Is Mercedes-Benz via its AMG skunk works about to enter the hypercar war?

In its latest issue, Autobild makes mention of plans for a new model called the R50 being developed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of AMG in 2017.

That’s just one year away so things already seem doubtful but making the situation worse are the car’s claimed specs.

According to GT Spirit, Autobild’s article suggests the R50 will resemble a Le Mans prototype racer and be powered by a hybrid system pairing a 1,000-horsepower 4-cylinder engine with a duo of electric motors delivering 150 hp each for a grand total of 1,300 hp. The 4-cylinder would sit behind the cabin and power the rear wheels while each of the front wheels would have its own electric motor.

The R50 is also said to weigh as little as 1,300 kilograms (2,866 pounds) to ensure it has a 1:1 power to weight ratio (when comparing hp to kg), just like Koenigsegg’s One:1 and Aston Martin’s upcoming AM-RM 001. Despite the low weight, the car is said to still feature all of the advanced safety gear Mercedes cars are known for, including the latest in electronic driver aids.

AMG boss Tobias Moers has in the past mentioned that his company could launch a hypercar at some point, though he also stressed that AMG is not at the point where it can command seven-figure price tags for cars. Instead, Moers has hinted that AMG is more likely to develop a new supercar to compete with the Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] 488 GTB, McLaren 650S and the oft-rumored Porsche 960.

Pictured above is a Mercedes concept unveiled in 2013 for the Vision Gran Turismo challenge.