Wraps come off awesome Aston and Red Bull hypercar
Aston Martin AM-RB 001
ASTON Martin has finally revealed its AM-RB 001 hypercar, developed with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. The project has been headed up by Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s chief creative officer, and Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer.
The AM-RB 001 has been designed to be used on the road and track, but there are actually two versions in the works: a road car and a track-only version. It’s expected the latter will deliver performance to match an LMP1 Le Mans racer.
A mid-mounted V12 engine provides the power, with no turbos in sight. The engine is naturally aspirated, and Aston says it’s a high-revving unit capable of a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. No official figures have been revealed, but we expect the AM-RB 001 to weigh in at around 900kg, meaning around 900bhp is entirely feasible. It’s been hinted that the track version of the car, which will likely get extra aero kit and lose some of the requirements of the road model, will be as quick round a track as an F1 car in race trim. We expect it to go from 0-62mph in just over two seconds, with a top speed over 200mph.
Thanks to input from experts in F1 alongside celebrated designer Newey, the 001’s bodywork is focused on producing lots of downforce at high speed, helping to keep it pinned to the tarmac. There’s no unsightly rear wing, but that’s unlikely to affect high-speed stability.
Similarly, the suspension is a completely new set-up that’s designed to cope with the aero system as well as being usable on the road. The gearbox is a new design as well, developed by Newey and his team specifically for this car. Speaking to Auto
■ Bonkers AM-RB 001 racer will be made for the road and track
Express, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said: “This is a no-excuses halo car – the most luxurious car in its class, but also the quickest and the fastest.
“This car will be able to lap the Silverstone circuit as quick as or quicker than an F1 or LMP1 car. But it’s a race car that’s capable of going on the road.”
The AM-RB 001 will probably be limited to around 100 models and, according to Palmer, will be “very, very expensive”; we’d expect it to cost close to £2million. The car will be built at Aston’s factory in Gaydon, Warks, with the first deliveries set for 2018.
Newey admitted that he’s wanted to build a road car for a long time; he told us that it’s an ambition he’s had since the tender age of six. “The opportunity to develop and realise those ideas with Marek and the team from Aston Martin is tremendously exciting,” he said. “It allows us to translate the technology we have developed in F1 into a new arena.”
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