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Aston Martin, Red Bull show off V12-powered hypercar

Not many companies are capable of developing true hypercars. Today, Aston Martin resoundingly declared it intends to be one of them, revealing a V12-powered mid-engine hypercar created in tandem with Formula One's Red Bull Racing. Codenamed the AM-RB 001, The two-seater will arrive in 2018 and will be built on a lightweight carbon-fiber structure. It will be assembled at Aston's Gaydon facility in the United Kingdom where the One-77 was built. Aston says between 99 and 150 road versions will be made, including the prototypes. Twenty five models will be created specifically for track use. Red Bull brags the customer list "reads like a who's who of F1 legends, moguls, and megastars." The AM-RB 001 is the fruit of a partnership between Aston and Red Bull that was announced in March. More details of the hypercar weren't immediately known, but the companies promise "unprecedented levels of downforce" created by aerodynamic elements underneath the car, which allows designers to execute the swoopy appearance shown in today's images. The V12 will be naturally aspirated, and the transmission and suspension are new designs developed by Red Bull. The power to weight ratio will be one horsepower to one kilogram, or 2.2 pounds. The projected will be marshaled by Aston chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, and David King, the carmaker's chief special operations officer who will oversee the build. Red Bull's side will be led by chief technical officer Adrian Newey. "The synergy between Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin is clear," Newey said in a statement. "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." Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Aston Martin Red Bull AM-RB 001 Design/Style Motorsports Aston Martin Coupe Performance Supercars F1 Red Bull Racing

Aston Martin deal with Red Bull means F1 tech for Vanquish

Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing made no secret that their AM-RB 001 hypercar (rendering above) would use Formula One tech, but the cutting-edge motorsports knowledge will also trickle down to more accessible Aston Martin vehicles. "Some of the technologies we are developing with Red Bull Technologies and Adrian [Newey] will undoubtedly flow through to the next Vanquish," Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told Drive. He thinks the model's price is high enough to allow the use of F1 tech. "I am particularly interested in structural carbon fiber and KERS type technology that you could easily see working in that car," said Palmer. The AM-RB 001 is due for 2018, and the new Vanquish would come afterward. Aston Martin and Red Bull hope their hypercar project sets benchmarks in the class. "The McLaren F1 is the perfect analogy of what we're trying to do - bring Formula One to the road in a genuine and authentic manner," Palmer told Drive. He claims that simulations already show the AM-RB 001 could lap Silverstone quicker than an F1 car. For context, the slowest qualifying time in the British Grand Prix last year was a 1:39.377 lap around the nearly 3.7 mile track. With projects like the hypercar, the next Vanquish, and the latest DB11, Aston Martin has a busy launch calendar over the next few years. A next-gen Vantage is in the company's plans, and there's the DBX crossover, too. The British sports car maker also wants to do two limited-edition models a year, like the Vantage GT12 and Vulcan in 2015. The vehicles for 2016 and 2017 are still mysteries, but 2018 would bring the electric Rapide and the AM-RB 001, according to Palmer. When combined with Mercedes powertrains and technology in future models, the company hopes to appeal to more customers. Related Video:

Tom Brady, Aston Martin team up for special-edition Vanquish S

If we were to ask you what person comes to mind when we say the words "Aston Martin," who would it be? James Bond? No, are you crazy? New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the person synonymous with Aston! Ok, no, not really, but the man has been involved with the company for a little while, having partnered for some sort of content series and a custom Vanquish S. Now that custom car, called the Tom Brady Signature Edition and built by Aston Martin's specialty vehicle division Q, has been revealed, and it's a seriously exclusive car with just 12 units being produced. For those who don't follow football, the production run of 12 cars isn't random. Brady's number on the field is 12, thus the number of cars produced. It also makes an appearance in a "TB12" logo found in badges on the exterior, and embossed on the seats. And of course, Brady's signature is found on the car, too, in the form of door sill plates. The badges aren't the only special touches added by Aston Martin's Q branch. The car features an array of carbon fiber body parts such as the grille, front splitter and rear diffuser. The whole car is painted a dark blue called Ultramarine Black, and it's complemented by a black leather interior. The interior also has a bit of blue lighting. It should be noted though that most of these cosmetic changes are also available on the regular Vanquish S models. These cosmetic additions and the exclusivity will cost you quite a bit of cash. According to ESPN, the car runs $359,950. Considering that a standard Vanquish S Volante starts at $311,650 before destination, and it can be customized however you'd like, even to look like a Tom Brady edition car, we would go that route. You could save even more money going with a coupe, which starts at $293,650 before destination. We also wonder if Brady will buy one of his special-edition cars, since ESPN reports he doesn't get one as part of his Aston Martin partnership. Related Video: Featured Gallery Aston Martin Vanquish S Tom Brady Signature Edition by Q News Source: Aston Martin, ESPN.comImage Credit: Aston Martin Celebrities Aston Martin Convertible Luxury Performance aston martin vanquish q by aston martin tom brady