Mercedes finally showcased the road-ready version of the AMG One hypercar earlier in the year. That means it classifies as a production car for setting records at tracks, and there is no bigger boast than being the fastest at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The AMG One bested its stablemate, the AMG GT Black Series, by over 12 seconds and completed the lap in 6:35.183 minutes.
According to Mercedes correspondents and those in attendance, the new lap record was set in track conditions that were not ideal. It was the team’s last run with slightly damp conditions in a couple of sections of the track, but Maro Engel was able to put together a great lap nonetheless. Some estimate that in perfect track circumstances the AMG One could complete the lap in under 6:30 minutes.
The AMG One is the first hypercar to be officially timed around the Nürburgring and it already is quite a hardcore vehicle. It is a road-legal iteration of Mercedes’ immensely successful F1 car with essentially the same engine technology. Underneath the carbon fibre skin lies a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine assisted by hybrid technology and multiple electric motors for all-wheel-drive. It has a total peak output of 1063hp and the engine redlines at 11,000rpm.
On the surface, the AMG One packs a lot of F1-derived active aerodynamics while having all its wheels fully covered. The overall design looks sleek and optimised for performance, with every opening and cutaway and character line serving a purpose. It also gets some trick F1-derived suspension with electronically controlled damping for a breadth of usability on and off track. For the lap record attempt, the AMG One was in full attack mode called Race Plus. It not only unlocks the full potential of the F1 powertrain but also drops the car by 37mm at the front and 33mm at the rear. Lastly, we have the active rear wing with DRS mode that is activated by a button on the racing-styled steering wheel.
The only adjustment made to the record-setting AMG One was that the camber values were set to the maximum number allowed for a delivery-ready vehicle. Not a modification, but an adjustment that can be requested from the factory by all owners. It already gets high-performance ceramic composite brakes as standard along with the specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO tyres.
Given its F1-based hybrid technology, Maro Engel had to employ similar tactics as F1 drivers to get the best possible time from the AMG One. This is where the length of the Nordschleife circuit plays a role in revealing the true potential of any car. What we’re trying to say is that the lap was not set with the pedal to the metal, but required the strategic deployment of electric power in the right places and restrained footwork in some sections of the 20.83km track. For the final stretch down the Döttinger Höhe, there was just enough juice in the system for the high-downforce F1 road car to hit a top speed of 338kmph, shy of its electronically limited top speed of 352kmph.
With the AMG One, Mercedes might just have put the production car lap record well out of Porsche’s reach. The 992-generation 911 GT2 RS will have to be something quite insane to try and beat that time, while the 1088hp 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance may not make it to production without some taming.
What do you make of the new Nürburgring lap record? Do you think any other hypercar will be able to beat the time set by the AMG One? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Auto Loons blog for more cool updates from the car world. You can also follow us on Instagram for more automotive content.
The Auto Loons 