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Red Bull retains Aston Martin deal, AM-RB 001 gets 2017 launch

Red Bull has confirmed it will maintain its 'Innovation Partnership' with Aston Martin for 2017, with a prototype of the much-hyped AM-RB 001 expected to run by the end of next year.

The two signed a partnership deal 12 months ago heading to the 2016 F1 season opener in Australia which saw Aston Martin logos adorn the team's car livery.

The announcement caught the headlines with an Adrian Newey-led hypercar plan, the AM-RB 001, with a monster V12 which aimed to produce a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio.

The car, headed by Newey, Aston Martin's Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichmann and Chief Special Operations Officer David King, is already sold-out with 150 of the road-going versions set to be rolled out in early 2019. There will also be 25 track special versions.

The new deal sees the continuation of the partnership between Red Bull and Aston Martin and the first prototype of the hypercar is expected in late 2017.

"We first conceived our Innovation Partnership with Aston Martin in the realisation that it could be truly pioneering," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. "In blending our distinct but unique skills under a shared creative vision, we have already seen tangible development to both of our brands and businesses.

"The extraordinary success of the AM RB-001 is testament to the expert and collaborative spirit in which it was forged, and extending our relationship with Aston Martin through 2017 was a simple and pleasing decision."

Dr Andrew Palmer, Aston Martin President and CEO, has echoed Horner's sentiments and is thrilled to see the project continue into 2017.

"Our relationship with Red Bull Racing has done for Aston Martin exactly what we expected it to do," Palmer said. "It is helping us to continue to build our brand across the globe. Partnerships like this are good for business both in terms of technical innovation and brand awareness, so we are pleased to continue into 2017.

"By bringing together the talents of Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin, AM-RB 001 is destined to become the defining hypercar of this decade."

Zdroj: crash.net