F1-powered Mercedes-AMG One delayed amid ‘adjustments on powertrain’

Mercedes-AMG’s upcoming One hypercar has been delayed by nine months, as a result of complications in adjusting its Formula One-derived powertrain for road use.

Speaking to Top Gear, AMG chief executive Tobias Moers said: “We have a delay. It’s not a secret – I talk openly about that with our customers, and with [Top Gear]. There were some adjustments to be made on the powertrain.”

The One is set to feature a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.6-litre V6 engine paired up to four electric motors — almost identical to the one found in the Mercedes-AMG F1 car driven by Lewis Hamilton.

No exact performance specifications have been revealed for the German hypercar yet, but Mercedes-AMG says it’ll produce close to 1,000bhp with a top speed ‘in excess’ of 217mph.

Achieving those figures while homologating the race-bred engine for road use hasn’t come without challenges, though. Moers touched on the difficulties of achieving emissions regulations at an idle, saying: “Getting a stable idle at 1,200rpm, that’s challenging.

“To give you a simple example. You have leakage in the throttles in Formula One and nobody cares, because it runs at a 5,000rpm idle. At a 1,200rpm idle, you have to meet the emissions regulations. You need a stable, proper idle. If it’s unstable, your emissions are unstable.”

Despite the delays, Moers remains confident customers will see the car soon. He said: “I’m confident, but we lost maybe nine months or so.

“It took a while to get back on track but we are open with our customers. We just had the discussion with them. You know what they tell me? ‘Make sure that the car works. Because of what we experienced in the past with hybrid cars, take your time.’”