The single most important supercar of the 1990s was the BMW V12-powered McLaren F1, which is credited to the one and only Gordon Murray, Peter Stevens, and Paul Rosche. A decade later, the Volkswagen Group flexed its proverbial muscles with the maniacally fast Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4.
In the 2010s, the high-performance segment focused on downforce and electrification. These motifs are still relevant in the 2020s, which is likely going to be remembered as the decade of the Red Bull RB17. On the Talking Bull podcast, chief technical officer Adrian Newey confirmed that a full-scale model of the two-seat downforce monster will be revealed sometime in the summer of 2024.
Newey further made it clear that interior space will be slightly better than in the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which – as you're well aware – was once referred to as the AM-RB 001. He specifically mentions a lot more legroom, and chances are that the RB17 will also sweeten the deal with a slightly wider cabin.
Announced by Red Bull Advanced Technologies in June 2022, the RB17 is called this way because Red Bull never got to race the RB17. Instead, the Austrian team from Milton Keynes worked its magic on the RB16, which turned into the "no-Mickey-that-was-so-not-right" RB16B for 2021.
Newey told Talking Bull host Nicola Hume that the design is finished. The British engineer and aerodynamicist further made it clear that some parts will be produced in-house by Red Bull Advanced Technologies, while others will be sourced from the suppliers that RBR uses for their F1 racing cars.
Photo: Red Bull
The heavily-anticipated RB17 will use a free-breathing V10 as a nod to Formula 1's best-sounding era, with said engine targeting 1,100 horsepower and 15,000 revolutions per minute. That's superbike territory, and one can only imagine how glorious the RB17 will sound like at wide open throttle. Newey says the first Red Bull-branded production car will sport a 200-horsepower electric motor that fulfills a variety of functions. In addition to assisting the internal combustion engine, it smooths out the torque, smooths out the gear change, provides reverse, and also provides zero-emission propulsion at low speeds.
Newey was the chief designer of the Williams FW14, which gained active suspension in 1992. Not surprising in the least, the track-only RB17 will also get active suspension. Regarding downforce, look forward to a maximum of 1,700 kilograms (3,748 pounds) at 150 miles per hour (241 kilometers per hour). Newey won't go higher than that because overloading the tires is a big no-no.
The secret to this immense downforce is the exhaust-blown diffuser, a concept that's been pioneered in Formula 1 by Renault in the 1980s. A strict two-seat machine, the RB17 tips the scales at less than 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds), meaning that it's lighter than the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Over in Japan, where the MX-5 is dubbed Roadster and features the Skyactiv-G 1.5-liter engine rather than the 2.0 of the North American version, the pint-sized model weighs 1,010 kilos (2,227 pounds).
What boggles the mind, however, is this particular quote from Newey: "The car, if driven by a professional driver, is capable of F1 lap times." Newey said that track testing will start in 2025, whereas manufacturing will begin in 2026. A grand total of 50 units will be produced, with prices kicking off at £5 million (sans local taxes). At current exchange rates, that's about $6.4 million.
Red Bull Advanced Technologies announce details of its first hypercar project designed, developed, and manufactured entirely in-house.
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) June 28, 2022
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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