Red Bull RB17 Hypercar Unveiled With Insane Aeros, Screaming V10
Remember two years ago when Red Bull Advanced Technologies announced its first in-house developed hypercar project? Well, this is it.
Introduced this week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K., the RB17 is the brainchild of Adrian Newey, chief technical officer of Oracle Red Bull Racing (until the end of the 2024 season), and Red Bull Advanced Technologies. It’s built around a two-seater carbon fibre monocoque chassis and is designed as the ultimate track car.
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Newey is also responsible for creating the sensational Aston Martin Valkyrie, so it’s no surprise that the Red Bull RB17 boasts such radical shapes and proportions while putting so much emphasis on aerodynamics. The goal was to deliver an F1 experience from behind the wheel that can be enjoyed alongside a co-driver.
According to the company, no other car currently sold to the public has such an advanced ground effects package. The adjustable spoilers and side skirts combine with an active suspension system to counteract bouncing and nose lift, also known as porpoising.
The RB17 tips the scales at less than 900 kg (1,984 lbs) and generates downforce that matches its weight at a speed of 190 km/h, as well as 1,700 kg (3,750 lbs) of downforce at 240 km/h. Incidentally, the car can reach speeds of over 350 km/h.
Red Bull says two different wheel options will be available along with custom Michelin tires. The piece de resistance, of course, is a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated V10 that is red lined at 15,000 rpm. The screaming engine is paired with an electric motor to produce around 1,200 horsepower, all of which is transferred to the rear wheels via a carbon fibre gearbox. Acceleration times haven’t been disclosed yet.
Production of the RB17 is scheduled to begin next year at Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes, U.K. Only 50 units will be built, and they were initially said to cost approximately £5 million apiece—the equivalent of $8.8 million CAD based on today’s exchange rate.
Each owner will be welcomed into the Red Bull family with a full customer journey, including a range of track events giving them the opportunity to experience some of the world’s greatest circuits. One-of-a-kind driver development and tailoring of the car to suit individual driver’s needs is part of the unique experience, too. Each RB17 will be bespoke, with customers able to specify everything from the exterior paint colour to interior materials, and a whole host of smaller details.