The new Mercedes-AMG ONE is a 1,063Hp F1 Car for the Road

• The hybrid hypercar is rated at a combined fuel consumption of 8.7 l/100 km.

• More importantly, it features a turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 engine and four electric motors.

• Most importantly, the V6’s redline is set at 11,000 rpm.

Despite the fact that five years have gone by since the first Mercedes-AMG ONE was first introduced, enthusiasts the world over are happy. Happy, because the barely-street-legal hypercar is as wild as it ever was and has the performance chops to immediately make it one of the greats.

This car’s devil, or should we say devils, are in its specifications. The Mercedes-AMG ONE is a hybrid meaning it holds a petrol-powered engine. This gem of a mill is an electrically turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 that produces 574 horsepower at 9,000 rpm on its own. The electric exhaust gas turbocharger, one of the four electric motors, also acts as a 122-horsepower generator, feeding the two front electric motors, the electric motor on the V6 (MGU-K = Motor Generator Unit Kinetic), or the battery.

The V6 and the 163-horsepower MGU-K send their combined power to the rear wheels via a 7-speed automated manual gearbox. As part of the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive, the front axle holds two electric motors that produce a combined 326 horsepower. As they are not mechanically linked to the rear axle, they provide individual torque distribution better known as torque vectoring.

The total system output of 1,063 horsepower enables the Mercedes-AMG ONE to sprint to 100 km/h in only 2.9 seconds, to 200 km/h in 7 seconds, to 300 km/h in 15.6 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 352 km/h. It’s not all about speed however as the ONE’s 8.4 kWh battery delivers a purely electric range of 18.1 kilometres. And yes, it is rated at a combined 8.7 l/100 km in mixed driving.

Helping put the power to the road is a staggered set of ultra-beefy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R M01 on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear forged wheels with carbon-fibre partial covers which hide massive AMG carbon-fibre ceramic high-performance composite brakes. The chassis is composed of a front and rear multi-link suspension with pushrods and adaptive dampers. Also included are active aerodynamics that hydraulically lower the car by 37 millimetres on the front axle and by 30 millimetres on the rear axle based on driving modes and speeds.

Physically, the Mercedes-AMG ONE looks as though it belongs on the Le Mans starting grid and not a 10+ car garage. The ultra-aerodynamic carbon-fibre body, which sits atop a carbon-fibre monocoque, is designed to be completely functional, capable of generating noticeable downforce from as low as 50 km/h.

The cabin is snug but still spacious enough for two occupants. Despite the exotic and premium nature of this beast, the ONE’s interior is purely about driving where functionality trumps all other wants or needs. Even so, there are two high-resolution, free-standing 10-inch displays, some vents, and a Formula 1-style steering wheel. This car is the business.

Production of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is set to begin this year however actual deliveries may happen even later. No matter what, the wait will have been worth it.