It’s not too often that I can brag about the engine in my Chevy Impala being twice the size of a brand new Mercedes inspired by Formula 1 racing technology. However, it is fairly common for my modest sedan to be dwarfed by the 1100 horsepower offered by a vehicle so unique and expensive that it’s not classified as a hybrid, but a hypercar.
So, let’s take a closer look at the Project One that Mercedes-AMG unveiled this week at the Frankfurt Auto Show.
The Project One borrows engineering prowess garnered from F1 race tracks in generating 11,000 RPM and 700 horsepower from a 1.6-liter V6 engine. Just to offer some comparison, my aforementioned Impala’s engine has twice the displacement and about half the power.
The supremely efficient V6 is teamed with four electric motors to give the Project One a top speed of 217 mph and a 0 to 60 time of 2.6 seconds. Each front wheel has a dedicated electric motor, with a third integrated directly into the engine. The fourth powers a turbocharger, because the last thing you want on your way to 200 mph is a lag in power.
When running in electric mode, the hybrid drive system has a range of 20 miles.
The Project One also uses something called torque vectoring technology, which applies torque to specific wheels, so it’s kind of like having a really obsessive all-wheel-drive system that enhances handling capabilities. Additional features include lightweight carbon-fiber body and wheels, as well as carbon ceramic brakes. A large number of intakes and vents also help to channel air and keep the engine and brakes cool.
About the only thing you don’t get with the Project One is autonomous driving capabilities. So you will have to keep your hands off the wheel, which is probably a good thing.
The Project One is listed at $2.8 million. If you can’t afford that, don’t worry, the 275 models that are being produced in 2019 have already been sold.