- Mercedes-Benz AMG One is the first production car to set a lap time of under 6:30 at the Nürburgring
- The new time is six seconds faster than the previous record, also set by One
- The driver of both records was Maro Engel
THE Mercedes-Benz AMG One It was already the fastest production car on the Nürburgring track in Germany, but now it has broken its own record.
With German driver and AMG brand ambassador Maro Engel at the wheel, the One needed only 6:29,090 to run the full 12.9-mile Nordschleife during an attempt on September 23. Engel was also the driver when the previous record of 6:35.183 was set in 2022.
Due to the track’s long distance, Engel had to change his driving style so as not to drain the One’s hybrid system battery too quickly. In some cases, he took his foot off the accelerator earlier than he normally would and let the car slow down. The points where he did this were identified during tests in a simulator.
According to Engel, changes made at the Nürburgring in the two years since the previous record was set have actually lengthened lap times by a few tenths of a second. However, he still managed to go much faster on the second attempt due to the more favorable surface conditions. During the original attempt, he was on a partially damp track.
For the record, the One was set in Race Plus driving mode. This mode was designed for track use and in addition to lowering the car (37 mm at the front and 30 mm at the rear), it also adjusts the aerodynamic and chassis settings to the maximum. Engel also used the car’s drag reduction system during the race. The tires were Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO design that comes standard on the One and developed specifically for the hypercar.
According to AMG, Engel’s latest run demonstrates the One’s true performance.
“Two years ago, conditions were not ideal and some sections of the track were still a little damp,” AMG CEO Michael Schiebe said in a statement. “Today we were able to demonstrate the maximum potential of the AMG One.”
Mercedes-AMG One sets Nürburgring lap time of 6:29.090 – September 2024
The car is powered by the same engine found in the current crop of cars driven by the Mercedes F1 team. It’s a turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6, specifically the unit from the 2015 season’s championship-winning race car. In fact, the One features a more sophisticated powertrain than the F1 car.
While in the race car there is only the turbocharged V-6 and a motor-generator driving the rear wheels, in addition to a second motor-generator integrated into the turbocharger, the One has two additional motor-generators. They drive each of the front wheels and provide the One with four-wheel drive. Maximum power is 1,049 hpalthough the car is relatively heavy for a two-seater, weighing in at 3,737 pounds.
AMG will only build a total of 275 examples, each priced at 2.275 million euros (approximately US$2.5 million). Although many of the build slots went to US customers, AMG was unable to certify the car and its meticulous F1 engine for sale here without a substantial loss in performance and therefore not selling the One here. There is some hope for US customers in the form of the Show or View rule. Under the rule, non-U.S.-certified cars with historical or technological significance can be allowed for private import, albeit with restrictions such as annual mileage limited to 2,500 miles.
