This Burning Mercedes-AMG One Breaks Our Hearts

Cars are complicated machines, even before shoehorning a massively complex Formula 1 engine behind the seats. Hybridization adds yet another layer of complexity, resulting in a hypercar that requires an engine rebuild every 31,000 miles (50,000 kilometers). Mercedes-AMG faced numerous hurdles during the development of its F1 car for the road, the AMG One. Even after years of delays, the problems didn’t end. One car burned to a crisp inside an enclosed trailer in May 2023.

Fast-forward two years, and it appears another Mercedes-AMG One has gone up in flames. In the age of AI, it’s not always easy to verify what appears on social media, but this video seems legitimate. That said, we’ve done our due diligence and reached out to Mercedes to confirm whether the footage of the electrified hypercar burning to a crisp is genuine. Until we hear back, please consider our skepticism warranted.

Details remain scarce, but based on the surroundings and look of the ambulance, it seems the fire occurred in Germany. The AMG One in question carries an “OL” license plate, indicating registration in the Oldenburg region. After some digging, we found other videos of the car prior to the incident. The dark green machine was showcased in April at the Techno Classica Essen.

Firefighters responded to the scene, but it was too late to save one of the 275 units that Mercedes-AMG is making. Footage of the aftermath shows what’s left of the fastest production car to lap the Nürburgring. Frankly, identifying the make and model would be difficult, given how little is left after the fire.

As for what caused the blaze, it’s tempting to blame the complex hybrid setup. However, it’s unclear whether the battery or the intricately engineered 1.6-liter V-6 was responsible. What matters most is that the driver apparently pulled over and got out of the vehicle before the AMG One was fully engulfed. Hopefully, they escaped unharmed.

Circling back to the license plate, it appears to have been a customer car rather than a prototype. Mercedes’ test vehicles typically use “LW” plates for Ludwigsburg, because AMG’s headquarters are located in Affalterbach, a municipality in the Ludwigsburg district.

If you know more about what happened, please leave a comment or contact the author at adrian.padeanu@motor1.com.