Mercedes-AMG ONE: Bringing Formula 1 to the Road

November 09, 2020 – The new Mercedes-AMG ONE is the ultimate Formula 1 inspired supercar that’s ready for road use. Technology has been passed down from Formula 1 to everyday cars for years. From safety features, to new materials, exterior design and more. But Mercedes didn’t want to stop there, they wanted to create a road car that utilizes as much F1 technology as possible.

With Mercedes-AMG working together with the Petronas Motorsport team, the Mercedes-AMG ONE was born. Featuring a turbocharged 1.6 liter V6 with four independent motors, the ONE is able to put out over 1,000 hp, with a top speed of 217 mph. Speaking of those four electric motors, there is one for each front wheel, one linked to the crankcase, and one in the turbocharger itself.

Another important statistic the ONE is able to put down is its incredible 0-200 kph (0-124 mph) speed, falling under 6 seconds. Compare that to the Chiron which does it in 6.5 seconds. This is all thanks to those front axle motors which are capable of 50,000 rpms alone. Also, selective torque distribution allows for extra high levels of vehicle dynamics. These abilities matched with a Race Start function and that electric motor in the turbocharger, allowing for zero turbo lag, give the ONE its quickness.

The power and handling of the ONE are definitely impressive, but it doesn’t stop there. The efficiency of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is equally impressive. An EQ Power+ hybrid drive system allows for multiple driving modes, from only electric to highly dynamic. A regenerative braking system also recoups up to 80% of braking energy.

When it comes to its looks, the ONE evokes the premium class of motorsport with muscular proportions. The exterior is filled with numerous air inlets, while the car rides on forged aluminum wheels. The interior on the other hand is very minimal, with lightweight bucket seats and a Formula 1 inspired steering wheel.

The production of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is planned to be 275 units at a price of $2.72 million.

 

The Dark Side Reborn: 2021 Mercedes AMG GT Black Series

July 17, 2020 – Mercedes-AMG has been producing some of the most powerful and aesthetically pleasing series of vehicles, known as the Black Series, and 2021 brings their most wild creation yet, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

At first sight, you may think this limited edition model is simply a racecar produced for the DTM Racing Series; an enormous wing, carbon fiber galore, and shots of the GT at the track might have you thinking you are looking at the newest technological advances Mercedes has made solely for their racing teams. Truth be told, you don’t need to be a professional driver to own this beauty, but you may need some driving experience to handle the power this glorious machine produces.

720-hp. This is the number you’re thinking about when stepping into the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 under the bonnet connected to a reinforced seven-speed DCT gearbox will output enough power for you to reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and 100 mph in just under 9. The best part? Well, of course, the music coming from the tail pipes. This powerplant is very rev-happy, redlining at 7,200 rpms and delivering its peak power between 6,700 and 6,900 rpms. Combined with twin-turbos putting out 24.6 pounds of boost, the GT screams with its 720-hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

As much as I’d like to say the engine is where the sweet spot of the GT Black Series is, I would say that is wrong. The aerodynamics of this car are top notch, and every inch of its exterior plays a role in creating such a beast of a machine. If anyone understands the form and function of carbon fiber, it’s Mercedes. I mean, you’ll have a tough time finding parts on the GT that aren’t made of the incredibly strong and lightweight polymer, from the wing, to the roof, heck, even the engine bay is littered with it. The front bumper incorporates an adjustable splitter for better aero when you need it, and bigger vents are found on the hood and fenders, aiding with cooling and of course, aero.

Along with special trim and badging, the GT Black Series is sure to stick out in a crowd. There isn’t a price for it yet, but with everything considered, it will probably be a hefty one. Come early 2021, the new Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series will be available for purchase, so if you’re ready to get your hands on the sixth generation of the series, you’d better get your wallet ready!

 

 

 

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019

Often copied but never duplicated, The Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) is perhaps one of the most amazing events on the motorsports calendar. This year the FOS celebrated its 26^th anniversary and StateofSpeed.com was there for the party.

“The Festival is a fantastic event that I always enjoy but running up the hill in the rain is a definite challenge.”Duncan Pittaway, driver The Beast of Turin

The Festival occurs every summer on the grounds of The Duke of Richmond’s ancestral home, Goodwood House, Chichester, West Sussex, 100 miles south west of London, England. The event is centered around a timed hill climb up the Duke’s 1.16-mile drive. The long-standing record for the run was 41.6 seconds set in 1999 by Nick Heidfeld driving a McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car. His average speed was 100.385 mph. Nick’s record for an F1 car remains unbroken as they no longer allow F1 cars timed runs for safety reasons, however, this year Nick’s 20-year-old record was broken by Romain Dumas driving the all-electric VW I.D. R with a time of 39.9 seconds. Dumas might have gone faster on the Sunday but rain prevented a faster run.

The hill climb, which is by invitation only, sees an eclectic field of racecars. We went as a guest of Brit Duncan Pittaway, who muscles the amazing, fire belching “Beast of Turin” up the hill. Built originally in 1911, the 28.5-Liter Fiat ran 132 mph in 1913. Duncan, who recently drove the Beast through the streets of London, restored the car (that’s a book in itself), and drives it with gusto and even ran up the hill in the Sunday rain which sidelined most competitors saying, “The Festival is a fantastic event that I always enjoy but running up the hill in the rain is a definite challenge.”

“[Driverless cars] would be like climbing Mount Everest using virtual reality—who cares.”

Unlike most big-time events, the FOS pits are open to everybody and you can walk around, get up-close-and-personal with the cars and talk to the mechanics, owners and drivers: I bumped into a wide range of drivers from three-time F1 Grand Prix Champion Sir Jackie Stewart to NASCAR star “King Richard” Petty. Others in attendance included Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and his 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, now valued at an estimated $85 million.

This year, the FOS celebrated more than 40 categories of Motorsports from Early Speed Record setters through Brickyard Heroes of Indy, to the Giants of Rallying both past Group B cars to the Giants of Modern Rallying. There were also special celebrations of Aston Martin, that made its Goodwood debut in 1949, Bentley, March Engineering, Mercedes’ 125 years of motorsport, Porsche 917, and Michael Schumacher. Indeed, there are so many and so much to see it makes your head hurt.

Besides all the historic gas guzzlers, there’s an obvious and growing technological shift toward electric and even autonomous cars with no drivers. Call me old fashioned, but driverless cars to me means slot car racing and while skill is involved, I just wonder if removing the driver removes the point. It would be like climbing Mount Everest using virtual reality—who cares.

That said, as mentioned earlier, this year’s fastest time was set by the Volkswagen I.D. R electric car that recently won Pikes Peak. Driver Romain Dumas scorched up the driveway in 39.9 seconds during the Saturday practice. Rumor had it that he would have killed it on Sunday had rain not prevented it. It’s also a sign of the times that the fields of Goodwood were littered with supercars. Everywhere you looked there were lines of Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins and McLarens, et al. Time was they were a rarity on British roads but no longer.

The FOS’s accessibility to the cars and the drivers, particularly if you are a Formula One fan is amazing in this day and age of restricted access. You can get within a few inches of the cars, check them out, hear them run and meet and greet the mechanics and the drivers. I don’t know of anywhere else you can do that in such a casual atmosphere.

Besides the summer FOS, Goodwood hosts the fall Revival, this year scheduled for the weekend of September 13-15. The Revival is held on the old Goodwood Grand Prix circuit that is also on the Duke’s estate that was an airfield during World War II. The Revival features historic circuit racing with everybody in period dress. Like the Festival, it’s a fantastic event to add to your bucket list. For more info visit Goodwood.com