Aston Martin has collaborated with Red Bull to create a car unlike any other. It’s probably the most technically accurate car to be described as “an F1 car for the road” – a phrase that’s been used at least a few times for the ultimate cars of the time.
But this one was designed by Adrian Newey, all-around F1 genius and the most successful car designer in the sport’s history. The tie-up with Red Bull was essentially to let his creativity and technical expertise have free reign over a project without the limiting factors of an FIA committee.
As of now, the car goes by its codename: AM-RB 001. However, that might change when the two-seater hypercar moves closer to production and release in 2018 where only 99 to 150 road cars will have resulted at an appropriately astronomical price as well as 25 track-only versions.
First off, the design and shape of the car is like nothing we’ve seen in the automotive world outside of concepts. There likely won’t be much variation between the prototype shown here and the car lucky customers will be taking home. Of course, Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey had a lot of input, but so did Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman and Chief Special Operations Officer David King.
The shape is defined by its astounding aerodynamic capabilities. Very little appears to obstruct the car’s top surface and instead air is channelled through a unique underbody. The AM-RB 001 is said to have the projected performance of a current day LMP1 Le Mans racer.
Even now, much of the car’s technical details are kept under wraps. It was revealed that a mid-mounted high-revving naturally aspirated V12 engine will be its primary drive source, aided with some kind of hybrid augmentation to achieve a 1:1 power to weight ratio – or 1bhp to 1kg of weight.
Formula 1-derived technologies such as push-rod suspension will see use in the AM-RB 001 to cope with the aerodynamic stresses at high speed and its gearbox will be designed and built from the ground up. As an example of the weight saving philosophy behind this car, the transmission will only have forward ratios. Reversing, then, will be handled by the electric motor(s).
Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer, says of the AM-RB 001 project: “I’ve long harboured the desire to design a road car. 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. The synergy between Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin is clear. 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. 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.”
Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, says of the AM-RB 001: “Working so closely alongside Adrian and an organisation like Red Bull Racing is a fabulous experience. By definition the objectives we’ve set for the car ensures there has never been an Aston Martin - or any car, actually - quite like the AM-RB 001. The shared challenge has been finding that magical tipping point where we achieve the most efficient engineering solutions and the most beautiful styling solutions without any compromises. My personal challenge has been expressing the AM-RB 001’s extraordinary performance and the unique way in which it delivers that performance. Its style reflects its revolutionary nature, while possessing the form and beauty that makes it unmistakably an Aston Martin.”
For more on Aston Martin vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
