Mercedes-AMG One 2019: Benz goes with ONE name for hypercar

One could be the loneliest number after Mercedes-AMG dropped the prefix 'Project' on its forthcoming hypercar and prepares it for production next year.

The Formula One racer that has been made road-ready was formerly known as Project One but now, in its transformation from concept to reality, has from this week become known as One.

In Australia, it won’t be too lonely. Seven people have reportedly put their name to the $3.65 million car that is bringing Formula One hybrid technology to the street.

The cars cannot be driven on Australian roads because of left-hand drive configuration and lack of design rule parameters, but can be used on circuits and private road events.

Prospective buyers have now been given the chance to 'drive' the car in Mercedes-AMG’s mobile 'The Future of Driving Performance' showroom, a custom-made trailer parked in the grounds of the Munich Mercedes-Benz dealership for exclusive use by ONE customers.

In EV mode, the car can travel for up to 25km. But the real joy is its 0-200km/h time of less than six seconds.

This showroom – which has the vehicle display, coffee bar, lounge and various information elements including touch-screen animations, material samples and colour examples – includes the One cockpit for buyers to sit and experience the car.

The One will be unveiled to the public at next week’s Paris motor show after completing intensive testing on high-performance test stands and racetracks in England.

Mercedes-AMG is now testing One’s active aerodynamics in wind tunnels. The aerodynamics includes a multi-part, two-stage extendable rear wing for maximum downforce in race mode.

The One has a plug-in hybrid drive system called 'EQ Power +' that follows the theme of Mercedes-Benz’s EQ range of upcoming EV and hybrid production vehicles.

But the EQ name is about the only thing shared with the One. The hypercar gets a Formula One-derived 1.6-litre V6 turbo-petrol engine with a hybrid system consisting of four electric motors.

One of those motors is within the turbocharger and another is attached directly to the engine. The remaining motors drive the front wheels.

Mercedes-AMG said the ONE delivers more than 740kW (that’s over 1000hp in the old money) with 500kW through the rear wheels and 240kW through the front. The engine is mated to an eight-speed semi-manual transmission.

In electric mode, the car can travel for up to 25km. But the real joy of the car is its full-blown performance which gets it to 200km/h from rest in less than six seconds on the way to a top speed of more than 350km/h.

Does $3.65 million for a car you can’t drive on the street sound a bit crazy? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.