2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG One

Offered for sale is this 2024 AMG Project One.

Even at a time when we’ve experienced more supercars than ever before, the Project One manages to stand out. The wild and imaginative expressions of the supercar ideal by other manufacturers somehow manage to be eclipsed by this car’s seriousness and true Formula One drivetrain specification. While we’ve gotten used to incredible power outputs and hybrid drive systems, Mercedes-AMG dares to actually use the hybrid turbo V6 engine from AMG’s Formula One car. Not simply similar, not leaning into the long overused and abused premise of selling something that's 'inspired by' a motorsport division.

This time, we are looking at a legitimate, detuned example of what lines up on the F1 grid for every AMG-engined car. For the Project One, that means a turbocharged 1.6-liter V6, redlined at 11,000 rpm, with electric motors for assistance - four of them, and yet those aren’t all mounted at the wheel hubs. Two reside at the front wheels, one at the rear axle - and the fourth nestled next to the turbocharger, keeping it spinning when exhaust gases aren’t sufficient enough to create boost. One is again reminded of the enormous amount of computational power required to make this sort of setup work harmoniously. It represents a level of Teutonic commitment that, for even the most ardent fan of the brand, causes a moment of wonder and reflection 

Not, of course, that it was easy. The Project One did take longer to come to market than originally promised, because there were so many aspects of this exercise that needed proper time and development to become road-worthy. As both their race and road cars become hybrids, the level of computational power required to allow all the methods of propulsion to function harmoniously is considerable, and with the full complement of electric motors paired to a fully competition built IC engine, they needed all the bytes they could pack into it.

And the result isn’t a typical GT-oriented supercar, or even one of the harder-edged specialty models that are developed on the racetrack as a more focused variant of an existing supercar platform. The Project One is properly optimized for its one true mission, and any attempts to domesticate the experience would have been pointless. Any video of the Project One that has audio recorded inside of it at speed reveals the intensely mechanical soundtrack that occurs at speed - and immediately dispels any concerns that the car might attempt to hide its origins from the occupants.

Befitting the pure dedication made to speed by AMG-Mercedes in releasing this machine to the general public, the level of noise in the cabin is admittedly louder than your average GT supercar. It is a gloriously mechanical soundtrack that emphasizes the distinct lack of a need for augmented sounds or synthesized noise, full of the sound of that full complement of machinery working together to optimize speed at all times. The active aero is just that, to the point that almost any other car’s systems seem downright lazy - active diffuser flaps, active fender louvers, even an active rear spoiler with its own *extra* active spoiler (or spoiler flap, as Mercedes calls it), all constantly shifting, the overall effect is that of a machine that is constantly thinking - assessing every moment and adjusting itself immediately to the driver’s best advantage.

Coming directly from the racing environment, where every tenth of a second makes the difference, the Project One is a singular machine. It represents the kind of deeply serious lunacy that could only come from an engineering leader like Mercedes-AMG, a result of the kind of effort not likely to be seen again. That makes it an easy choice for any collector looking for the closest thing to a no excuses race car for the street you can own.

This 2024 AMG Project One is one of 275 to be made in total. It is a true Formula One-derived vehicle, powered by a detuned version of the Formula 1 AMG-Petronas 1.6-liter turbo V6, aided by four electric motors. It features a full carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and body panels, with active aero, active air brake, and extensive aerodynamic airflow management meant to augment downforce and grip.

• Total Power Output: The combined power output of the hybrid powertrain exceeds 1,000 horsepower, making the Project One one of the most powerful road-legal cars ever built.

• Performance: The Project One boasts exceptional performance figures. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed exceeding 217 mph.

• Electric Range: The Project One is also capable of driving short distances on electric power alone. It has a limited electric-only range, allowing for emissions-free driving in urban environments.

• Aerodynamics: The Project One features an aerodynamically optimized design that maximizes downforce while minimizing drag. Its active aerodynamic elements adjust automatically to optimize airflow and enhance stability at high speeds.

• Production: Production of the Mercedes-AMG Project One is highly limited, with only 275 units planned for production.