Mercedes-AMG Project ONE

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE
Andrew Basterfield · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Project ONE
Manufacturer	Mercedes-AMG GmbH
Production	2022–present
Assembly	Brixworth, United Kingdom; final assembly at Sindelfingen
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Mid-engine, all-wheel drive
Doors	Butterfly
Engine	1.6 L turbocharged V6 with hybrid system
Transmission	8-speed dual-clutch
Related	Mercedes-AMG ONE Prototype

Mercedes-AMG Project ONE The Project ONE is a limited-production hybrid sports car developed by Mercedes-Benz's performance subsidiary Mercedes-AMG GmbH in collaboration with the Mercedes Formula One Team. Conceived to transfer Formula One technology directly into a road-legal vehicle, the Project ONE integrates racing-derived powertrain elements, aerodynamic strategies, and materials science to deliver track-focused performance alongside road legality. The car was unveiled through a series of concept presentations and prototypes and entered low-volume production with stringent homologation and customer allocation.

Development

Development began after the success of the AMG GT program and the partnership between Toto Wolff's Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Early work involved engineers from Brixworth's F1 engine division, Brackley's race operations, and the Sindelfingen research centers collaborating with design teams from Affalterbach. Project milestones included concept reveals at the Frankfurt Motor Show, testing at circuits such as Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone Circuit, and Nürburgring Nordschleife, and regulatory validation across jurisdictions including Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States. Key personnel spanned expertise from former Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix engineers to specialists who previously worked at Red Bull Racing, McLaren, and Ferrari's road car divisions. Supplier networks drew on companies like Brembo, Akebono, Bosch, Magneti Marelli, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Continental AG, Pirelli, and Michelin for components and testing.

Design

Exterior and aerodynamic design referenced lessons from Formula One cars, incorporating ground-effect principles used in the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship regulations and active aero concepts similar to the McLaren Senna and Ferrari LaFerrari. The body uses a monocoque chassis constructed from carbon fibre and composites developed alongside composites specialists and aerospace partners such as GKN and Carbon Revolution. Designers from Stuttgart and Affalterbach focused on cooling solutions inspired by Adrian Newey-era packaging, while interior ergonomics adapted from FIA-certified racing cockpits include digital clusters akin to those in Formula 1 and bespoke connectivity from Mercedes-Benz User Experience. Lighting and livery options referenced heritage models like the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and the CLK GTR.

Powertrain

The powertrain pairs a redeveloped 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine originally derived from Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team specifications with a complex hybrid system incorporating multiple electric motor units. The configuration includes an electric motor on the turbocharger shaft (MGU-H analogue), dual motor-generators on the crankshaft and gearbox (MGU-K analogues), and additional motors driving the front axle—paralleling architecture used by Red Bull Powertrains and historic Renault F1 hybrid units. Energy recovery systems borrow concepts from Kinetic energy recovery system implementations and battery technology developed with partners like Daimler's battery research centers and suppliers such as LG Chem and Samsung SDI. The transmission is an 8-speed dual-clutch unit, assisted by torque-vectoring electronics from ZF and integration with control systems engineered with Bosch and Magna International.

Performance

Claimed performance metrics put the Project ONE in the hypercar bracket, with combined output figures positioning it alongside models such as the Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren P1, and Ferrari LaFerrari. Acceleration targets matched sub-3.0 second 0–100 km/h sprints, top speed estimates comparable to contemporaries like the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, and lap focus aimed at times on par with road-legal track machines recorded at Nürburgring and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Braking performance leveraged carbon-ceramic rotors supplied by Brembo and electronic aids tuned with inputs from Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team telemetry. Thermal management and endurance were validated during long-distance tests at Yas Marina Circuit and high-altitude runs similar to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb trials to ensure component reliability.

Production and Pricing

Production was highly limited, with unit allocations managed through invitation and customer selection processes akin to programs at Pagani and Koenigsegg. Final assembly occurred at Sindelfingen facilities with specialized workstreams in Brixworth for powertrain calibration. Pricing reflected the bespoke engineering content and limited run, placing the Project ONE among ultra-exotic offerings from Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin's hypercar projects. Delivery schedules were influenced by homologation complexities, supply chain constraints affecting firms like Bosch and Magna, and regulatory testing across regions including European Union type approval and United States emissions certification.

Variants and Special Editions

Mercedes-AMG announced options and tailor-made packages similar to bespoke programs at Pininfarina and Mansory, offering aerodynamic packages, livery options, and race-spec upgrades inspired by AMG Customer Racing programs. Special editions paid homage to Mercedes motorsport heritage with tributes to the Silver Arrows era, liveries referencing champions like Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and commission builds paralleling collaborations such as Rimac partnerships or limited-series releases by Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin.

Reception and Legacy

Reception from automotive media and racing communities placed the Project ONE within discussions alongside iconic hybrid hypercars, eliciting comparisons to the McLaren P1 GTR and Ferrari FXX programs. Critiques focused on the balance between drivability and race-derived complexity, with praise for engineering ambition reminiscent of historic transfers of technology between Formula One and road cars seen with the Lotus Esprit and Porsche 911 GT1. The Project ONE influenced subsequent projects within Mercedes-Benz Group AG and rival programs at BMW M Division, Audi Sport, and Lamborghini Squadra Corse, informing electrification strategies and hybridization approaches across high-performance roadcars. Its legacy is likely to be referenced in future museum exhibits alongside milestones like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL and celebrated in collector circles including auctions at RM Sotheby's and Gooding & Company.

Category:Mercedes-Benz vehicles Category:Hybrid electric vehicles Category:Sports cars