By releasing a single teaser picture, Aston Martin has officially confirmed the development of its third hypercar - a mid-engined coupe that's codenamed Project 003. The new flagship of the brand follows the footsteps of the Aston Martin Valkyrie and is expected to reach the spotlight of car shows in its production form sometime in 2021.

Why the 003?

As a continuation of the series of cars started with the Aston Martin Valkyrie (codenamed the 001) and the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro (codenamed the 002), the new Aston Martin Project 003 seeks to embrace the legacy and deliver even better performance. So, the 003 is a definite sign that Aston Martin won’t stray from the path the Valkyrie set forth.

That one will fight the likes of the Ferrari 488 GTB or the McLaren 720S. The 003 will be a step or two above.

What Will It Be Like?

The short press release Aston Martin published does not say a lot, but I did try to read in between the lines, and this is what I gathered. The Project 003 will be an exclusive car intended to overshadow the likes of the LaFerrari, the P1, and the 918 Spyder. It will do so by employing extreme aerodynamic measures, the most advanced suspension systems, and an all-new hybrid propulsion based around the turbocharged gasoline engine.

Aston Martin officials highlighted their intentions of creating a car that will offer practicality and luggage space for its occupants. This is something Aston Martin did not actually focus on with the creation of the brothers in arms of the 003 - the Valkyrie and the Valkyrie AMR Pro.

Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive, Andy Palmer, said: “It was always the intention for the Aston Martin Valkyrie to be a once-in-a-lifetime project, however, it was also vital to us that Valkyrie would create a legacy: a direct descendant that would also set new standards within its own area of the hypercar market, creating a bloodline of highly specialized, limited production machines that can exist in parallel with Aston Martin’s series production models. I’m thrilled to announce that this car is the Project ‘003’, and our next step into a dynamic and exacting arena.”

When Will The Aston Martin Project 003 Come to Life?

The Aston Martin Project 003 will come to fruition in late 2021. I don’t expect it to appear at the regular car show, but at some kind of a special event like the Concours D'elegance, or something along those lines. This is quite a step up compared with the 175 units of the Valkyrie.

Unfortunately, officials did not mention anything about the performance, power of the hybrid drivetrain, or the looks of the thing. We do have a rather shy sketch of the 003 which does, in fact, infer that the car will probably have innovative aerodynamic solutions and a teardrop shaped canopy that's reminiscent of the Valkyrie. The Brits did add that the 003 will employ active aerodynamics with record levels of downforce for a road car and an active suspension setup as well.

Further reading

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Aston Martin Mid-Engined Supercar.

Read our full review on the 2018 Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Read our full review on the 2019 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro.