- The Red Bull RB17 hypercar’s final design has been revealed in all its cosmetic and structural glory.
- Conceptualised by F1 engineering icon Adrian Newey, it’s powered by a 4.5-litre Cosworth V10 capable of generating 745kW, and features an additional 149kW e-motor.
- Only 50 examples of the RB17 hypercar will ever be produced with an estimated price of US$6 million (AU$8.9 million).
Motoring enthusiasts will likely be aware of the frighteningly powerful road RB17 hypercar that Red Bull has been quietly cooking up. But since it was first announced, the Adrian Newey-designed two-seater has evolved into something even wilder than originally anticipated.
Despite Newey swapping Milton Keynes for Silverstone – departing his role as chief technology officer of Red Bull Racing for what is quite literally greener pastures over at Aston Martin F1 – the veteran aerodynamicist has been able to keep a close eye on the developing RB17.
Speaking with Top Gear, Red Bull Advanced Technologies technical director Rob Gray explained, “Adrian’s allowed [to consult on the project], and he’s still interested in what’s going on.”
“But to an extent we got what we needed from him, we know what he wanted the car to look like and he’s always on the end of the phone if we need him.”
Up front, the hockey-stick LED headlamps give it a fresh facelift, while down the body of the hypercar, there are finer cooling apertures and an engine cover that now sprouts a sailfish-style fin. The footprint still mirrors a slightly trimmed modern F1 car, but it also boasts a few real-world external updates like mirrors and a wiper.
Beneath its aggressive facade is where things have been changed more significantly.
An exhaust has been shifted onto the spine of the car to better manage the roaring temperatures generated by the bespoke engine: specifically, a 4.5-litre Cosworth V10 capable of revving to 15,000RPM and generating 745kW, linked to a 149kW e-motor that handles reverse and torque.
The RB17 hypercar might very well be the final Red Bull project with Newey’s fingerprints on it, hence closing the book on his legendary affiliation in spectacular fashion. Just 50 examples will ever be produced, with an estimated price around the US$6 million (AU$8.9 million) benchmark.
