The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept celebrated its world premiere at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA 2017) along with AMG’s 50th anniversary. The two-seater supersports show car introduces for the first time Formula 1 derived hybrid technology for a road car.
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The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept is a high-performance hybrid which produces over 1000 hp and can reach top speeds beyond 350 km/h. The powertrain of the supercar is derived directly from Formula 1. It consist of one hybrid, turbocharged combustion engine and a total of four electric motors. While one motor is integrated into the turbocharger the other one is installed directly on the combustion engine with a link to the crankcase. The remaining two electric motors power the front wheels.
The hybrid petrol engine is a V6 1.6-litre unit with direct injection and is equipped with an electric turbocharger. The engine is located ahead of the rear axle and can reach speeds of up to 11,000 rpm which is unheard for a road going car.
The high-tech hybrid with the electric turbocharger or the Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H) as designated in Formula 1 utilizes a 90 kW electric motor on the shaft which connects the exhaust gas and compressor turbines. The motor can spin the compressor turbine with up to 1,00,000 rpm. The advantage is that the turbo lag is completely eliminated.
The electric turbocharger has another advantage. It uses parts of the surplus energy from the exhaust system to generate electricity. This energy is then stored it in the high-voltage lithium-ion battery or provided as an additional drive power by feeding it to an additional electric motor. This motor produces 120 kW and is installed directly on the engine and features a link to the crankshaft via a spur gear. It is known as Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K) in Formula 1 language.
Additionally, there are two 120 kW electric motors at the front axle. Each of them is connected to a front wheel via a reduction gear. These motors are able to revolve at speed up to 50,000 rpm. The fully electrically driven front axle allows individual acceleration and braking of each front wheel, and therefore selective torque distribution. Up to 80% of this braking energy can be recovered and stored in the battery for a longer electric range.
The thermal efficiency of Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept’s powertrain will be over 40%. Such a value has been untrained previously for series production vehicles. In comparison, the thermodynamic efficiency of the conventional series production engines is around 33% to 38%.
The battery cells of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept along with their arrangement and the cell cooling system is same as that used in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 racing car. It does utilize more number of cells to make it more practical for everyday use. The lithium-ion, high-voltage battery along with the DC/DC converter which supports and charges the 12 V onboard electrical system are located on the vehicle floor behind the front axle.
The high-voltage EQ Power+ drive system operates with 800 volts instead of the usual 400 volts. The higher voltage levels make it possible to reduce the cable diameters thereby saving space and weight. The driver is able to select between a purely electric operation or a highly dynamic driving mode which corresponds to a setting used in Formula 1 qualifying for optimum lap times.
The driver will always receive the optimum combination of performance and efficiency. The Race Start function provides Impressive acceleration. It can make the car go from zero to 200 km/h in under six seconds.
Power to the rear wheels is transferred via an 8-speed manual transmission which has been specifically developed for the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE. It can be operated in automatic mode or manually using the shift paddles and is activated hydraulically.
Multi-link suspension designs are used at the front and rear. The push-rod spring struts are installed across the direction of travel. This the innovative arrangement of the spring/damper unit replaces the function and application of conventional tubular cross member and prevents rolling movements even during very rapid directional changes. The overall setup of the springs and dampers is configured for perfectly balanced, easily controlled and above all sporty handling characteristics.
The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE gets ABS as standard equipment with ESP adjustable in three stages as is usual for AMG. ESP ON provides a high level of safety, ESP SPORT HANDLING MODE allows greater yaw angles before system intervenes allowing for a sporty driving style, and ESP OFF switches the system off for the ultimate driving experience on enclosed racetracks.
Another completely new development associated with the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept is the 10-spoke forged aluminum wheel with center lock. It has radial carbon-fiber semi-cover with an aerodynamically sophisticated shape which improves the car’s aerodynamics by optimising the airflow around the wheels.
The spokes also have three flat ventilation slots which ensure optimum heat dissipation from the brakes. The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE runs on 10.0 J x 19 dimension wheels at the front with 285/35 ZR 19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that have been exclusively developed for it. At the rear, the hypercar gets 12.0 J x 20 wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 335/30 ZR 20 tires.
