The looming Mercedes AMG hypercar will be equipped with the same engine that Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are currently using in the team's Formula 1 car.
It is worth noting that the said car will be road legal and currently there are no plans to debut a track-focused adaptation of the machine. Although powered by a championship-winning Formula 1 engine, AMG's first hypercar will be designed exclusively for use on the public road.
According to Mercedes, the only substantial differences to the 1.6L, V6 hybrid engine will be minimized compression ratio and a comparatively lower idle speed, as idling at 3,000rpm isn't quite traffic-friendly. Retaining its 10,000rpm limiter, the engine is expected to produce an F1-comparable 1,000 HP (horse power) by means of a hybrid electric motor and internal combustion.
However, contrary to its track-going sibling, it will be linked to a four-wheel drive system, according to International Business Times.
Taking the center stage at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mercedes-AMG chief executive Tobias Moers echoed the leading car manufacturer's pledge to devise the most extreme mechanism the hypercar realm has ever laid eyes on. Moers told AutoCar that the model is slated to hit the retail showrooms in 2018. He also debunked previous reports hinting a 1,200 HP output.
Mercedes-AMG also denied previous reports that indicated Lotus will be teaming up to assist in the process of development. Mercedes-AMG head honcho also confirmed that about 200-300 copies will be made. A modest part of these will be track-only exclusives, he further added.
Considering that an F1-engine travels much shorter distance as compared to a regular road car between services, safety is a key concern. However, Moers claims this is not as bigger a deal as some may think as this is the most powerful combustion engine in the world.
That being said, Moers realizes that manufacturing this car will be quite laborious, but he also claims that this is the acme of what a manufacturer can do.
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