To say that the Mercedes-AMG one is inspirational is clearly an understatement. I mean, look at this thing, and since 2022, I'm sure you have been, much like countless other Earth dwellers.
Well, some folks have even been inspired by the plug-in dual hybrid, so much so that they went on to create their very own dream design, one of which is the Mercedes-AMG One+ One, a rather futuristic and highly adaptable idea from the mind of Hyunsik Moon, a Pforzheim, Germany, student creating all sorts of vehicle designs, some of which we've shed light on before.
Now, to understand a bit about what's going on with Moon's design, we need to break it down as there's a whole lot happening.
First and foremost, let's explore the exterior of the One+ One. As we can see, it bears little resemblance to the actual One, with only the general outline of some parts of the vehicle and the rear wheel wells bearing the One look.
Sure, the front wing, underbody, and diffusers inspire the One, but they are nothing alike. Headlights, taillights, and the rest also break away from the real One.
Well, it kind of has to, mainly because of the way Moon thought out the One+ One. As we can see, the One+ One is created with a sort of double-barrel design, giving the concept a distinct and futuristic look. What I found neat and odd about this double-barrel setup is the way Moon created continuous and flowing lines by designing a one-piece hood and roof segment. This one-piece construction is also the One+ One's door, breaking apart near the rear of the car and rising forward to reveal space for two occupants, and this is where things get really interesting.
According to Moon's Behance page, the One+ One is a vehicle that either of its occupants can drive, and all without ever having to switch seats, just modes: There's an Alpha and Beta mode, and built into the dashboard is a sliding mechanism that allows the steering console to be moved from the right to the left or vice versa.
It's a trick that I haven't witnessed before but, somehow, has always been in the back of my mind.
When this switch happens, the seats also assume a particular position within the One+ One. If you're the passenger, your bucket will sit further back in your barrel than the driver's, no matter which side of the car you occupy.
This ensures that nobody plays driving instructor and messes around with pedals. Then again, I saw nothing about pedals in the ideation images.
This could also mean that functions are controlled directly by the steering wheel. A large central structure is also in place, further splitting the cab in two. It's a neat trick and one that we may see in the future if some of our readers haven't already.
Then, there's the propulsion system for this ride. According to Moon's ideation page, the One+ One is an EV, and while we can't see it, the designer thought up a redesigned powertrain, if only visually.
But my favorite trick up this concept's sleeve is the battery banks. At the front of the car, we can see those rather futuristic LED cafe-racer-style headlights, and while that's nothing odd for a rendering, what I found neat is that these headlights are also removable battery packs.
Once drained, they can easily be swapped out in a fashion similar to loading a cannon. It's a feature that we'll probably never see, but it still looks cool and somewhat functional.
Last but not least, I must mention that the One+ One is a concept that isn't just paper-bound, so to speak; a scale model also exists, but as is the case with many concepts like this, it's mostly a shell at which to awe and marvel.
Nonetheless, this spin on the Mercedes-AMG One will most likely remain in the sage that it's in.
After all, it won't be easy or simple to create a vehicle that looks and performs like this one. That driver mode feature is bound to present some problems, not to mention the body paneling.
Speaking of which, while this take doesn't look exactly like the modern Mercedes-AMG One, it does remind me a whole lot of a different Merc ride, or rather, a blend between two other models: the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R from 1954 and the streamlined and record-setting W125, both of which are spotted on Moon's Behance page.
