Newey unveils AM-RB 001 hypercar 05 | 07 | 2016
RED BULL AND ASTON MARTIN have unveiled their much-anticipated AM-RB 001 hypercar, which has been co-designed by Formula 1 car designer Adrian Newey.
Newey, the innovative designer behind 10 world championship-winning cars in an F1 career spanning nearly 30 years, has admitted previously that he has achieved the second of his childhood goals by working on the project.
Working alongside Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman and chief special operations officer David King, the trio’s result is the stunning new AM-RB 001.
Full spec of the car won’t be released till closer to the car’s launch, but we know it will be powered by a naturally-aspirated V12 engine; its carbon fibre construction is expected to give it a power to weight ratio of 1:1.
"I've long harboured the desire to design a road car," Newey explained at the car’s unveiling at Gaydon today. "The formation of Red Bull Advanced Technologies brought me a step closer to realising that ambition, but I believed we should work with an automotive manufacturer.
"Aston Martin was at the top of my list, I've always been adamant that the AM-RB 001 should be a true road car that's also capable of extreme performance on track, and this means it really has to be a car of two characters.
"That's the secret we're trying to put into this car — the technology that allows it to be docile and comfortable, but with immense outright capabilities."
For those who crave an even more intensely focused driving experience, a track-only AM-RB 001 is also in development, the projected performance of which is in line with that of today’s LMP1 Le Mans sports prototypes.
Related: Aston Martin and Red Bull to build hypercar
Built around a lightweight carbon fibre structure, the AM-RB 001 boasts truly radical aerodynamics for unprecedented levels of downforce in a road-legal car.
Thanks to the genius of Newey’s design, much of this downforce is generated through underfloor aerodynamics, leaving Reichman free to craft a pure yet breathtaking dramatic form that elegantly expresses both the AM-RB 001’s cutting-edge dynamism and the unmistakable essence of Aston Martin.
Uncompromising in all respects, the AM-RB 001 is a bespoke machine from the tyres up. It will be built by King and his team at Gaydon, in the purpose-built facility created for Aston Martin’s original hypercar, the One-77.
Red Bull's F1 driver, Aussie Daniel Ricciardo, admitted he hoped to get involved in the development driving of the new car.
"Today is the first time I've seen it," he said. "I've seen some brief sketches, but nothing close to what I've seen now.
"I'm pretty excited, I'd love to participate in some development if I could. I still can't believe it's going to be on the streets. It looks like a pretty amazing race car."
And Red Bull team boss Christian Horner added: "The conception and modus operandi of Red Bull Technologies has been to apply our expertise to truly progressive projects and partnerships.
"Our relationship with Aston Martin and the realisation of the AM-RB 001 is pioneering and borne of our synergies and desire to break new ground.
"The AM-RB 001 is the inspirational product of this collaborative spirit."
Total volume will be between 99 and 150 road cars inclusive of all remaining prototypes and 25 track-only versions, with first deliveries beginning in 2018.
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Jim McGill