Meet the R50, the hypercar by Mercedes-AMG that will use the engine of a Formula 1 car

The car you see in the images accompanying this article is the Mercedes Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo Concept, the latest concept car presented by Mercedes and AMG. However, we have news about the next showcase and study model they will launch together. That launch will take place from next year, 2017, and there is already information about it that makes us want to see it as soon as possible.

First, the name. It is the R50, a designation that I suppose will be provisional and later given a more attractive and powerful name, so that the public can enjoy not only its image but also refer to it with something just as energetic. It is also known that it will be a hypercar using a hybrid propulsion system, with a conventional engine and an electric motor. But the interesting part lies in the type of engine it will use.

According to everything we know about this special model, the combustion engine will be the 1.6-litre V6 block that is habitually used by the AMG Formula 1 W07 single-seater. Once coupled to the electric motor, it is expected to deliver a power output ranging from 1,000 CV to 1,500 CV, with the combustion engine contributing 900 CV of that total power.

The F1 engine will have to be modified to cope with daily use, something different from the purpose for which it was designed. As unlikely as it may seem, this is all a challenge for the AMG engineers. A Formula 1 engine is designed to deliver its full potential on a circuit, not to withstand the demands of everyday driving, with all the tests it must endure on the road and through city streets. Furthermore, the starter motor of these engines requires an external power source, so it will have to be replaced with something more manageable that can be carried on board the car.

As for these modifications, the displacement may be increased up to 2.0 litres, and the possibility of adding a second turbocharger to improve reliability is being considered, together with a new transmission capable of handling the power delivered by the engine. The F1 block will send power to the front wheels, while the rear wheels will be driven by the electric motors.

These would each have a power output of 160 CV, which will help move the 1,000 to 1,300 kg that this car will weigh. This figure has not yet been confirmed, so it will fall within that range to offer a truly extraordinary power-to-weight ratio. This car will mark the first 50 years of AMG and will have a selling price of around 4 million euros. We hope to have images of this car soon! And, taking last year’s concept as a reference, we expect a great car, very spectacular.

Via | Carscoops