Red Bull has spared no expense in terms of power and technology in presenting its brand new hypercar, the RB17, a monster designed exclusively for the racetrack. While not a Formula 1 racing car, it dangerously flirts with that definition.
Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the RB17 is the brainchild of legendary Adrian Newey, Red Bull‘s aerodynamics guru. This ultra-light machine boasts a hybrid V10 engine that churns out a whopping 1,200 horsepower.
As expected from Red Bull’s first street car, the RB17 is a track-only titan. First announced in 2022, this beast makes no secret of its motorsport roots. It looks like an F1 car clad in a curvy carbon fiber body, with cutouts that reveal its ultra-lightweight structure.
The bold exterior lines flow from front to rear, passing through flared fenders that mount 18-inch wheels (although 20-inch optional rims are available). The bubble-type cockpit offers space for two people and a sizeable rear wing crowns the gigantic diffuser that evokes a spaceship.
While not as radical as the Bugatti Bolide, it can certainly be called extreme. Red Bull assures that this striking shape will generate 1,700 kilograms of downforce.
The RB17 not only looks like a fast car, but it is specifically developed to achieve F1-worthy lap times. Its hybrid powertrain combines a mid-mounted 4.5-liter naturally aspirated V10 with an electric motor in the transmission, together generating 1,200 horsepower that is transmitted to the rear axle through a six-speed sequential gearbox.
Even more impressive is the engine’s 15,000 rpm redline, guaranteeing a deafening roar on the track. The top speed is estimated at a respectable 350 kilometers per hour.
Red Bull’s hypercar features an adjustable pushrod suspension with active ride height and control. It also has a lift mode to overcome uneven pavement before entering the track. The vehicle is also equipped with hydraulic power steering and ceramic brakes.
The most surprising thing about the RB17 might be its weight. Thanks to a carbon fiber chassis and gearbox, the car manages to weigh less than 900 kilograms. This makes it only 100 kilos heavier than Red Bull’s current single-seater, the RB20. It also means that the aerodynamic shape and its elements produce almost twice as much downforce as the vehicle’s actual weight.
Although Red Bull has not revealed the price of the RB17, there is already a rumor that it will have a price tag of around $6.4 million. Anyway, don’t worry about gathering the fortune to buy this track beast. The 50 production units are already sold out.
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