All hail the hypercar
Mercedes-Benz shows off it road-going F1 concept
You don’t need human supermodels on your display when you have a street-legal Formula 1 car to turn heads. Mercedes-Benz is counting on the Mercedes-AMG Project One Hypercar to draw the crowds at CIAS.
The car is still a concept, but as an F1-based, road-going hypercar, it promises to demonstrate the benchmark of possibility, according to Tobias Moers, head of management at Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
“Project One raises the bar in terms of what is currently technologically feasible,” he says, “and at the same time provides an outlook on how AMG will define driving performance in the future.”
The car is equipped with a 1.6-litre V6 hybrid, turbocharged engine and four electric motors that produce over1,000 hp and a top speed beyond 350 km/h. It is mid-engined, and can achieve 11,000 rpm, more than any other road-going vehicle. The engine will be limited, however, to allow for the use of pump gas instead of racing fuel.
AMG says the car will travel from zero to 200 km/h in six seconds and will have an exclusive eight-speed transmission that manages power transfer — either manually or automatically — to the rear wheels.
Project One is packed with F1 technologies designed to demonstrate AMG prowess both in terms of performance and design. But unlike an F1 car, there is room for two inside, and luggage, Mercedes says.
“The AutoShow is an opportunity to demonstrate the full-range of our extensive product portfolio and give people a first look at exciting upcoming models and cutting-edge innovations,” said Virginie Aubert, vice-president, marketing, Mercedes-Benz Canada.
“Several vehicles we’re showing this year are sure to be fan favourites, including the Mercedes-AMG Project One Hypercar,” she says. “These impressive vehicles capture people’s attention and draw them to our booth, creating an opportunity to engage with consumers and demonstrate the many ways MercedesBenz is driving innovation.”
For those wanting to see vehicles they can buy, the German automaker is also showing the new G-550 luxury, off-road SUV and the MercedesAMG CLS 53.
The 53-series cars made their debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. They are powered by a new, 6-cylinder, 3-litre engine turbocharged by an exhaust gas compressor and electrical auxiliary compressor. The engine makes 429 horsepower with 384 ft-lb of torque and is boosted by a starter-alternator that can provide an extra 21 hp and 184 ft-lb of torque.
With the 9-speed transmission, offering automatic or paddle-shifting, the CLS 53 4MATIC+ zooms from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Part of that grunt is provided by the starter-alternator. It feeds a new 48-volt electrical system that allows for greater battery capacity, powers the conventional 12-volt electrical system and provides hybrid power to the drive wheels. The CLS 53 4MATIC+ Coupe is expected to be available in Canada in fall 2018.
The new G-Class 550 is part of a redesign of Mercedes-Benz’s iconic off-road vehicle. Long revered by many for its unchanging, boxy design, the company acknowledges it had to tread carefully in the update.
“The new ‘G’ is still a ‘G’, only better,” stresses Ola Källenius, member of the board of Daimler AG responsible for group research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.
Features added to this generation include a new suspension, LED headlights, driver assist technologies and an upgraded interior. The new vehicles are both longer and wider than the previous generation, which translates into more space inside for front and rear passengers.
The company is most proud of the new suspension, which came about thanks to collaboration between the Mercedes-Benz and MercedesAMG divisions. The result is an independent suspension with a double-wishbone front axle in combination with a rigid rear axle. This gives the vehicle a 270-mm ground clearance at the front axle, designed to maximize off-road capability.
The new G-Class vehicles will be coming to market in Canada in late summer this year.
The company will also be using CIAS to preview its new mobile app: Mercedes me connect. It will include a suite of services including navigation, remote connectivity to the vehicle and roadside assistance. It will be available starting for 2019 model year vehicles beginning this fall.