Mercedes-AMG ONE to get hypercar sequel

Mercedes-Benz will roll out an all-new replacement for the still-to-be-launched 746kW Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar, despite the advanced Formula 1-powered halo car being hit by numerous delays that threatened to scuttle the project.

Speaking to carsales at the recent Munich motor show, Mercedes-AMG chief technical officer Jochen Hermann said when the 2022 Mercedes-AMG ONE lands in the hands of its owners, it will be regarded as a "technical miracle".

That will be partly due to the fact that at the heart of AMG's Aston Martin Valkyrie rival is a powertrain which harnesses the power of four electric motors and a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol V6 that's closely based on the 2016 World Championship-winning engine.

With its gestation described by Hermann as being a mixture of "excitement and frustration", the AMG hypercar has been hit with various delays related to the introduction of the stricter WLTP emissions regulations during its development.

Some of the biggest issues have reportedly concerned the combustion engine's cold-weather emissions performance, plus adapting it to idle at 1200rpm. Originally, F1 engines idle at a far higher 5000rpm.

Despite all the challenges of wrangling the hybrid powertrain to meet the regulations, Hermann said the ONE had "not killed the appetite for another AMG hypercar".

"We're really excited we did this car, it really pushed us as a company, it pushed us a brand. We really learned so much and the result is a technical miracle," he said.

Hermann wouldn't be drawn on how exactly the ONE replacement would take shape, but categorically ruled out it being F1-powered.

"This is the most complex powertrain anybody can think of," he said.

"I can tell you for one, 100 per cent, Mercedes will never ever do another Formula 1 street-legal car and I'm sure our rivals will come to the same conclusion."

Indeed, Hermann still punishes himself for helping develop the idea back in 2017.

"I hate myself – I can remember when the idea [for the ONE's F1-dereived powertrain] came up. And when ideas come up among crazy people, you never talk about the downsides!"

Scratching on the surface of some of the complexities of adapting the F1 engine for a road car application, the AMG tech chief has reminded future owners that the current F1 car needs around 12 engineers to keep the current M10 F1 car running for a minimum distance of around 305km whereas the upcoming production ONE hypercar requires just the driver.

Mercedes-AMG originally said the 1.6-litre DOHC V6 would require a full rebuild every 50,000km, but recent changes to the engine have reduced its rev limit from 11,000rpm to improve its durability and extend its service life.

Performance is still under wraps, but an advanced aero package promises to enhance its abilities on track while keeping it stable at its 350km/h top speed.

Of the 275 examples to be built, at least eight of the game-changing AMGs have been sold to Australians, priced at close to $5 million apiece.

According to Hermann, all owners have been kept up to date with the ONE's high-profile delays and are now so familiar with the AMG team of engineers that they've begun to "feel like family".

That said, Hermann had a message for owners still waiting patiently for the AMG flagship to land.

"Apologies to all our customers, but remember, good things tend to take a while."

There's no word on the ONE replacement, but it's almost certain it will be all-electric and be based on AMG's dedicated EA architecture.

Set to once again feature F1 tech, instead of another high-revving V6 hybrid-turbo, expect the ONE sequel to feature battery tech lifted from the pinnacle of motorsport.

The futuristic hypercar is also set for next-gen in-hub motors and cutting-edge weight-saving measures, plus more motorsport-derived advanced aerodynamics.