A shade over two years ago, in May 2022, Mercedes-Benz had announced that with an eye on profitablity, it will focus on what it called the Top End Vehicle category, which included the S-Class, the Maybachs and the G-Wagen. Company CEO Ola Kallenius said in a statement, “We are further sharpening the focus of our business model and product portfolio in order to maximise the potential of Mercedes-Benz even in challenging conditions. … At the heart of that is our goal to build the world’s most desirable cars.”
For the next two years nothing further was forthcoming from the company till the buzz started building up again a couple of months ago. Then, at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix in May, it finally unveiled the Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed, the first of the cars that Mercedes-AMG will make in its new Mythos series.
The display concept was painted in Le Mans red and Graphit Grey Metallic and was a throwback to a racer Merc had at the Targa Florio in Italy a hundred years ago
To understand what the Mythos series is likely to be all about, look at it like this. Mercedes-AMG seemed to want a halo car that would slot above its AMG models and probably compete directly with the likes of the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the world, or, even better, one-up them. And like them, at least from the first concept that has been shown, it is going to be pure toy for the rich and famous to play with.
If one keeps that in mind the Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed makes perfect sense in all its no-roof, no-windscreen impracticality but promising a wind-in-the-hair experience like no other unless you are wearing the helmet that you are supposed to while driving the car! How crazy is that! And they seem to have a nice pair of lids too, which are aerodynamically designed as well and will come with the car. It’s supposed to replicate the Formula 1 feeling, but for two people instead of one.
Like an F1 car, it will have what is essentially a roll cage kind of structure which has been named the Halo system and replaces the conventional A-pillar on the vehicle. It is meant to protect the occupants’ heads in the event of an accident, especially a rollover.
Michael Schiebe, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-AMG and head of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class & Mercedes Maybach divisions, said at the unveiling: “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.”
The concept on display was a non-working prototype with probably no mechanicals, or hidden away even if they were there. The look of the concept car, says Mercedes-AMG, is a throwback ot the designs of its legendary racing cars. The idea is to make the Mythos series cars in small numbers and the actual production model of the PureSpeed will debut next year and just 250 units will be available to the most dedicated Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts and collectors. If what other brands in this league do is anything to go by, what Merc means is that they will probably give allotment preference to those who have shown a preference for top-end Mercs in the past.
With a design inspired by the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar, the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed concept is a true performance car with an extremely low silhouette. The design of the wheels is characterised by the unique carbon fibre cladding on the front and rear wheel covers and aerodynamically optimised.
The low shark nose with the painted AMG in white and the three-pointed star in chrome on top is very different from that of any other Mercedes stable car
Typical of a sports car are the long bonnet and the very low front end with a pronounced “shark nose”. The front design is similar to the Mercedes-AMG ONE with a wide lower air intake with AMG lettering and a dark, chrome-plated Mercedes star on the soft nose. Small, transparent deflectors at the front and sides direct the wind over the cockpit. Also, the resemblance to the AMG SL cars can be spotted in many places.
As for the tag, we aren’t expecting it be less than a couple of million dollars. And that’s likely to make it one hell of a pricy toy if ever there was one but not entirely out of sync in the segment that is aspiring to. Possibilities for the power train are a variant of the 577hp twin-turbo V-8 from the SL63 or the 805hp hybrid from the SL63 S E Performance. Lip-smacking stuff.
