Aston Martin DBR22 speedster unleashed

Aston Martin Q has pulled the drapes off the 2022 Aston Martin DBR22 ahead of the wild new speedster’s public debut this weekend at the Monterey Car Week in California.

Claimed to commemorate a decade of Aston Martin’s in-house bespoke division – Q by Aston Martin – the DBR22 follows in the tyre tracks of ultra-limited Aston specials that include the one-off Victor, the 24-run Vulcan and 14-unit Vantage V600.

The company has not yet revealed how many DBR22 cars it will produce, but said its classic proportions and “muscular curves” draw direct inspiration from past 1950s racers like the DBR1 and DB3S.

Said to not share a single body panel with any current Aston model, the DBR22’s design is centred around a special full carbon-fibre front grille that even features vanes made out of the lightweight composite.

Instead of a traditional windscreen there’s a modest wind deflector that provides a racing car’s open-cockpit feel to the cabin.

However, the British sports car-maker hasn’t created a stripped-out interior – there’s an all-new dash, large infotainment and lots of leather and exposed carbon-fibre.

Behind the two brown leather-wrapped race seats is a pair of dramatic buttress-style humps that flow from the head restraints towards the rear-end of the car.

At the rear, there’s a full-width LED light bar that sits above a large diffuser.

Back up front, the bonnet is dominated by an enormous horseshoe air vent that helps cool the twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12.

Tuned to produce a mighty 526kW and 753Nm of torque, the biturbo V12 is combined with an eight-speed auto that’s said to offer crisper shifts and helps deliver a supercar-quick 0-60mph (0-97km/h) sprint in just 3.4 seconds and a blustery 319km/h top speed.

Ensuring it offers a sharper drive than the Aston Martin V12 Speedster – which is believed to provide the basis for the DBR22 – engineers have added underbody panels to boost rigidity and even created a new 3D-printed aluminium rear subframe that slashes weight with no reduction in stiffness.

There’s also a set of lightweight 21-inch wheels with a motorsport-inspired centre lock hub, while recalibrated adaptive dampers aim to ensure ride refinement has not been sacrificed in pursuit of better body control and agility on road and track.

Aston Martin chief technical officer Roberto Fedeli said: “Technology is pivotal in the construction of DBR22, with extensive use of carbon-fibre throughout, and the use of 3D printing for the manufacture of a structural component.

“For a car that was designed to celebrate the ultimate bespoke customisation service, the engineering developments mean DBR22 truly has the dynamic theatre to match, ensuring the drive is just as addictive as its looks.”

Other key details such as pricing and build numbers are expected to be revealed at its August 19 public debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

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