What's that squiggle?

It's the 2018 Aston Martin AM-RB 001, obviously.

The what now?

Yes, well, you see there aren't any images of the actual car in existence as yet, so all we have to illustrate this story is what we can best describe as an abstract sketch. Make of it what you will. We could have used one of the Red Bull Racing F1 cars I suppose, but that might distract you from the big news here.

Aston is getting into Formula One?

Not quite, though if you flick through the gallery you'll spy a couple of RBR racers with Aston Martin logos on them. They mark the start of a new partnership between the two companies, and though there might be other projects in the pipeline, there's only one that interests us right now and that's the development of the AM-RB 001.

And what, exactly, is that?

Nobody outside Aston Martin and RBR knows as yet. We're told that it'll be a 'ground-breaking hypercar', that it will be road legal and should be on sale in 2018. I say 'on sale', but it's highly likely to be limited to double, maybe even single digit production numbers and will carry a price tag measured in the millions of pounds. One insider did let slip, however, that the AM-RB 001 would lap a track quicker than a 2016 Formula One car, which seems astounding pace to unleash on the unsuspecting public.

Sounds awesome. Who's involved?

Well, along with Aston's head designer (officially Chief Creative Officer), Marek Reichman, will be none other than Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer. Apparently 10 championship winning F1 cars isn't achievement enough for him and he wants to do a supercar too. Should be very special indeed.

Shane O' Donoghue - 17 Mar 2016