Mercedes-AMG ONE. The Mercedes-AMG ONE (R50, previously known as Project One) is a limited-production plug-in dual hybrid sports car manufactured by Mercedes-AMG, featuring Formula One-derived technology. The Project One concept car was unveiled at the 2017 International Motor Show Germany by the then three-time F1 world champion and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 driver, Lewis Hamilton and head of Mercedes-Benz, Dieter Zetsche.

The production version of the AMG ONE was unveiled on June 1, 2022 and production began in August.

Development 
Mercedes-AMG unveiled the concept version of the ONE, the Project One with nearly identical specifications to the production version. Claimed that the production ONE will be evaluated on their performance, durability, and ability in Mercedes-Benz's proving grounds and on racing circuits. Development of the AMG ONE took place at Mercedes-AMG, in Affalterbach, Germany. Head of Mercedes-AMG, Tobias Moers described that  when "the time is right", Lewis Hamilton, who has worked on the development of the car will join the team of development drivers testing prototypes of the car.

Production 
The production version of the AMG ONE unveiled on June 1, 2022. Production was expected to begin in late 2022 and planned to be limited for 275 units at a price of US$2.72 million per unit, all of which had been already sold. Mercedes-AMG received orders more than four times of the planned production number, but they refused to increase the production limit, in order to maintain exclusivity of the car. Production of the AMG ONE began in August 2022, all 275 cars were set to be hand built by Mercedes-AMG, with deliveries to begin in late 2022. The first car was delivered on January 16, 2023, which had an exclusive paint job inspired by the livery of the F1 W12 E Performance.

Lewis Hamilton reportedly purchased two AMG ONE units, of which one is to be gifted to 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, former Mercedes F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, and Australian businessman Lindsay Fox.

Design

Exterior features 

The exterior of the car is designed primarily for better aerodynamics. Notable aerodynamic features include; moveable slats which were specifically developed for the front wheelhouses, two-part extendable rear wing with DRS system and active flaps on the front diffuser which were adjustable to suit the driver chosen driving program. Additionally, large front air inlets, roof-mounted air intake, large aerodynamic fin extending down the back half of the car and aerodynamically optimized wheels to aid generate more downforce in order to carry the maximum speed at highspeed corners.

Powertrain 
The powertrain of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is rated at  through a hybrid drivetrain that shares many features with modern F1 cars. The car has an internal combustion engine and four electric motors.

Internal combustion engine 

The car on which the engine and design of the ONE is based on is the Mercedes-AMG F1 W06, as confirmed by Mercedes-AMG board member Ola Källenius. The Mercedes-AMG ONE utilises a modified version of the Mercedes-Benz PU106B Hybrid engine, a 1.6-litre turbocharged 90-degree V6 engine. Modifications were done to the engine as to make comply with the idle RPM and redline regulations. Tobias Moers, claimed that the engine would be at 1,280 rpm at idle, and 11,000 rpm at its redline limit. However, the engine would only last for  and the owners will have to return their cars for an engine refurbishment. The ICE produces , torque figures were claimed to be unmeasurable due to the complex drivetrain. Top speed of this car is limited at 219 mph (352 km/h).

Electric motors 
The internal combustion engine works in conjunction with four electric motors: a  motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K) coupled to the crankshaft, a  motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H) coupled to the turbocharger, and two  electric motors at the front axle. The MGU-K and MGU-H are Formula One-style motors responsible for recovering energy and improving efficiency during the operation of the car. More specifically, the MGU-K serves to generate electricity during braking, while the MGU-H serves to eliminate turbo lag in order to improve throttle response by keeping the turbine spinning at lower engine speeds and also to recover waste energy from the exhaust. The final two electric motors driving the front wheels make up for an all-wheel drive drivetrain, the sum of these four electric motors contribute  
of effective power to the total power output figure of the AMG ONE.

Transmission 
The AMG ONE features a 7-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission with 4-disc carbon racing clutch (similar to the type of transmission used in modern F1 cars), and delivers the bulk of the engine power and torque to the rear wheels. The use of a single-clutch over a dual-clutch transmission was due to engineers wanting to keep the car light and concerns over the dual-clutch's ability to handle the high-revving ICE.

