Think-Dash: Red Bull & Aston Martin reveal AM-RB 001 hypercar, designed by Newey

British Grand Prix – Red Bull Racing & Aston Martin have taken the covers off the AM-RB 001, the car designed as a result of a technical partnership between the two companies. The hypercar was unveiled by Daniel Ricciardo at an event in Gaydon in the UK on Tuesday, the end product of a project led by F1 designer Adrian Newey, Marek Reichman & David King of Aston Martin.

Named the AM-RB 001, it will be powered by an all new naturally aspirated V12 engine, with the aim of ‘to achieve a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio; 1 bhp per kilo of weight.’

“I’ve long harboured the desire to design a road car.” said Adrian Newey of his new design. He has designed the car to be monstrous in terms of downforce, much of which comes from under the floor. “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”.

While this is the road going version, 25 track-only versions are planned, which will have a performance level equivalent to current LMP1 WEC cars, according to the team’s own literature.

A total figure of road versions hasn’t yet been finalised, but between 99 and 150 are planned. Without the oppression of a sporting rule book, Newey has been able to use his design nous to put together a bespoke suspension system, as well as a completely new transmission system.

The legendary F1 designer says that he has been able to use his thirty years of motorsport expertise to design this new machine.

Aston Martin CEO Dr. Andy Palmer says that the project has been eye-opening, working alongside the very best brainpower that F1 has to offer: “The AM-RB 001 is a truly remarkable project and something of which I’m extremely proud. To have Aston Martin working alongside Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing and the invaluable assistance of project partner AF Racing AG is an extraordinary creative collaboration. One that unites the very best of road and race car thinking. 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”.