As the start of the 2015 Formula 1 season draws closer, Mercedes-AMG has revealed the high-performance cars it will be providing the FIA--specifically the safety and medical cars for the race series.
The role of the safety car goes to Mercedes-AMG's newest coupe, the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 GT S, the top-of-the-line variant of the Mercedes-AMG GT. Fitted to it are a modified performance exhaust system that gives it "an even more striking and emotive AMG V8 engine sound," and a ceramic composite braking system that is optionally available on the road-going model.
The safety car is only different from the production-model GT through its FIA and Formula 1 logos and the light bar on the roof. Said light bar is mounted on a carbon-fiber air scoop designed to "offer the least possible airstream resistance while providing for an aerodynamically optimized flow of air toward the rear airfoil."
As for the medical car, the C63 AMG Estate is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that also produces 510hp, the same as the GT S. It has more pulling power, however, with 700Nm compared to the coupe's 650Nm. Like the safety car, the medical car is also equipped with a seven-speed SpeedShift sports transmission and comes with a performance exhaust system. Stopping power is provided by a ceramic composite braking system on the front wheels, which is available as an option for the production-model C63 S.
Like the safety car, the medical car is fitted with FIA and Formula 1 logos and an LED light bar on the roof. Its 490L cargo compartment "safely accommodates the complete scope of emergency equipment, including defibrillator and respirator."
The 2015 Formula 1 season gets rolling this coming weekend with the Australian Grand Prix on March 15.
