Is this Mercedes-Benz's Project One F1-powered hypercar?

Mercedes-Benz appears to have given the strongest hint yet of the styling direction for its Formula 1-based Project One hypercar in a design department presentation to showcase the brand's new creaseless styling direction.

Although the focus was supposed to be on the Aesthetics A sculpture - previewing both the new A-Class in sedan form for the first time, as well as the future styling direction of the wider Mercedes-Benz range - a mysterious white coupe hid in the background.

Labelled rather non-descriptively as a "sports car study" the white coupe isn't the final look of the production Project One but gives the strongest hint yet of what to expect from the Mercedes-AMG flagship when it makes its debut later this year.

The scale model answers the need for the Project One's huge cooling demands with massive kidney-shaped side intakes intersecting the front doors and extending all the way to the top of the body surface.

With the Project One set to be powered by a 735kW hybrid version of the AMG 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 race engine, air flow will be pivotal to keeping both the engine and batteries cool.

The sole Project One teaser that Mercedes-Benz has released shows a flowing form over the cabin and into rear haunches, matching the form factor of the design study, though the louvred rear window of the scale model sits at odds with the Project One's windowless rear treatment, dominated by a roof-mounted air scoop.

The design proposal also features a slimline front end with a strong horizontal theme which goes against AMG's recent announcement that its forthcoming cars would wear the vertically-slatted grille as seen on the revised AMG GT range, though in the interest of aerodynamics and cooling Project One could be the sole exception to the rule.

Sitting alongside the possible Project One proposal are a scale version of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept and an unnamed sedan design study focused on aerodynamic efficiency.

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