Suspension and wheels 
The car contains a five-link aluminium coil-over suspension setup with two transverse adjustable push-rod spring struts, including adaptive damping adjustments. Rear axle links are shaped for better aerodynamics. It also features the hydraulic AMG carbon-fibre ceramic high-performance composite brake system, with 398 x 38 mm front composite brake discs, ventilated with 6-piston aluminium fixed callipers. 380 x 34 mm rear composite brake discs, ventilated with 4-piston aluminium fixed callipers. Additionally electric parking brake, ABS, brake assist and 3-stage ESP were also offered for the car.

The AMG ONE also has unique 10-spoke forged aluminium alloy wheels emerged with NACA carbon fibre openings for brake cooling and increase downforce. Also, with diameters of 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear with F1-styled centre-lock wheel nuts. The tyres are semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2Rs with codes of 285/35 ZR 19 for the front and 335/30 ZR 20 for the rear. The brakes are ventilated carbon-ceramic discs.

Interior features 

The interior is mostly minimalist and driver-focused, continuing the F1 theme of the AMG ONE. This includes AMG Motorsport bucket seats, integrated into the carbon monocoque, a F1-style steering wheel with knobs for driving programs including; DRS, overtake etc. Paddle shifters and a driver-oriented central infotainment screen were also featured in the car. There are some traditional luxury features in the interior, notably the napa leather and hand stitching on the bucket seats.

Chassis 

The body is made entirely out of carbon fiber in line with its F1 counterpart, resulting in a final kerb weight of . The car also features the F1 inspired exhaust tailpipe with a large round main outlet and two smaller outlets.

Performance 

The ONE has six different drive modes. Including "race safe" mode; which features a hybrid driving mode with an all-electric start up. The ICE is switched at higher speeds. "Race" mode is also a hybrid driving mode with a special energy recovery strategy. Also, with a continuous combustion engine run and battery charging. "EV" mode is an all-electric driving mode. "Race plus" mode features active aerodynamics; front diffuser flaps folds up to shape, rear wing is fully extended, louvers (front fender vents) open up, lower the car by 37 mm in front and 30 mm in rear, chassis tuning and special performance management. "Strat 2" mode, which features all "Race Plus" changes and additionally with firmer suspension tuning and full electric power from all electric motors. This is a similar driving mode as used in F1 cars during qualifying sessions. Furthermore, the driver can save their personal favourite settings under the "individual" mode.

In "race plus" and "strat 2" modes, the total vehicle downforce is increased by up to five times when compared to other drive modes. The AMG ONE also features F1's Drag Reduction System (DRS). Reducing the vehicle's overall downforce by 20 percent from lowering the rear wing flaps and closing the front louvers to increase straight line speed. DRS can be turned off by manually and automatically from applying brakes.

Official standstill acceleration times claimed by Mercedes-AMG:
Top speed: 
0-: 2.9 seconds
0-: 7.0 seconds
0-: 15.6 seconds

Lap records
In November 2022, the AMG ONE set a lap time of 6:35.183 minutes around the Nürburgring Nordschleife 12.944 mile (20.832 km) course. Driven by Maro Engel, it became the fastest road-legal production car around the track, beating the previous record by over 13 seconds, held by the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. Engel revealed, the track was not in ideal conditions, and some parts of the track were still on damp conditions and he had to lift throttle at those particular corners. Mercedes-AMG claimed the car could have easily done a sub 6:30 minute lap time, if the track was in ideal conditions.

Mercedes-AMG later tested this claim and, in September 2024, set another laptime in optimal track conditions with a time of 6:29.09 minutes, beating its own record by another 6 seconds. This makes the AMG ONE the first road-legal production car to set a sub-6:30 minute lap time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife 12.944 mile (20.832 km) course.

Following the 2022 Nürburgring lap record, Mercedes-AMG revealed that the AMG ONE has set new lap records around the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit, Hockenheimring, and Red Bull Ring, setting lap times of 1:56.096 minutes, 1:38.563 minutes and 1:26.846 minutes respectively. In April 2023, the AMG ONE was claimed to have set another production car lap record with a time of 1:43.902 minutes around the Monza Circuit.

Marketing
The AMG ONE acts as one of the "hero cars" of Forza Horizon 5, being featured on the game's cover alongside the Ford Bronco.

See also 
 List of production cars by power output

References

External links 

 

One
Flagship vehicles
Mercedes AMG Project One
Cars introduced in 2021
Hybrid electric cars
Plug-in hybrid vehicles
Rear mid-engine, all-wheel-drive vehicles