Mercedes-Benz is reportedly working on a new hypercar that’ll be the fastest, most powerful car ever to wear a Mercedes badge and a direct rival to the new 1,500bhp Bugatti Chiron.
German magazine Autobild claims that the model is called the R50, and will share virtually no components with current Mercedes cars, perhaps with the sole exception of the badging.
Rumoured to be built on a carbon fibre monocoque, the R50 will reportedly swap Mercedes-AMG’s famed 4.0-litre V8 for a radical new petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.
1,300bhp hybrid powertrain
Twin electric motors will power the front axle, while a mid-mounted 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine will provide the rest of the power – reportedly up to 1,300bhp or more.
Although that’s less than the Chiron, Bugatti’s car weighs in at a monstrous 1,995kg the Mercedes R50 will reportedly tip the scales at just 1,315kg, dramatically increasing power to weight ratio.
In terms of styling, Autobild says that the R50 will boast aggressive looks inspired by Mercedes’ riotous late-90s supercar, the CLK GTR pictured in this article.
Most powerful Mercedes car ever
Outfitted with a massive carbon fibre rear on the boot end, the R50 reportedly will get a narrow, race-inspired cockpit with room inside for the drive and two passengers like the McLaren F1.
These are naturally fairly big claims, but Autobild has been on the money in the past with its rumours, particularly when it comes to Mercedes models.
The report claims that the R50 will officially debut next year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of AMG, and prices are estimated to be in the range of £2.5 million or so.
