Amalgam – 1:18 Mercedes-AMG ONE

Offering unadulterated Formula One technology for the road, the Mercedes-AMG ONE will lay a claim to be the most fascinating two-seater to ever hit the streets. The world’s first commercially available vehicle with both an F1 hybrid powertrain and road-legal approval, the ONE is a true performance hybrid that marks the pinnacle of what is currently technologically feasible. It is a celebration of unprecedented success in motorsport’s top category and the half-centenary of AMG, but also a compelling insight into the future of the automobile at Mercedes-AMG.

The ONE’s hybrid drivetrain is accompanied by a purely electric and wheel selective front axle drive concept, and is expected to develop a combined system power of more than 1,000 hp (735 kW) and maximum speeds of over 218mph (352km/h). The components of this highly efficient and high-performance plug-in hybrid drive system, named EQ Power+, in the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE are based directly on Formula 1 and were realised in close collaboration with the motorsports experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth. It will involve a highly integrated and intelligently networked unit from the 1.6-liter V6 hybrid petrol engine with a total of four electric motors – one 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 consistent design of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is based on a simple principle: form follows function. Each design detail offers a specific benefit for the overall performance of the vehicle. The muscular proportions are based on the mid-engine concept. The cockpit, which is set well forward, the large wheel arches and the wasp waist with its extensive tail are clear pointers to the car’s motorsports origins. The large black front spoiler, with air inlets stretching across the entire width of the vehicle, dominates the front view. Flat LED headlamps fit seamlessly into the body contours. The dynamic roofline features an air inlet which elegantly fuses into the vertical shark fin. The exhaust pipe design with a large round outlet and two further small openings is based directly on that of the Formula 1 vehicles. The highly functional design gives the vehicle a striking, distinct character, unparalleled in this form, aiming to evoke the feeling of a true race to provide an experience like no other.

The interior offers an authentic Formula 1 feel, blending together performance and practicality. The colours and materials selected for the interior take their inspiration from the Formula 1 racing car. The ergonomically contoured interior with two bucket seats features a futuristic, minimalist style and innovative materials. The pedals and the Formula 1-style steering wheel can be adjusted as necessary. The centre tunnel visually separates the driver and passenger areas and is a functional component of the carbon-fibre support structure. It deftly blends into the monocoque architecture. The sculptured racing seats create an unmistakable association with motor racing. The seat surfaces are interspersed with nappa leather in magma grey and inlays in a sporty textile mesh. The yellow contrasting topstitching is also a distinctive AMG feature.

At a price of $2.72 million each, only 275 units of the Mercedes-AMG ONE are to be built, despite a burgeoning waiting list reportedly four times this, in order to maintain the exclusivity of the hypercar. Delayed by the global pandemic, production of the car began in August 2022 and is expected to become the most outstanding road legal racing car to surface from Affalterbach.