Aston Martin and Mercedes AMG. Few names in the automobile industry inspire the same expectation of power and prestige. Each of these luxury carmakers is a leader in their class. Two of their models are Formula 1 inspired machines with astounding capabilities –– and a 7 figure price tag. Which brings us to make the comparison and start asking questions. The Valkyrie vs. the One: Aston Martin or Mercedes AMG, which is the best hybrid hypercar?

The Formula 1 inspiration for a supercar by Mercedes isn’t surprising. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has won racing titles in their racing machines. It was a bit more of a leap for Aston Martin, though nothing they weren’t more than amply prepared to take on and do right.

The Mercedes AMG One

First, what distinguishes a Mercedes AMG division from the other Mercedes trims? The answer is performance engineering. Mercedes has an entire division that stands out for being specifically designed for a heightened level of performance and upgraded power.

The body of the Mercedes AMG One aligns well with the Mercedes brand with its sleek and subtle exterior. While there is no doubt this car would attract attention anywhere, it maintains a certain level of class.

The AMG One machine was designed by Gordon Wagener, who worked with big names like General Motors, Mazda, and Volkswagen before coming on with Mercedes. It boasts plenty of carbon fibre winglets to generate downforce and improve road grip –– in case you plan to top it out at 217 mph.

The AMG One is said to get power from an engine identical to the 1.6 – liter turbo charged V6 hybrid in the car that Lewis Hamilton drove to earn the 2015 Formula 1 championship.

Assembled at the Formula 1 facility in Brixworth, England, the V6 is connected to four electric motors. When these two systems combine, the Mercedes AMG One revs up to rpms just one thousand fewer than Hamilton’s racing machine.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie

This car doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to its Formula 1 roots. Designer Adrian Newey, famous for creating cars that claim Formula 1 titles. This supercar has a seriously aggressive exterior design covered with carbon winglets for improved downforce at all times.

Two large air ducts run beneath this extreme hybrid beast for optimal high speed downforce. In addition to carbon fiber winglets in the from and rear, the Aston Martin Valkyrie sports futuristic bodywork that barely covers its mechanical underpinnings. If you are looking for a truly one of a kind car that beckons the future and makes you feel like James Bond, the Valkyrie is it.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie’s powerful performance comes from an engine similar to the One’s V6, but with a little more to offer in terms of speed. The Valkyrie is equipped with a 6.5 – liter V12 that’s actually light than a V8. This hybrid is much like the V8 seen in Williams FW32 Formula 1 car.

Anyone looking for a street legal supercar with a max speed of 300 mph will find their match in the Valkyrie. The extra carbon winglets on the Valkyrie’s body are needed to maintain speed grip when this extreme engine delivers the superior speed for which it was designed.

Where do the interiors differ?

Each of these hybrid hypercars has a race inspired interior with a steering wheel that basically looks like it came straight out of a race machine. Each sport a host of buttons everywhere and standard display panels.

They are obvious about their purpose in life –– to perform at high speed. The main difference between the two is that the Mercedes AMG One has a little more space in the cockpit than the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Which One is Better?

These extreme hybrid hypercars outperform almost every other car on the road when it come to road hugging agility and tops speeds that could land you hefty fines, or worse. But that is the draw right? Between the two, it’s hard to say which one is better because that decision relies heavily on what you classify as “better.”

Between the two, the Valkyrie is undeniably faster and tailored to high speed driving. The Mercedes also boast these capabilities, but this speedy hybrid is perhaps just a little more in the class of a daily driver –– if race cars are what you’re into.