Report: Mercedes-AMG Hypercar Allegedly Confirmed, To Use F1 Engine

Now, though, rumor has it Mercedes-AMG will do something similar to what Jaguar had done. More to the point, Mercedes-AMG is rumored to drop the hybrid power unit of the Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid into a hypercar, due to arrive in 2017, the year which marks the 50th anniversary of AMG. The latest report in this sense comes from evo and, for what it’s worth, it’s uncanny.

First of all, the title: “Mercedes F1 team confirms F1-engined hypercar.” Since when does the Mercedes-Benz works team talk in the name of Mercedes-AMG, as in the road-going vehicle division? Secondly, the report is full of ifs.

Now here’s a quote to end all quotes: “The team source also confirmed that the Mercedes hypercar will be powered by the 1.6-liter V6 turbo engine fitted to the current W07 F1 racer, which is driven by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The powertrain will also feature an energy-recovery system capable of taking its total output beyond 1000 bhp.” I don’t mean to rude, but an F1 engine seems like a disastrous idea because an F1 engine isn’t built for sitting in traffic and pootle around the parking lot of your nearest supermarket.

Inconsistencies get even worse further on. In a moment of obviousness, evo also questions the feasibility of such a drivetrain by highlighting that Formula 1 engines cannot be started without an external power source. Heck, an F1 engine doesn’t even have a starter motor. Furthermore, an F1 engine runs as intended at eye-watering speeds, at velocities that allow the ICE to cool.

In addition to the already mentioned, evo also mumbles something about electric motors. Two for each of the front wheels, a possible third one on the rear axle, nothing is sure just yet. “Power is expected to be in the region of 1000 bhp to 1500 bhp, with 900 bhp of that generated from the V6 turbo engine.” Top speed? 220-plus mph (354 km/h) or so it's been reported.

On that note, pricing is expected to be stratospheric. According to the cited report, we’re in for a sticker of €4 million ($4.45 million at current exchange rates) and a production run of 50 units. The latter is a nod to how many years of existence Mercedes-AMG will be celebrating in the calendar year 2017.

Don’t get me wrong. I am down with such a beastly road-going machine, partly because I imagine the still-unconfirmed Mercedes-AMG hypercar as being the spiritual successor to the CLK GTR of the 1990s. If the peeps at Mercedes-AMG will actually pull it off, Formula 1 hybrid power unit reliability and all, I am a bit reserved about that. As I've noted earlier, Mercedes F1 has no say whatsoever over Mercedes-AMG's plans, hence my doubt.