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New Spy Photos Show Mercedes-AMG ONE Still Testing 3 Years After Its Debut

After collaboration with McLaren to create the SLR McLaren, the three-pointed star took a different approach to performance. Not only did Mercedes return as a works team in Formula 1, but AMG has turned into a fully-fledged performance division that has yet to reach its potential.
New spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONE 13 photos
Photo: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien
New spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONENew spy photo of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONE
First and foremost, the three-valve-per-cylinder V12 has been dropped in favor of six to eight cylinders and electrification. The indirect successor of the 65 series will be known as 73, and a liftback sedan will be the first Aufrecht Melcher Grossaspach car to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Above it, the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar is still testing to ensure that everything is sorted out before deliveries kick off next year. The concept was revealed with great pomp and circumstance at the 2017 International Motor Show Germany by Lewis Hamilton, and the most successful Formula 1 driver on the grid has also helped developed the road racer.

The latest spy shots were taken by the carparazzi “at a secret test location” which features a high-speed oval section and a few winding parts with elevation changes. In all likelihood, Mercedes-AMG is fine-tuning the chassis and suspension for real-life driving scenarios while monitoring the extreme heat generated by the V6 turbo as well as the downforce characteristics.

Although it’s similar to the Ferrari F50, the ONE is a different animal. Formula 1 has evolved a lot between these two special editions, now featuring hybrid power units instead of screaming V12s. Adapting a race engine for road use is a serious undertaking, which is why the hypercar that will be built in the UK needs an engine rebuild at 50,000 kilometers (32k miles).

Priced at close to 2.3 million euros and capable of revving to 11,000 rpm, the ONE will be a rare sight. Codenamed R50, the plug-in hybrid interloper is going to number 275 units for the entire world. The run is sold out, and AMG isn't going to add allocations in order to maintain the car's exclusivity.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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