Mercedes-AMG One Hypercar Sets Production Car Nürburgring Record Lap Time ... Again

It wasn't long ago that Porsche reported on its trials at Germany's notorious Nürburgring-Nordschleife road course with the brand-new 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS setting an impressive lap time—though it set no official records. It's Mercedes' turn around the track, and it's claiming it set a new road-legal production car record lap time in the $2.7 million Mercedes-AMG One hybrid super sports car, beating the previous record time by a whopping 8 seconds. Now there's an update: It just beat itself to set a new record around the famous 'Ring.

See All 9 Photos9

The automaker claims a damp and dirty track posed serious risk to the extreme performance limitations of the Mercedes-AMG One car when it set its initial record in Oct. 2022, and the group had less than an hour on the day to get only four laps in total. Two cars were shipped to the 'Ring, both inspected to ensure they were in "production" form by track officials and inspectors from TÜV Rheinland, along with certification of the cars and ultimate recorded times by a notary.

See All 9 Photos9

On October 28, despite lacking ideal conditions, the Mercedes-AMG One set a notarized lap time of 6:35.183 around the near-12 mile track, or 6:30.705 on the shorter Super Test circuit of the 'Ring, piloted by Mercedes GT3 and DTM racing driver Maro Engel. That now bests the previous record holder, a Manthey-Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS which set a time of 6:43:30. The ultimate recorded lap record wasn't the first of the day for Engel, but with less than a minute before track access closed, the team went out for one more lap and beat a previous time already set earlier in the trials. Engel's top speed on the day was 210 mph.

Mercedes says the record-setting One was "technically" equipped with everything available on the car as standard from production, including a suite of Formula 1 inspired technologies. The car's hybrid powertrain pairs four electric motors powered by a small battery with a racing-inspired, high-revving turbocharged 1.6-liter combustion engine totaling an output of 1,063 horsepower sent to all four wheels, with a claimed top speed of 218 mph. A carbon monocoque shell and body is assembled around that, and there's a suite of active aero to keep the thing on the ground at high speeds.

See All 9 Photos9

The Oct. 2022 time was no "flat-out" record. Mercedes says Engel had to fight the limitations and energy requirements of the car on various parts of the complicated track surface, avoiding full throttle to instead reserve some of the vehicle system's energy for quicker acceleration and higher top speeds on longer stretches. Additionally, the One is capable of energy recuperation under braking, and the driver is assisted by the car's four-stage Energy Flow Control system, which improved coasting in certain conditions and also saved energy.

See All 9 Photos9

Engel drove in "Race Plus" mode, engaging maximum possible aerodynamic downforce and drag reduction, the tightest chassis tuning, full power on all electric motors, and a lowered stance of 1-1.5 inches on the front and rear axle. It rolled on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R MO tires developed specifically for the AMG One's wheels also fitted with composite brakes.

"That was really an unforgettable experience," said Maro Engel after completing the Oct. 2022 record lap. "I didn't expect that we would be able to set such a lap time with these track conditions. In some crucial areas of the track, it hadn't dried completely yet and was therefore tricky ... I also had to deploy the electrical energy of the hybrid drive in the best possible way. That's not easy, especially with this length of track. In addition, the DRS function had to be used optimally. But that's also a real Formula 1 feeling."

Now, two years later, Mercedes-AMG has returned to the 'Ring with the AMG One to beat its own record. "Two years ago, the conditions were not ideal, and some sections of the track were still a little damp," Engel reminds us via the press release; "We knew we could do more, and we wanted to show that. Today we were able to demonstrate the maximum potential of the AMG One. Many thanks to the whole team from Affalterbach for the trust they've placed in me. It was a great pleasure and honor to be able to drive this record lap with such a unique car." The new notarized record lap time is 6:29.090 minutes for the (dry this time) 12.944-mile track. It's also the first time a production car has set a recognized lap time of under six minutes and thirty seconds.