Mercedes-Benz has celebrated the Formula One weekend in Monaco by unveiling its newest two-seater performance car — the PureSpeed Concept.
Unveiled Wednesday in Monaco, the PureSpeed Concept does not have a roof or a windscreen. Instead, there is an F1-inspired halo bar between the driver and the passenger that protects their heads in case of an accident. Mercedes says the lack of a roof and windscreen is a tribute to motor racing.
“The Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed offers a glimpse of what is probably the most direct way to experience performance and driving pleasure,” said AMG chairman Michael Schiebe in a statement.
“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.
Mercedes says that the PureSpeed Concept will be “a unique driving machine for connoisseurs” and that it will embody the “pinnacle of exclusivity.” The production numbers reflect this statement.
Only 250 units will be available worldwide. Those who can obtain the PureSpeed Concept will also secure two aerodynamically optimized helmets specially designed for the car.
Mercedes-Benz has not provided performance numbers or pricing for the PureSpeed Concept.
The PureSpeed Concept paint scheme reflects Mercedes-Benz’s racing history
At first glance, it’s easy to notice the new Mercedes-Benz performance car has a rather unique paint scheme. It is a gradient design that starts with a Le Mans red and goes to an AMG black.
This paint job is an homage to the 1924 Targa Florio race in Sicily. Mercedes, which primarily used white paint for its race cars in that era, opted for red to trick the race fans. This way, they wouldn’t impede the car’s progress during the race. The Mercedes ultimately won after more than 6.5 hours of racing.
The PureSpeed Concept includes another detail inspired by the 1924 race. The winning Mercedes had the number 10 on it. This number is also on the front of the PureSpeed Concept.
While many of the design choices draw inspiration from the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar, there is another homage to racing history. The two flying buttresses behind the seats are reminiscent of the 300 SLR.
Mercedes specifically mentioned the 300 SLR that Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson used to win the 1955 Mille Miglia in Italy.