Q by Aston Martin has unveiled its latest project at Monterey Car Week. Named the DBR22, the vehicle joins the likes of the Ferrari SP2, McLaren Elva, and the Aston Martin V12 Speedster by delivering the latest on a bloodline of open-cockpit sports racers. The vehicle also builds on the heritage of the world-beating two-seater open-cockpit sportscars such as the DBR1 and DB3S but adds brute force by way of a twin-turbo V12 powerplant producing 715PS and 753Nm.
“We set our design systems to hyper-drive, pushing the exploration of formalism further and endeavouring to express a future in the here today. Combining this approach with advanced processes, technology, and materials, we’ve effectively modernised our racing bloodline and created a new pedigree. DBR22 is an Aston Martin sports car full of speed, agility and spirit, and a machine that we think will be the basis of many of tomorrow’s icons,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer.
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Image: Aston Martin
Few brands have a richer history in open cockpit racing than Aston Martin. It’s as important to the DNA of the DBR22 as any amount of technology they’ve stuffed inside the chassis. It all started in 1953 with Frank Feeley’s alloy body DB3S, but the following DBR1, known as the ultimate Aston Martin sportscar, took Feeley’s design language to the next level and became what we’d call the most influential Aston Martin of all time – winning Le Mans in 1959 with Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori at the wheel – before taking the team onto victory at the World Sports Car Championship in the same year.
Fast forward to 2022 and the Aston Martin DBR22 follows suit with a gorgeous coach-built design created from only a few body panels to create a more sculpted, muscular presence. The front grille is made from carbon fibre and takes inspiration from the DB3S and the DBR1, building on that racing identity.
Image: Aston Martin
A horseshoe vent in the body hides the stonking great 5.2-litre V12 Twin-Turbo engine beneath it, propelling the Aston Martin DBR22 from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds before going on to a top speed of 198mph/319kph. Unique front and rear shear panels increase torsional rigidity, alongside a 3D printed rear subframe.
Centrelock wheels fill the arches in a 21-inch, 14-spoke configuration. The exterior of the DBR22 is finished in bespoke paint colour, developed specifically for the occasion using ‘Paint to Sample’ exclusively through Q by Aston Martin. A number of options are also available for the buyer through the program with tinted carbon, paint colours, finishes, and materials on the interior and exterior.
“Technology is pivotal in the construction of DBR22, with extensive use of carbon fibre throughout, and the use of 3D printing for the manufacture of a structural component. For a car that was designed to celebrate the ultimate bespoke customisation service, the engineering developments mean DBR22 truly has the dynamic theatre to match, ensuring the drive is just as addictive as its looks,” said Roberto Fedeli, Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer.
Aston Martin has not specified a price for the DBR22 model, however, Autocar says 10 examples will be sold for about £1.5 million ($2.58m AUD) each. We’d expect customers to spend at least $4 million AUD after throwing the Q catalogue at the car. The DBR22 design concept will be on display at Pebble Beach Concours D’ Elegance from Friday 19th – Sunday 21st of August.
Image: Aston Martin
Image: Aston Martin
Image: Aston Martin
Image: Aston Martin
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