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Frankfurt - The Mercedes-AMG Project One celebrated its world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main.
The Project One, says Mercedes-Benz, "is the first car of its kind to bring the very latest and efficient, fully-fledged Formula 1 hybrid technology from the race track to the road." The supersports show car, as Mercedes-AMG refers to it, also highlights AMG's 50th anniversary.
This high-performance hybrid is said to produce more than 750kW and reach top speeds beyond 350km/h.
F1 success to the road
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Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: "Motorsport is not an end in itself for us. Faced with intense competition, we develop technologies from which our production vehicles also subsequently benefit. We are drawing on our experiences and successes from three constructors' and drivers' world championships to bring Formula 1 technology to the road for the first time: in Mercedes-AMG Project One.”
Image: NewsPress
The powertrain
The high-performance plug-in hybrid drive system of the Project One is derived from Mercedes' F1 cars. It comprises a highly integrated and intelligently networked unit comprising one hybrid, turbocharged combustion engine with a total of four electric motors.
One electric motor has been integrated into the turbocharger, another has been installed directly on the combustion engine with a link to the crankcase and the two remaining motors drive the front wheels.
The 1.6-litre V6 hybrid petrol engine with direct injection and electrically assisted single turbocharging comes directly from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 racing car. To achieve high engine speeds, the mechanical valve springs have been replaced by pneumatic valve springs. The vehicle is mid-engined (ahead of the rear axle) and it (the engine) can easily reach speeds of 11 000rpm, which is currently unique for a road-going vehicle.
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However, for higher longevity and the use of commercially available Super Plus petrol instead of racing fuel, it remains significantly below the F1 engine speed limit.
Power is transferred to the rear wheels by an eight-speed manual transmission that has been entirely developed from scratch for the Mercedes-AMG Project One. It is activated hydraulically and can be operated in automated mode or manually using the shift paddles, says the automaker.
The basis for the driving characteristics of the Mercedes-AMG Project One is provided by the lightweight, high-strength carbon-fibre monocoque body, the technology of which likewise comes from F1. The same applies to integration of the engine and transmission: both have load-bearing functions and completely support the rear suspension.
F1-style steering wheel
The steering wheel with flattened upper and lower sections and an integrated airbag offers motorsport functionality, as do the two integrated controllers which can be used to set adjustment functions, such as the driving modes and suspension setup, or the LED shift display in the upper steering wheel area.
The door panels are in functional, high-grade carbon-fibre, and integrate into the sporty interior. As if to mirror the aero winglets of the exterior, the door panelling is visually interrupted to create space for technical implements and a generously concave door centre panel.
Image: NewsPress