Mercedes says it will introduce a lineup of ultra-high performance AMG-branded plug-in hybrids, and it'll most likely start with a mega-horsepower PHEV version of the AMG GT four-door coupe.
F1-inspired road cars
With the Mercedes-AMG F1 team having launched its 2021 competitor (and let's face it, more than likely Lewis Hamilton's eighth world-title chariot) the W12, Merccedes is now taking the opportunity to big-up its plans for F1-inspired high-performance hybrids. For, y'know, the nine years and counting that we'll still be able to buy such cars.
"For nine years now, we have been linked by a close partnership, which has given rise to a wide range of developments and countless successes. We are united by the same motorsport DNA and a strong spirit in the entire team. To put it succinctly, we live performance! Now is exactly the right time to take our cooperation to the next level: with the Project One hypercar, for the first time we are putting Formula 1 technology nearly one-to-one on the road. We will deliver the first cars of this highly exclusive series to our customers this year. With this unique project, we are heralding the performance-oriented electrification at AMG. Under our E-Perforance technology label, we are advancing our interpretation of a powerful and efficient hybrid technology for the future road-going models. And as far as our performance on the race track is concerned, of course we hope that our fastest and most powerful E Performance vehicles will be able to fight for the world championship titles again this year", says Philipp Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-AMG.
Affalterbach and Brixworth
To help it develop its new hybrids, AMG's head office in Affalterbach which link up more closely with the HPP (High Performance Powertrains) team in Brixworth, in the UK, which makes F1 engines for the Mercedes team (as well as Williams, Aston Martin, and McLaren). "The technical challenges in Formula One are tremendous and are thus a fascinating challenge for an engineer. In the elite class of motorsport the current hybrid power units are not only extremely powerful, they also have tremendous thermal efficiency - characteristics that we also pursue in our series models. Through the close exchange we can use a multitude of experience and technologies from Formula 1 in our performance hybrids for the road", says Jochen Hermann, Member of Management of Mercedes-AMG.
While Mercedes isn't explicitly saying that it's going to make a high-powered hybrid version of the AMG GT four-door, the fact that it has plonked one next to a W12 F1 car and the Project One Hypercar for a photo-op probably says a lot. The Mercedes rumour mill (not an actual mill, you understand...) reckons that this previews a plug-in hybrid rival to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E PHEV, and that the combination of the AMG GT's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and an electric motor could yield as much as 800hp. Which might sound a little like overkill, given that the Panamera has 690hp, and feels about as monstrously fast as you would want a car to be.
Improving battery tech
Of course, it's not just in terms of engine performance that AMG and HPP are going to co-operate. F1 teams have become specialists at creating battery packs that are smaller, lighter, and yet more powerful, and combine that with Merc's current ability to create PHEVs with 100km electric-only ranges, and you could have an exciting new generation of plug-in performance models.
"We are looking forward to working together more closely in a wide range of areas. Regardless of whether it is in our Formula 1 team or at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach - this fantastic team spirit can be felt everywhere. Every single employee is really giving it everything and the motto "We live performance" captures it perfectly. I am excited to see what else we can achieve together", says Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
AMG and the F1 squad will also co-operate more closely on things like e-Sports projects, as well as customer racing offerings in GT racing.