet, and two smaller outlets below.
The ONE has six different drive modes, including a ‘Race Safe’ mode comprising a hybrid power setup and an all-electric start, whereby the ICE engine is only activated at high speeds. There is a ‘Race’ mode, where the engine runs continuously in order to charge the batteries, and a ‘Race Plus’ mode, where the front diffuser vents fold up, the rear wing is fully extended, the front wheel arch louvres open, and the ride height is lowered by 37mm front and 30mm rear. The ‘Strat 2’ setting features all of the changes activated by the Race Plus mode, albeit with a firmer suspension setup and more reliance on the electric motors rather than the ICE V6, similar to the settings used in F1 cars during qualifying sessions.
In ‘Race Plus’ and ‘Strat 2’ modes, the total vehicle downforce is increased by up to five times compared to other drive modes. The ‘Individual’ mode allows the driver to alter the settings according to their personal preferences, while ‘EV’ mode provides all-electric power for use in towns and cities.
According to Mercedes-AMG, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 219mph. In November 2022, the AMG One set a lap time of 6:35.183 around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Driven by Maro Engel, it became the fastest road-legal production car around the track, beating the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series by over 13 seconds, despite Engel claiming that some parts of the track were still damp, forcing him to lift off the throttle.
Following the Nürburgring lap record, Mercedes-AMG revealed that the AMG ONE had set new lap records around the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit, Hockenheimring and Red Bull Ring, setting times of 1:56.096, 1:38.563 and 1:26.846 respectively. In April 2023, the AMG ONE set another production car lap record at Monza, with a time of 1:43.902.
