7 game‑changing cars for the AM‑RB 011 to live up to

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Ethan Jupp
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The Aston Martin AM-RB 001 is one of those once-in-a-decade cars that takes a few years for us to be able to make sense of the things it can do. It is such a step change in the standard of performance that it really does verge on that which is beyond belief. That’s why, we suspect, Aston and Red Bull Racing are introducing us to it early on into its gestation, to watch it as it grows, develops and eventually fulfils all these incredible claims. While it represents a massive step beyond what we know the performance status quo is, standards have been destroyed before. Here is a list of what we think are spiritual ancestors to the AM-RB-001. Cars that were so ahead of the curve, they were half way round the next one..

Ferrari F40

Possibly a cliched choice, but this thing is always worth a look. It, like the Aston, was like nothing that came before. That famously laggy twin-turbo V8 may look archaic now, but the F40 was the first of a new breed. The first intensively lightweight carbon-fibre body made for what was, and remains, one of the most accomplished super sportscars ever manufactured.

McLaren F1

Talk about cliches… This, many would argue, is the greatest road car ever manufactured. Gold lining in the engine bay and that iconic central driving position made it truly unique. A carbon tub, slippery body, 627bhp BMW V12 and a kerb weight of just 1,138 kilos would allow this spectacular machine to surpass 242.8mph – a record that would stand for seven years!

Bugatti Veyron

…Until this came along. The big Bug has its lovers and its haters. Its styling is controversial and is considered a bit of a whopper at 1,888kg, but you cant argue with the headlines: 987bhp, 0-62 in 2.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 250mph – all in insulated sumptuous leather-wrapped comfort. The ultimate GT car and for some, the ultimate road car, its abilities would go largely unmatched (and largely still are) for over ten years.

Tesla Model S

Left field much? No, it’s not a hypercar. It is, however, a game changer. It is the car to bring electric power to the mainstream and fundamentally, to make it cool. Its performance is self-described as ludicrous. Indeed, a sub 3-second 0-62mph time for a big, heavy, battery-laden saloon is a bit mad. Nevertheless, performance is not what defines the Model S. It has undoubtedly left the luxury car market shaken. Whether the EV trend lasts or not, it is in every sense of the term, a game-changer.

Koenigsegg Regera

Ahhh, Koenigsegg. Those well known Swedish hypercar manufacturers and celebrated innovators. They knocked us all for six last year with the Regera, a car with, for all intents and purposes, no gearbox. Koenigsegg Direct Drive removes the 6, 7, 8 or even 9 gears modern cars now utilise. Remove moving parts – increase efficiency. It could be the future…

Image courtesy of Bonhams

McLaren P1

A car squarely in the sights of the Aston, the P1 was one of a trio of new-generation hybrid hypercars. Its innovations in performance go beyond torque fill though, with its ride height-lowering, wing-erecting race mode and F1-inspired DRS and EPAS systems, the P1 is like nothing else on the road. That includes its esteemed rivals from the continent…

Lamborghini Miura

Arguably the first supercar? Or is that the GT40? Or the Countach? That’s another debate… The Miura was the first gratuitous and largely purposeless mid-engined playboy's supercar. It’s an object of desire whose beauty was so prioritised by its creators, that it features the first transversely mid-mounted V12 in order to keep the mechanicals tightly packed, and that body as sleek as can be. In the Miura, function quite literally followed form.

There are undoubtedly many more of these types of game changers throughout automotive history. Some may deserve a place on the list more so than what we have here. What would you put on a list of great motoring innovators?