Red Bull channels 20 years of Formula One experience into wild RB17 hypercar. Track only offering gets 1200 horsepower V10 but will ask potential owners to set aside $6.4 million for the privilege of owning one.
Red Bull unveiled the RB17 hypercar after years of rumors and reports hinted the company was working on it.
Red Bull and its shadowy hypercar program have been persistent rumor fodder for the past several years. The company has spent two decades in Formula One racing but offered little proof that it was building something customer-focused other than its cases of caffeinated energy drinks and the associated merchandise that often accompanies them.
The firm is out to change that though and has finally unveiled the RB17 hypercar a limited production track-only hypercar that uses everything that Red Bull learned on the track to help craft a hypercar that could potentially give Red Bull enough reason to dive deeper into the segment if it resonates strongly enough with potential buyers.
RB17 design is a balanced blend of style and performance
A 1000 hp 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V10 is paired with a small electric motor to produce a combined system output of 1200 hp.
The exterior styling of the RB17 is all about being functional and since Red Bull engineers didn’t have to worry about safety regulations and other potential obstacles in making it a road-legal offering, the RB17 is a boldly minimalist affair with the front fascia getting a large front wing and slender headlights to help provide illumination in night time driving. Red Bull says the front and rear wings also have active elements to help adjust them to different driving scenarios and the wheel wake system was even incorporated into the body to help manage airflow around the tires.
The RB17 gets 18-inch carbon fiber wheels and Michelin racing slicks standard but buyers can go for larger 20-inch hoops with these wheels swapping out the slicks for treaded track tires. The sloping rear end helps enhance aerodynamics and the black contrasting trim panel flows down from the roof all the way to the rear wing area. Red Bull says the clean shape can generate up to 3,747 lbs of downforce which is roughly double its 1,984 lb curb weight. The lowered suspension puts the RB17 close to the ground but a lift mode allows the car to get enough height to clear bumps at low speeds. When it’s not clearing bumps, the adjustable pushrod suspension can also actively adjust the height and control the roll of the car at high speeds. Carbon brakes are mounted at all four corners but the rear brakes get an electronically operated brake-by-wire system
The company didn’t release any pictures of the interior but promised the cabin will come with custom seat options, an adjustable pedal box, and built-in storage for helmets and even racing suits.
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Performance reigns supreme
Function defines every aspect of the RB17’s design with the engine also serving as a crucial component of the car’s chassis..
Performance for the RB17 comes from a 4.5-liter V10 that makes 1200 hp thanks to the addition of a small electric motor. Red Bull says that the V10 can spin all the way up to 15,000 rpm. Red Bull didn’t reveal performance data for the RB17 but promised that the hypercar can post lap times that are on par with a Formula One car and it can reach a top speed of 217 mph. The electric motor is no slouch either and it makes 200 hp on its own while also being responsible for allowing the RB17 to go into reverse since the six-speed sequential gearbox does not have a reverse gear.
The engine goes beyond being a mere device for power and is also part of the RB17’s carbon monocoque underpinnings with the engine serving as a stressed member of the chassis. This chassis helps the RB17 deliver impressive amounts of handling and also helps cut down on excess weight too. Durability was also not left out either with the company saying that the RB17 can run a full 24-Hour race without any form of servicing
RB17 to have limited production run
Red Bull says it will build only 50 RB17s and it’s not known if any of these models will make their way to the U.S. or not.
Red Bull says that it will build only 50 production units and while the company didn’t reveal formal pricing, separate reports have stated that the company will charge $6.4 million for each one. It’s safe to assume that all of them have already been sold out with some of the quirks of owning the car appearing to indirectly confirm that it will not be coming to the U.S.
Normal servicing can be done either at Red Bull’s headquarters, a local service center, or even at the customer’s home or track paddock. However, all major service items have to be done every 5,000 miles and must be done at Red Bull’s HQ by specially trained technicians in Austria. The company does have one HQ facility in Santa Monica, California but it’s not known if the model is even coming to the U.S. and whether the Santa Monica facility is ready to handle servicing in the event some of these vehicles make their way to our shores.
I doubt any of the 50 buyers will have the talent to drive it.