Developing the fastest Formula 1 and destroying rivals of the caliber of Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG or McLaren year after year is already a very complicated task that should take up all the time and resources of Red Bull Racing, But those in Milton Keynes don’t think the same and believe that they can still do more things, such as one of the fastest, most expensive and exclusive hypercars in the world.
It is no surprise because this project was announced in 2022, but it is now when the RB17 has seen the light of day. It did so at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and, in addition to its design, its specifications and other details have been confirmed, such as the number of units that will be manufactured and its (stratospheric) price.
“That’s the embarrassing part and I still feel ashamed”: even Adrian Newey thinks it’s overpriced
Red Bull already has its street hypercar. It is called the RB17 and is, along with the Mercedes-AMG One, the closest thing to a Formula 1 approved for use on public roads. The division Red Bull Advanced Technologies is at the forefront of this project, but has had the help of Red Bull Racing at all times, to the point that Adrian Newey, the man most responsible for making the Red Bull F1 car a rocket, has been in charge of developing this car.
The goal that Newey set when he started the RB17 project was to make a street car as fast as a Formula 1“We made sure to design it as a two-seater, so that the thrill of driving at F1 speeds can be enjoyed with a friend or partner,” said the British engineer.
The name RB17 also has its explanation in Formula 1. In 2020, Red Bull Racing used the RB16 to win the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. In 2021, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez used the RB16B and in 2022 they debuted the RB18. The Formula 1 RB17 never existed, so this hypercar has stuck with that name.
For now, we have to wait and see what this savagery that came from Newey’s mind and that Red Bull has made possible will be capable of, but everything points to it being one of the fastest cars in the world. And not only because of its spectacular design, but also because of its technical specifications.
It is hybrid and combines a naturally aspirated V10 engine with another electric motor to develop more than 1,200 hp. The thermal block is capable of delivering 1,000 hp and turning at a maximum speed of 15,000 rpm, so we are looking at one of the most beastly combustion engines of recent years, and all this while weighing only 150 kg.
“A turbocharged V8 would certainly have delivered that power, but it obviously doesn’t sound as good as a naturally aspirated engine. The pinnacle of Formula 1 sound was the high-revving V10s used until late 2005,” Newey said.
The power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a carbon fibre gearbox, the details of which have not yet been revealed. The car’s chassis is also made of carbon fibre to achieve the maximum possible lightness.
The total weight of the car is less than 900 kg, That is, less than the weight of a Dacia Spring, so performance is guaranteed. Red Bull says it will reach top speeds of over 350 km/h, generate up to 5G when braking and “offer lap times equivalent to those of F1”. In addition, Red Bull promises that it will be very easy to drive.
Only will be manufactured 50 units, according to Red Bull in order to be able to produce the RB17 entirely at the Red Bull Advanced Technologies factory in the United Kingdom, also using parts from the same suppliers used by the Formula 1 team.
Each unit of the RB17 will cost 6 million pounds, more than 7.2 million euros at the current exchange rate. In addition to taking home the car, its owners will receive technical support from Red Bull for a year and will be able to take part in a programme of exclusive events that will allow them to drive their car on the best circuits in the world.
In any case, the price is what Adrian Newey likes least about the car, as he acknowledged at GoodwoodIt is the most expensive production car (very limited, though) in existence; in fact, it costs almost twice as much as the new Bugatti Tourbillon.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
