In the world of production vehicles, when it comes to bragging rights, the lap record for the famous Nürburgring circuit is up there with Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second 100m dash, or Eliud Kipchoge’s stunning 2:01:09 marathon.

The Mercedes-AMG ONE, a Formula 1-inspired hypercar, has always looked capable of reaching the kind of speeds other cars can only dream about – and now it has the numbers to back it up: specifically, 6 minutes 35.183 seconds.

That’s how long it took for the AMG ONE to rocket around Germany's iconic 20.8 km Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack on October 28, 2022. With Mercedes-AMG factory racing driver Maro Engel at the wheel, it became the world’s fastest road-legal production car to lap the track, known as ‘The Green Hell’.

The previous lap record held by a road-legal production Mercedes-AMG was 6:48.047, which was also achieved by Engel when he raced the twin-turbo V8-engined GT Black Series around the ‘Ring in 2020.

So how did the AMG ONE manage to shave a whole 13 seconds from the previous Mercedes-AMG record and master one of the world’s most notoriously challenging tracks?

“I didn’t expect that we would be able to set such a lap time with these track conditions,” Engel said afterwards of damp and dirty conditions with a still-drying racing line that only allowed for four fast timed laps.

The nuts and bolts of achieving maximum speed

As you can imagine, the answer is far more complex than a series of impressive numbers. Aerodynamics, drivetrain, suspension and chassis design all played a crucial role in wringing the highest performance out of the AMG ONE.

First, it’s worth highlighting the extreme power produced by the AMG ONE plug-in hybrid; its 1.6-litre V6 turbo petrol engine is the same one found in the Mercedes-AMG F1 car driven by Lewis Hamilton in the F1 world championship, although detuned for road use.

This beast of an engine is supplemented by an electric motor at each wheel, the combination of which gives the hypercar an astonishing total of 782 kW of power, and a blistering top speed of 352 km/h. The 0 to 100km/h sprint is achieved in just 2.9 seconds – about as much time as it takes to blink twice.

“That’s not easy, especially with this length of track. In addition, the DRS [Drag Reduction System] function had to be used optimally. That’s also a real Formula 1 feeling.”

The drive train is only one piece of the puzzle. A new seven-speed automated manual transmission was developed specifically for the AMG ONE and teamed with the AMG 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system. Combined with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 M01 tyres developed specifically for the car, the hypercar stuck to the track like glue, despite the challenging conditions.

Precise decelerating and braking are another key component of achieving record-breaking results. With six-piston calipers on the 15.6-inch carbon-ceramic disc brakes in front (and four-piston calipers with 15-inch discs at the rear), it's safe to say the AMG ONE washes off speed just as well as it accelerates.

Weight down, speed up

Much like its relative, the F1 race car, the AMG ONE is designed for maximum aerodynamic performance. Computer-controlled flaps and wings are strategically placed all over the hypercar, resulting in an estimated 700 kg of downforce. The body is a lightweight carbon fibre monocoque that closely mimics what you’d find on an F1 car (total weight is just 1,695kg).

On top of all that, there’s an F1-style DRS system, six driving modes (two of them for track use only, with ‘Race Plus’ mode engaged for the AMG ONE’s record-breaking run) and a high-tech suspension system that consists of four inboard dampers operated by push rods.

It all adds up to a road-legal hypercar that is as close to driving an F1 machine as you can get, with meticulous and cutting-edge engineering and design. Don’t be surprised if more records are broken in the not-too-distant future, and the AMG ONE starts collecting even more impressive numbers to place alongside its triumph at the Nürburgring.

Vehicle not available locally.

Performed under controlled conditions in a closed circuit by a professional driver.

By Stephen Corby