AM-RB 001 gets Cosworth V12 engine
Wild Aston Martin hypercar gets English engine and gearbox, Croatian battery pack for 745kW bangAston Martin has come clean with more details on its wild AM-RB 001 hypercar, confirming that UK motorsport experts Cosworth will build the car's high-revving, naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine.
No turbos for this bad-boy!
All 150 road cars are understood to have been sold already, each priced at around $A5 million each. That's a decent wedge for a car, one that won't be delivered until 2019.
Another 25 track-only versions will be built, too.
Expected to pump out close to 745kW – about 1000hp in the old money - when combined with power from the electric motor, the V12 engine will be paired with a seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox built by UK motorsport specialist Ricardo.
The third integral part of the powertrain comes a Croatia-based start-up that's almost ready to deploy the world's fastest electric car, the $1.25 million Rimac Concept-One. Rimac will supply Aston Martin with a lightweight hybrid battery system to give the AM-RB 001 an extra shove, and will increase its own pedigree by landing this deal.
The British hypercar's MonoCell carbon-fibre platform comes from Multimatic, a company that Aston says is one of the "world-leading composite experts". The company has previous worked on projects such as Aston Martin One-77 and Aston Martin Vulcan, and its know-how will be crucial in keeping the AM-RB 001's weight to a minimum.
The car is tipped to weigh no more than 1000kg.
Stopping power for the brutally powerful road-legal racer will come from Alcon and Surface Transforms, "who together are responsible for supplying the lightweight, high performance brake calipers and carbon discs required to deliver the stopping power".
As such, expect carbon-ceramic brakes of an exceedingly large diameter.
Automotive electronics powerhouse Bosch will take care of the ECU and torque control units, including traction and stability control, while UK-based Wipac has been tasked with developing hardcore (and lightweight) LED brake lights and headlights.
The mastermind behind the project and the man in charge of ensuring the car has ideal aerodynamics, F1 aero genius Adrian Newey, reckons developing the AM-RB 001 isn't dissimilar to building an F1 car.
"Much like Formula One, designing, engineering and building a car like the AM-RB 001 is a massive team effort," he said.
"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."
David King, VP and Chief Special Operations Officer, was also clearly excited to be working with the various suppliers in what could be the most important car in a generation. But he cautioned that the task still presents hurdles.
"Making the AM-RB 001 presents huge challenges. It's a real test of everyone involved, but that’s as it should be, for we’re genuinely raising the bar with this car," King said.
"That’s what makes the project so special, and why having the right technical partners is so critical. Some of those names we’re working with are long-standing suppliers of Aston Martin, but there are some new names in there, too."
A maximum of 150 road going AM-RB 001s will be built, including all remaining prototypes, with 25 additional track-only versions. First deliveries are due to commence in 2019.
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