Mercedes-AMG's Project One hypercar to feature Formula One derived engine with a green twist

A road-legal halo car powered with a Formula One car's engine is not an entirely new concept. Ferrari had successfully done that in the 1990s with the F50. The latest to join the elite club is Mercedes-AMG.

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The performance arm of Mercedes-Benz, the AMG, released a picture that explains the internals of its upcoming 1,000bhp halo car. Christened as Project One for now, the hypercar will draw power from a turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 engine derived from Lewis Hamilton's 2015 Formula 1 car. To make the engine and underpinning suitable for the Project One, AMG is using different pistons, crankshaft and, MGU-K and MGU-H electric motor generator units.

The first motor reportedly develops 107hp and it is in charge of keeping the turbocharger spooled up permanently. The other one will develop 161hp and it will be linked straight to the crankshaft. The association of electric motors doesn't end there. An extra two electric motors have been mounted at the front axle. This makes the hyper car a front-wheel drive for a very short distance of up to 24 kilometres. The Project One will also have gearbox from Formula One cars but it will be an automated manual gearbox.

The lithium ion batteries for electric motors are placed low and towards the front of the structure. This will help to bring down the centre of gravity and will reward outstanding cornering capability.

Mercedes-AMG is reportedly working to restrict the weight of the car to not more than 1,300kg. With 1,000bhp from its powertrain, the power-to-weight ratio of the Project One will be 769bhp/tonne which is 28bhp/tonne more than the Bugatti Chiron.

Mercedes-AMG will only make 275 examples of the Project One. The debut of the car is expected at 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show this September.