Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing's hypercar looks extraterrestrial
When a racing team funded by an energy drink maker and one of the world's most premier luxury performance carmakers come together on a project, the result can be pretty stunning.
Aston Martin and Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing unveiled Tuesday morning the result of a joint venture to create the world's latest and greatest hypercar. It's called the AM-RB-001 and though it's lacking a dynamic nameplate, its body, engine and lineage easily make up for it.
If you're wondering just exactly what a hypercar is, let me explain. The hierarchy of performance cars goes: sports car, supercar and hypercar, from least to most. Sports cars are quick but accessible both in performance and price -- think Mazda Miata. Supercars like the Lamborghini Huracán are faster and wilder still and carry price tags around $180,000 and above.
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Then at the very top, where few cars lie, are hypercars like the Lamborghini Centenario, which are available only to the super rich. That's because they can cost as much as a large villa -- the AM-RB-001 is speculated to cost $3 million (a figure Aston Martin won't confirm, but a representative did note it was a "reasonable" estimate) -- and accelerate faster than, say, a speeding bullet (not really, but you get what I mean).
Although they've unveiled the car, Aston and Red Bull are still being rather cagey about the AM-RB-001's performance specs. They have said, however, it is powered by a new V12 engine and will have seats for two occupants.
They've also divulged that production will run somewhere between 99 and 150 cars. What's more, both road-legal and track-only versions will be built. Given that tidbit, I wager the one we're looking at here is the track-only car since it doesn't have sideview mirrors. Nevertheless, I am sure the road-going version will be equally impressive.
Speaking of its looks, I can't help but feel the AM-RB-001 is what an alien might build, if pressed to design a terrestrial transportation machine. It doesn't look mean or sharp like a Lamborghini but more like an alien water bug that might lure you into its lair before turning your bones into gelatin.
That is to say, it still looks fearsome like a hypercar should, just not in the traditional sense.
Regardless of my interpretation of its exterior design, soak up its aerodynamic lines and otherworldly features now because you'll probably never see one in the wild.
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Topics Cars
