F1 based Mercedes-AMG hypercar in the works

F1-powered Mercedes-AMG hypercar currently under development. Expected to come out in 2017 with Aston-Martin AM-RB 001 in its cross hairs.

Word is out that Mercedes-AMG is secretly developing a hypercar that will be powered by the company’s current championship winning Formula 1 engine. Reportedly, the F1 derived hypercar is currently in the final stages of development and is expected to be revealed in 2017 – which if you think about is also the year that’d mark AMG’s 50^th anniversary. Coincidence? We don’t think so!

While details are sparse about the Mercedes-AMG hypercar at the moment, it is believed that it will be powered by a bigger capacity version of the F1 car’s turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 petrol engine, developing over 1,000bhp! On top of that, it will have usual F1 sorcery added in the mix such an energy-recovery system, three electric motors, carbon-monocoque chassis and some serious aero aids.

The forthcoming Mercedes-AMG hypercar will have its sights set on the Aston Martin AM-RB 001 – another F1 based hypercar that’s developed by arch rival Red Bull Racing in partnership with Aston Martin. However, unlike the brutal looking AM-RB 001, the Mercedes-AMG hypercar is reportedly going to be a little less mental in its appearance. But there will be no quarters given on the performance front and like the AM-RB 001, Mercedes-AMG will also be targeting a power to weight ratio of 1:1 with their new F1 hypercar.

The last time Mercedes did a road car based on its F1 activities dates back to 2003 when it launched the SLR McLaren. As the name suggests, it was co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and its then Formula 1 partner McLaren Racing. The SLR McLaren went out of production in 2010. Since then there has not been a limited run performance flagship that’s come out of Mercedes' F1 operations. This void however is soon going to be filled…

Also read: Aston Martin Red Bull Racing AM-RB 001 hypercar revealed