Confirmed in 2016, the Aston Martin AM-RB 001 will arrive sometime in 2018 as the company's most extreme vehicle to date. Developed in cooperation with F1's Red Bull Racing -- headed by engineering genius Adrian Newey -- and AF Racing, the supercar will feature F1-inspired aerodynamics, an innovative gearbox, as well as all the creature comforts one needs in a daily driver. It will also be extremely powerful, but details aren't yet available outside the fact that Aston Martin is aiming for a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. However, the British firm just revealed that the AM-RB 001 will use a naturally aspirated, 6.5-liter V-12 developed by Cosworth.
And this is great news, as Cosworth is no stranger to racing and road-going performance, having developed several high-performance engines over the last decades.
With five Formula One championships under its belt as an engine manufacturer and a range of impressive drivetrains build for Ford and Mercedes-Benz, Cosworth is definitely more than capable of delivering a world-beating engine for the AM-RB 001.
Although details are scant, Aston Martin did say that the V-12 will mate to a bespoke seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission designed by Ricardo to Red Bull Advanced Technologies' specifications. The AM-RB 001 will also use a hybrid battery system supplied by Rimac, known for its incredibly fast Concept-One all-electric hypercar.
Further greasy bits unveiled in Aston Martin's latest statement include a lightweight tub made from carbon-fiber by Multimatic, who also helped develop the One-77 and the Vulcan, and a braking system created by Alcon and Surface Transforms. Bosch was also commissioned to develop a bespoke engine control unit (ECU), a traction control unit, and electronic stability program (ESP). Finally, the supercar's LED headlamps and taillights will be built by Wipac, which developed light units for the Porsche Carrera GT and the Lamborghini Aventador.
“Much like Formula One, designing, engineering and building a car like the AM-RB 001 is a massive team effort. To achieve great things you need to surround yourself with the best people. Experience, creativity, energy, diligence and perfectionism are absolute must-have qualities in every area of the project. Having great technical partners such as those working with us is both reassuring and motivating. Together we aim to produce an innovative piece of engineering art," said Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing's chief technical officer.
First deliveries of the AM-RB 001 are due to commence in 2019, according to the British company.
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Why it Matters
Needless to say, the AM-RB 001 sounds like a massive effort with input from several key companies in the business. But, it's far from surprising, as innovative supercars aren't exactly easy to put together, especially when the main goal is to innovate and obliterate everything else on the market. I'm sure that Aston Martin will have lots of difficult obstacles to overcome before the AM-RB 001 project comes to fruition, but the experience of its partners, especially Red Bull Racing, Multimatic, and Cosworth, will definitely make the development and manufacturing processes a lot easier. All told, the AM-RB will be a tremendous supercar and there are at least five reasons why I think it will revolutionize the industry.
Read our full review on the upcoming Aston Martin AM-RB 001 here.