Lewis Hamilton knows high-performance cars and he recently got the chance to check out the Mercedes-AMG Project One.
While the model is still under development, the current Formula 1 points leader said “It’s like a bullet. It’s incredible – the speed it picks up.” Hamilton was also impressed by the noise as he stated “The sound is pretty much exactly the same as it is in a racecar.”
The clip doesn’t delve into specifics, but it gives us an up close look at a development prototype which remains pretty faithful to the Project One concept that debuted at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Of course, it’s not finished yet so there are some notable differences.
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In particular, the prototype lacks some slats in the front fascia and the hood vent is just a makeshift insert. The exhaust is also different as it features four centrally mounted tips instead one massive tip mounted above two smaller ones. These deviations are likely just temporary and we can expect the production model to closely echo the concept.
Of course, that means we can expect a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 engine and four electric motors. This will enable the model to have all-wheel drive and a combined output in excess of 986 hp (735 kW / 1000 PS).
The car is slated to have an electric-only range of 15.5 miles (25 km), but efficiency plays second fiddle to performance. Speaking of which, the car is slated to run from 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) in less than six seconds and hit a top speed in excess of 217 mph (350 km/h).
Unfortunately, the high-tech powertrain has proved difficult to develop and the company recently confirmed deliveries have been pushed back to 2021. As Mercedes-AMG’s head of product management, Michael Knoller, explained “When you make F1 technology street-legal you have to go through a journey with the customers. We had some challenges, but now we’ve reached a tipping point.”