Limited to just 250 examples worldwide, the Purespeed comes with no front windscreen and a Formula One styled Halo design.
Mercedes-AMG has revealed its latest limited-edition supercar to pay tribute to the firm’s motorsport heritage with the Purespeed.
Under the bonnet, the car utilises a 4.0-litre biturbo V8 that produces 584bhp and 800Nm of torque. Acceleration stands at 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and the car will go onto a top speed of 195mph.
For added traction, the Purespeed comes as standard with the firm’s all-wheel-drive AMG Performance 4Matic+ system and it also features AMG’s Active Ride Control to improve the car’s ride and handling.
The exterior design is all focused towards aerodynamics with a low front end, long bonnet and wide air intakes. The 21-inch alloy wheels are made from forged aluminium and carbon fibre covers.
Most strikingly, the car comes without a front windscreen or A-pillars, which are replaced with a Halo – the same as those found on Formula One cars. The structure is designed to protect the occupants’ heads in the event of an accident and consists of a tubular steel bracket. To aid protection even further, the car features two rigid roll bars, which are part of the car’s shell structure, along with the halo.
Inside, the Purespeed features performance sports seats and an AMG steering wheel. There is a custom made analogue clock positioned in the centre of the dashboard in a drop-shaped housing and the door sills are trimmed in leather. In the absence of a roof, the Purespeed also comes as standard with a protective weather cover which stretches over the entire interior, as well as the Halo to stop the cabin from being ruined in poor weather.
Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes-AMG, said: “The Mercedes-AMG Purespeed is the most direct way to experience performance and fun at the wheel. Thanks to the car’s radically open design with no roof or windscreen, nothing separates the driver and passenger from the elements, allowing them to fully appreciate the vehicle, the road and the landscape with all their senses. The striking design reinterprets elements of legendary racing cars and makes for a fascinating, timeless silhouette.”
Only 250 examples of the Purespeed will be made globally, and prices are yet to be revealed.
By Cameron Richards