► Latest speedster unveiled at Pebble Beach
► Dramatic looks from Q by Aston Martin
► 5.2 V12 for 705bhp, 3.4sec 0-62mph
The new Aston Martin DBR22 is the latest in a long line of front-engined V12 speedsters from the British sports car brand – and it’s making its debut this week at one of the sunniest automotive shows around, Monterey Car Week.
This is a dramatically styled open-top two-seater hailing from Q by Aston Martin, signifying it’s a limited-edition special aimed at the brand’s most discerning (and deep-pocketed) customers.
It can be hard to keep up with the dizzying choice of go-faster Aston Martins, so decoding the naming convention helps here: the DBR22 leans heavily on the in-house archive, with shades of the historic DBR1 and DB3S racers from the 1950s, as well as hints of the more recent V12 Speedster.
Like its historic forefathers (pictured alongside), the DBR22 has a tiny lip for a windscreen and no roof whatsoever, speaking volumes about its intended target market…
It’s not just about those dramatic looks: the DBR22’s carbonfibre bodywork hides the company’s distinguished 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 up front, tuned here to produce 705bhp and 555lb ft. Note the horseshoe-shaped vent running round the bonnet to aid with cooling and the speedster bumps – or ‘nacelles’ – behind the passengers’ heads.
The V12 provides enough grunt to send this coachbuilt special past 60mph in just just 3.4 seconds and on to 198mph flat-out (sunhat security: unknown). Expect the soundtrack to be full-on and fully engaging, even if experience from the last Speedster suggests some of the V12’s aural impact is sullied by the slipstream.
Roberto Fedeli, Aston Martin’s new chief technical officer, revealed that the DBR22’s rear subframe was 3D printed – a first for the brand. It’s assembled from multiple aluminium parts which are bonded together, meaning lower weight, no reduction in stiffness and the ability to tool up for low production runs like this. It’s an example of technology helping extend the shelflife of the supercar.
Aston Martin DBR22: a concept for now – but customer cars are in the pipeline
The car shown at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance is technically a ‘concept’, but Q by Aston Martin is already talking of a limited production run ‘for an ultra-exclusive number’ of its nearest and dearest customers. Expect a price tag running well into seven figures.
Q branch is celebrating its first decade in business this summer – making one-offs such as the Victor and low-volume specials such as the Vulcan. The DBR22 showcases the division’s bespoke paint palette; show Aston Martin the colour you like, and they’ll match it.
Marek Reichman, Aston Martin chief creative officer, said: ‘We’ve effectively modernised our racing bloodline and created a new pedigree. DBR22 is a hot-blooded, purebred 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.’
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