Alex 
Mercedes-AMG have finally debuted a production-intent version of its wild F1-engined supercar, after years of development, teasing, and speculation. Its stats are incredible, however, they may be called into question by the time the Zora – what’s expected to be the ultimate C8 Corvette from Chevrolet – debuts in the coming years.
Five and a half years since it was first announced, the Mercedes-AMG One will indeed hit the market with an engine that matches the specs of the company’s Formula 1 car. The 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 hybrid powerplant makes a staggering 1,049 horsepower at 11,000 rpm, with an estimated top speed of 216 miles per hour, while the sprint to 60 miles per hour from zero happens in just 2.9 seconds.
While 1,049 horsepower from the 1.6-liter AMG is a lot, only 566 horses are produced by the engine itself, while the rest is made up by three electric motors and an 8.4 kWh battery. Taken directly from last season’s F1 car, the engine in the AMG one has a bucket load of insane features that you would never see on a street engine normally, but Mercedes managed to make it fully streetable and emissions compliant, no easy feat.
“Hold my beer,” is probably what the Americans are saying right now.
The powertrain of the upcoming C8 Corvette Zora is expected to be one that’s motorsports tested, as well. At the core of the upcoming hypercar’s powertrain will be a 5.5L flat-plane crank V8 that can spin at 8,600 RPM, as seen with the new, 670 hp 2023 Corvette Z06. This LT6 V8 engine architecture has been battle tested for a couple years now with the IMSA championship-winning Corvette Racing C8.R race car. But the Zora’s mill is expected to incorporate a set of turbochargers, along with battery assistance and a set of electric motors. All in, it’s expected that the C8 Corvette Zora will deliver four figures of horsepower. And it will, like every other Corvette, still be made on an assembly line. As such, the Zora will likely cost a fraction of what the Mercedes-AMG One will cost. We’d speculate it to be a tenth of the price. And that’s going to keep a lot of supercar companies awake at night.
Mercedes-Benz doesn’t say what the price of the AMG One will be, because it’s likely an “if you have you ask you can’t afford it” sort of deal, but reports have estimated the price to sit between $2 million to $3 million USD. That’s a lot of money for a vehicle without floor mats.
Considering the Mercedes-AMG One isn’t headed to America for reasons, maybe the hand raisers left out in the cold will turn their attention to the Zora when the time comes.
