In a world where hypercars are becoming ever more parodies of racing video game products, it’s difficult to stand out in the field. However, when the car in question is a collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull, you can be sure that the result is going to turn heads wherever it goes.
Extraordinary Looks, Stunning Performance
If ever a car was to look fast, even when standing still, it has to be the RB 001. Due out in 2019, the RB 001 is likely to be the fastest production car by a considerable margin, it’s the car to catch, and it’s going to take a hell of a lot of catching. Forget hypercars; the RB 001 is going to be the first of a whole new breed of car and one that will need a whole new category to describe it.
That may sound like a bold statement but when you consider that if it were to be put up against cars like the Porsche 918 or even the McLaren P1 around a suitable race track, such as Silverstone, the RB 001 would be expected to cross the line around 20 seconds faster than the other cars. That’s not just a bit faster – it’s a new level of performance! That fact is a far better measure of performance than simple straight line speed, as it incorporates a whole raft of abilities and pushes a car in terms of road holding, acceleration, and braking performance, and puts the RB 001 literally miles ahead of the opposition.
Power and Grace
While the RB 001 is expected to be the pinnacle of performance, exact details are still sketchy, and neither Aston Martin nor Red Bull are letting too much out of the bag. It is rumored to be powered by a bespoke Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, and have a bespoke gearbox, but many other details are less well known. In keeping with Aston Martin’s desire to give their cars names beginning with V – Vantage, Vanquish, Virage, and the track-only Vulcan – the RB 001 has been christened ‘Valkyrie’ to reflect its God-like status. Mark Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer said “Aston Martin model names have deep meaning. They need to inspire and excite. To tell a story and enrich a narrative that stretches back some 104-years. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is an incredibly special car that demands an equally remarkable name; an uncompromising car that leaves nothing in reserve.” It is a name that evokes the mighty power and effortless grace of the RB 001.
Details on engine and power train assemblies are still unknown – and possibly even undecided – but the RB 001 is unlikely to suffer from technical shortcomings or putting up with second-best components. It is also expected to be roomy enough to fit two adults in the cockpit, so Sunday afternoon drives won’t be a problem.
But all that power is useless without a chassis that is able to keep the car on the road under maximum acceleration, and that is the job of Aston Martin’s third collaboration on the car with Michelin, the tyre manufacturer who supply the 265/30 ZR20 at the front and 325/30 ZR21 rear tyres. Michelin have decades of experience in supplying tyres to some of the most demanding motorsport events in the world, and has been recognized as being one of the most innovative manufacturers. Being selected to work on a next-generation car like the RB 001 is the ultimate accolade for a tyre manufacture and puts Michelin firmly at the top of their class.
As well as vicious acceleration the tyres and whole suspension system will need to cope with huge amounts of downforce generated by the aerodynamic bodywork. The unsprung mass has been kept to an absolute minimum and the suspension system has been specially designed by Aston Martin to cope with the extreme performance from the car.
Limited Edition, Maximum Appeal
The RB 001 is expected to be manufactured at Aston Martin’s Gaydon plant in Warwickshire, and it is also thought that it will be limited to a short special unit production run of between 99 and 150 cars only. That will not only ensure the car’s exclusivity but also make it an investment worth having. Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin has said that, following the cars debut at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed, demand for the car would make it oversubscribed at least three times.
Aston Martin’s association with the Red Bull designers started with collaboration on the much anticipated DBII, due out later this year, and following that, work on a concept that would become the RB 001 seemed the only logical way forward. Red Bull has the reputation for extreme action, and Aston Martin has the car design experience to bring anything Red Bull can imagine to life.
Race Track Performance on the Road
So what do you get for your expected selling price of £2,500,000? You get what is essentially a road legal Formula One car, but with a docile side that means that it will never become too much of a handful on the roads. The RB 001 is designed to have shattering performance when it is needed, but to still be a car that can bring sheer driving experience to the lucky few who are able to get their hands on it.
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