Aston Martin AM-RB 001: Is this the ultimate hypercar?

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Car companies often like floating F1 terms alongside their latest offerings, but Aston Martin has staked its claim on a road car genuinely at one with the world's most popular motorsport – the AM-RB 001.

The AM part of its name stands for Aston Martin, but the RB bit is just as important, signifying Red Bull, one of Formula 1's most successful outfits in recent times.

The car is the result of a deep collaboration between the two companies and has the backing of one of the biggest names in the sport.

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Adrian Newey is regarded as the most successful designer in F1 history, having delivered ten Constructors' Championship-winning cars for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull since 1992. Working alongside Aston's chief designer, Marek Reichmann, and chief special operations officer Dave King, he has helped oversee the creation of what Aston calls a "truly ground-breaking hypercar".

Newey's formidable reputation spearheads the car's performance, but a lot of the F1 guru's work is hidden. The AM-RB 001's radical aerodynamics make for a road car with what Aston claims will be unprecedented levels of downforce, although most of it is generated through under-floor sculpting. The flaps, panels and tunnels hidden underneath, as well as the tell-tale F1-aping front wing, help ground the car in turns stronger than any road car before it. The rest of its lithe bodywork has been crafted by Reichmann.

The entire car is made up of a lightweight, carbon fibre structure, ideal for the gauntlet Aston and Red Bull have thrown down for themselves – an incredible 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. This means the AM-RB 001's total power output in brake horsepower will exactly match its weight in kilograms. Should it weigh a tonne exactly, 1,000bhp will be on tap.

Precise technical specifications have not yet been outlined, but Aston has confirmed that a compact, naturally aspirated V12 engine will be nestled just behind the driver. It will be mated to an all new, clean-sheet gearbox designed by Newey, who has used his expertise to pen the 001's suspension set-up, too, in order for it to cope with the extreme loads induced by the downforce and power output while also being able to settle into a rhythm to deliver on-road usability.

Commenting on his and Aston's creation, Newey revealed a long-held desire to design a supercar and promised that the 001 would deliver "immense outright capabilities".

Just how capable will it be? Top Gear has no doubts the project will brush the hypercar world's recent holy trinity of McLaren P1, Porsche 918 and LaFerrari well aside. Evo adds that now freed from the constraints of F1 regulations, Newey has created a car that makes the current poster-boys seem "archaic, heavy, and unbelievably, rather slow".

As for the upcoming Bugatti Chiron, the AM-RB 001 takes a distinctly different approach to performance. Bugatti's monster will likely be more powerful, boasting just under 1,500bhp. With a top speed of 261mph, it's hard to comprehend the potential for the Aston to be faster in a straight line, but it will most definitely be the fastest road car on the planet around a track.

Autocar says Aston will actually make two separate versions of the car – a track-only one plus the road version.

The track version will keep F1 and LMP1 cars honest, says Aston, but the road-going version won't be too far off the pace itself. It should be the hypercar to define the decade and steal the Bugatti's thunder.

Road car production will be limited to between 99 and 150 examples, with 25 of the track-only versions. Buyers of Aston's previous specials – such as the One-77 and Vulcan – will be given first dibs and prices are said to be between £2-3m, with first deliveries in 2018.