The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept is equipped with an advanced, weight-optimised ceramic high-performance compound braking system. This system due to its lower unsprung mass improves driving dynamics and agility. The ceramic brake also has longer service life, higher corrosion resistance, and higher thermal stability. The unique braking system is visually distinguished thanks to the “AMG Carbon Ceramic” lettering and the specially painted brake calipers.
The design of the show car embodies the Mercedes-AMG principle where function precedes form. The result is a mid-engine hypercar with muscular proportions. The front features a large apron with large vents which are spread across the width of the car. A white AMG Logo appears in the middle of the trapezoidal section and just above it lies the Mercedes star.
The hallmark AMG A-wing creates a silver-colored highlight and seamlessly transitions into the front wings. The sleek looking LED headlamps blend seamlessly into the body contours of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept.
On the bonnet, there are air outlets which allow the flow of fresh air to pass unhindered across the driver compartment and into the intake tract on the roof. The automatically extending front splitter and the active ventilation louvers in the front wheel arches influence the downforce at the front axle and contribute to the perfect aero balance of the car.
Mercedes-AMG Project ONE features a low, dynamic greenhouse which has a spherical architecture with a distinctive window pattern. There is a Formula 1 inspired air intake on the roof which feeds the engine with large volumes of air. This intake transitions elegantly into a vertical shark fin which improves lateral stability when cornering at high speed.
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The rear window forms an integral part of the intake/roof-fin unit. It also allows us to view the power unit. There are also two large NACA air inlets at the rear which ensure optimum airflow to the engine and transmission oil cooler.
The side view showcases the sensuous, clean surface and functional design of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept. The black carbon-fiber surfaces redirect the airflow around the vehicle body and improve its aerodynamic characteristics. The vehicle flanks are tautly recessed and get the Petronas green paintbrush design by the same artist who designed the paintwork for the Formula 1 racing car. The doors open forwards and upwards. The fuel filler flap is at the rear right, the charge socket for the plug-in hybrid battery at the rear left.
At the rear, there is the sharp, vertical spoiler lip and the large, two-section diffuser with the exhaust in between. The two-stage extendible rear aerofoil contributes to the hybrid supercar’s aerodynamic efficiency and performance at high speeds. Both the rear lights feature three rhomboid lighting elements to echo the graphic design of the AMG brand logo.
The muscular appearance of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept is further enhanced by the rear apron with its large, black mesh and carbon-fiber components. The design of the exhaust tailpipe was adopted directly from the Formula 1 cars and features a large, round outlet and two further small, round apertures.
The monocoque cabin features reduced components and minimalist style. Just like the exterior, the interior also form follows function. Each detail has a special purpose. The interior has space for two people. The pedals and steering wheel are adjustable which allows the driver to adopt the ideal driving position.
The bucket seats with adjustable backrests are integrated into the monocoque structure. The center tunnel visually separates the driver and passenger areas from each other and blends fully into the seat sculpture.
The slim, wing-like dashboard appears to be light and free-floating. It acts as a structural component and rigidifies the monocoque of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept. There are two free-standing 10-inch displays one of them is in front of the driver while the other one is on the center console angled towards the driver.
Dual AC vents sit below the center screen and form a single unit. A start/stop button is located below on the center console under which lies a stowage compartment which is fitted with a transparent lid.
The motorsport inspired steering wheel of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Concept is flattened both on the top and the bottom sections and has integrated airbag. There is a LED shift display in the upper section of the steering wheel. The buttons and switches can be can be used to set adjustment functions, such as the driving modes and suspension setup.
The door panels are made from high-grade carbon-fiber. An aluminum cassette combines the air vents and power window switches and is integrated in the deeply recessed rectangles. Small items can be stowed in two compartments on the left and right behind the seats.
The rear-view mirror is replaced by a screen which shows real-time images of the rear from a mirror cam. The aluminum screen housing is fully integrated into the roof, and also holds other controls. The selection of the materials and colors have been inspired the by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 racing car. The seats are finished in slip-resistant black microfiber with Nappa leather in magma grey and inlays in a sporty textile mesh along with yellow contrasting topstitching.
The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE will be an ultimate driving machine that will bring current Formula 1 hybrid technology onto the road. The hypercar combines top-class racetrack performance with full day-to-day suitability. The Project ONE team is working hard on successfully bringing this vision onto the road.
