Mercedes has been steadily working for the past few years on a new super-expensive, super-exclusive series of cars with the Mythos badge, which will become a series of strictly limited-edition collectors’ cars. That series starts here with the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed concept, which is being shown off on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Two-seat roadster
The PureSpeed is a two-seat roadster with no roof and no windscreen. To protect the occupants from harm, there’s an F1-style ‘Halo’ structure that swoops around the cockpit, made to be just like the protective structure on Mercedes’ own Formula One racers. It’s also aerodynamically optimised, as are the crash helmets that come with the car, giving both driver and passenger a proper Grand Prix-style view of the road ahead.
Mercedes says that the PureSpeed will be built, but it will be a very limited edition, with just 250 scheduled to be built. Equally, Mercedes is going to take a leaf out of Ferrari’s playbook, and instead of just allowing anyone to rock up and buy a PureSpeed, the cars will be offered only to existing Mercedes collectors and enthusiasts. Merc reckons it gives the PureSpeed a ‘pinnacle of exclusivity.’
Smooth lines
The PureSpeed has been inspired, in part, by the recent AMG-One hypercar, which used a detuned version of the V6 hybrid powertrain from the Merc-AMG F1 car. Like the One, the PureSpeed has split-level styling, with sharp angles carved into the carbon fibre structure of the lower body, while the upper surfaces are more rounded and curvaceous.
The rear wheels get fully enclosed covers for superior aerodynamics, while the front rims are left open to aid brake cooling. There’s a pronounced ‘shark nose’ effect at the front, while the paint changes colour from blood red at the front, fading through to dark grey at the rear. A big air vent is set into the bonnet, and tiny transparent air deflectors ensure it doesn’t get too breezy in that open cockpit.
Historical references
There are also nods to previous Mercedes superstars, with the buttresses behind the seats meant to evoke the rear fairings of the famous 1955 300 SLR racing car, which Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson drove to such a memorable victory on the Mille Miglia.
The red-to-grey paint is also a nod to the past and harks back to the winning Mercedes car at the 1924 Targa Florio race in Sicily. It was painted red, which was typically reserved for Italian vehicles. German race cars were traditionally painted white at the time. The red paint was meant to deter local fans from impeding the car’s progress in the race. The coup worked. After 6:32:37.4 hours and a race distance of 432 kilometres, the victorious Mercedes 2.0-litre race car with the number 10 crossed the finish line in first place with Christian Werner behind the wheel. The number 10 can also be found on the front wings of the Concept Mercedes‑AMG PureSpeed and refers to that Targa Florio victory 100 years ago. Mercedes recently brought that very car out of its Museum and got current F1 star George Russell to drive it around the Imola circuit ahead of the Grand Prix.
“The Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed offers a glimpse of what is probably the most direct way to experience performance and driving pleasure. Radically open, neither a roof nor the windscreen separate the two passengers from the elements. You can experience light, air and passion unfiltered with all your senses. As the concept of our first Mythos vehicle, it embodies the highest level of exclusivity. Design elements such as the Halo also create a Formula 1 feeling. There is therefore no better place for its world premiere than Monaco,” said Michael Schiebe, head of Mercedes-AMG.