Mercedes-AMG SL PureSpeed Ode To Racing

Mercedes-Benz’s high-performance division decided to take it up a notch and launched a sub-brand: Mythos. Vehicles bearing this new badge will be part of an exclusive series, one that makes mass-produced AMG or Manufaktur-endowed models feel like base-spec Mercedes-Benz units. The Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed is the performance car that brings that vision to reality. Here’s what you need to know about the “chosen ONE.”
 

An SL-based, completely open (no roof, windshield, or windows) concept car with a low silhouette is not what the doctor ordered, but it is a preview of what could soon turn into a highly sought-after ride. Considering that it made its official debut right ahead of the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, you might already suspect what this striking limited-edition vehicle is about.
 
The first thing most people will notice is not the absence of the A-pillar but the F1-inspired crash protection. The aerodynamic curved bar and the included helmets will protect the driver and the passenger from almost anything that might come in contact with them.
 
Don’t worry, though. The wind shouldn’t be much of a problem. The first high-performance Mythos vehicle has transparent deflectors at the front and sides that should easily tell air to avoid those lucky enough to drive it.
 
Using the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar as inspiration, the marque chopped a lot of carbon fiber for the PureSpeed and made sure that aerodynamics wouldn’t ever be a worry. The vehicle looks aggressive, but it also looks like it was designed to reach its top speed as fast as if it was launched out of a slingshot. That shark nose is no joke, and BMW might feel like Mercedes-Benz challenged it to come up with an answer sooner rather than later.
 

Fans of motorsport, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, and collectors might also recognize a few details that bring the Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss Edition back into the public’s attention. Those flying buttresses are nothing else but cool.
 
The paint job blends Le Mans red and the AMG pattern, celebrating the color scheme of the Mercedes that won the 1924 Targa Florio in Sicily, Italy. But the best thing about this concept is that it previews a vehicle well-off customers will actually be able to buy and enjoy. It will offer buyers almost the same experience F1 drivers have on the racetrack.
 
Sadly, Mercedes-Benz didn’t offer any details about the powertrain, but we suspect that it could have a tuned version of the iconic 4.0-liter V8. It remains to be seen if it will produce more than 577 hp and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque.
 
The German automaker plans to produce 250 units, which will only be available to “the most dedicated Mercedes Benz enthusiasts.” I don’t know about you, but that tells me that I’m already priced out of it.