Aston Martin is partnering with Red Bull racing to design a new beast of a vehicle that could be the fastest street-legal car in the world.
Red Bull has traditionally targeted the extremes, something it has proven on the Formula One circuit, among other things. Now it’s taking aim at the street, partnering up with Britain’s Aston Martin to develop a road-going hypercar that it broadly hints could give Bugatti’s new Chiron a run for the money.
Dubbed the AM-RB 001, the two-seater is set to arrive in 2018 and, in appropriate fashion, Aston CEO Andy Palmer today said plans call for production of no more than 150 of the street version – and perhaps as few as 99 – with another 25 produced for track use.
“As the project gathers pace its clear the end result will be a truly history-making hypercar that sets incredible new benchmarks for packaging, efficiency and performance and an achievement that elevates Aston Martin to the very highest level,” declared Palmer as the AM-RB 001 was rolled out at Aston’s British headquarters.
The collaboration will be led by two automotive legends, Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer, and David King, Aston Martin’s vice president and chief special operations officer. Others assigned to the project include Marek Reichman, Aston’s design head.
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Pulling this effort together will require more than just a pretty design of the caliber of a DB-11. As with a Formula One car, every little detail of the AM-RB 001 will have to be functional. Among other things, the partners say the production model will deliver, “unprecedented levels of downforce” to keep the car glued to the pavement when it blasts through the 200 mile-an-hour mark.
Dubbed the AM-RB 001, the two-seater is set to arrive in 2018 and plans call for production of no more than 150 of the street version, and perhaps as few as 99.
“The synergy between Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin is clear,” said Red Bull’s Newey. “I knew Red Bull Racing had the ability to handle the pure performance aspects, but Aston Martin’s experience of making beautiful, fast and comfortable GT cars is of great benefit to the project.”
Exactly what the top end will be, well, Aston and Red Bull aren’t yet saying. But Bugatti threw down the gauntlet earlier this year when it revealed plans for the new Chiron. That extreme machine will punch out 1,500 horsepower, launch from 0 to 60 in less than 2.5 seconds and top out at 261 mph.
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What we do know about the AM-RB 001 is that it will be powered by a naturally aspirated V-12, with Red Bull developing an all-new transmission – as well as the car’s suspension. The partners promise a mind-boggling power-to-weight ratio of one horsepower per kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, thanks to its lightweight, carbon fiber structure.
The project was first hinted at last March when Aston Martin and Red Bull decided to partner up. The basic development is moving at track speed, it seems, with the prototype revealed on Tuesday expected to be within “millimeters” of what the final AM-RB 001 will look like when it goes on sale in spring 2018.
The AM-RB 001 is that it will be powered by a naturally aspirated V-12 doing zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds.
Working on the project “is a dream — a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Aston’s King. “Of course it’s a huge engineering challenge, too.”
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How much will it cost? The partners aren’t saying. But, like the Bugatti Chiron, a price tag in the $2.5 million to $3 million range – if not higher – is anticipated by some observers. Daunting, yes, but there are plenty of folks out there with that type of cash, and Red Bull hints it has already lined up a number of buyers, with a list, it says, that “reads like a who’s who of F1 legends, moguls, and megastars.”