A ROAD legal Mercedes sports car that’s powered by a Formula One engine can be yours for an astronomical price.
The very special hybrid motor, called the Mercedes-AMG ONE, boasts tech derived from the brand’s incredibly successful F1 program.
A Mercedes sports car powered by a Formula One engine can be yours for a huge price[/caption]
Called the AMG ONE, it boasts tech derived from the brand’s F1 program[/caption]
The swashbuckling machine took Mercedes seven years to develop and boasts the same engine that powered Lewis Hamilton’s F1 Championship-winning car in 2015.
Capable of generating 1,063bhp, the AMG ONE can reach a top speed of 219 mph with a 0 to 60 mph time in just 2.9 seconds.
It features a specially manufactured gearbox as well as trimmings and other contraptions to keep the engine as cool as possible – with F1 engines known for overheating quickly because of friction and high speeds.
These engines, although highly durable, are not designed for long distances and operate best up to 1,500 miles before their performance drops.
Thankfully, the example that’s currently available comes with only 34 miles on the clock – but it does cost a cool £2.8 million.
According to Mercedes, the first example was delivered in January 2023, and came with an exclusive paint job inspired by the livery of F1 W12 – the car that won the 2021 F1 Constructors Championship.
Hamilton reportedly purchased two AMG ONE cars, with one gifted to his father, Anthony.
Other famous names who own an AMG ONE include David Coulthard and former Mercedes F1 stars Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas, as well as Australian businessman Lindsay Fox.
In total, just 275 examples are planned.
The listing, which is provided by European Prestige, said: “The F1 engine is largely unchanged in the road car, getting the same 1.6-litre displacement, with both an MGU-K and MGU-H recouping energy into an 8.4kWh battery.
“Where it differs is with the addition of two electric motors up front, which combined with the combustion engine develop 1,063bhp.
“The start procedure of the car is said to be highly specific, as demonstrated by 2016 F1 champ Nico Rosberg when he took delivery of his earlier this year.
“For instance, it takes over a minute to warm the catalytic converters up, and cutting the engine before you’re meant to, is a big no-no.
“Do that six times in a row and Merc will lock the engine, requiring a call-out from a technician with a laptop to get it started again.
“Regardless of the complicated starting procedure, the car is a unique purchase with just 34 miles on its odometer.
“It also comes with an array of accessories, including AMG-branded noise-cancelling earphones from Sennheiser.”
Amazing, the AMG ONE isn’t the first sports car that’s had an F1 engine fitted into it – as the famous Ferrari F50, which used a monstrous 4.7-litre V12 engine, was in fact a heavily reworked version of the 3.5-litre engine that powered the Prancing Horse’s 1990 F1 car.
Lewis Hamilton owns two examples of the extra special hybrid car[/caption]
Just 275 examples will be made by the German brand – with a handful of F1 stars already snapping them up[/caption]
It boasts an incredible 219 mph top speed[/caption]
