We got an early glimpse of Red Bull’s first road-going hypercar back in July of 2024. Today, though, the company has locked in the final design of its RB17 hypercar before it goes on sale this year—and it looks wicked.
The RB17 was born from Red Bull’s Formula One know-how, which means it was designed to do one thing: go absurdly fast. The new look reflects that. Compared to the original prototype, the production RB17 looks sharper, tighter, and dare we say, even faster.
The RB17’s Final Look
Red Bull RB17 Final Design
Photo by: Red Bull
The front end of the production RB17 is cleaner than before, but no less aggressive. It features slim LED headlights that are integrated into sculpted bodywork. Like other modern, track-inspired hypercars, every surface was designed to move air as seamlessly over the body as possible.
Along the profile, deep channels carve through the carbon bodywork and send air toward massive rear cooling zones. The roof-mounted intake sucks in air and sends it directly into the mid-mounted engine. Capping it all off is a massive central fin that looks ripped from a Le Mans prototype.
Even though the RB17 is only for the track, it does have a few things you’d expect to see on a road-going hypercar. That includes essentials like mirrors and a windshield wiper, meaning that the car you see here is likely closer to production than ever before.
Inside, Red Bull has gone full race car. There are no touchscreens and no unnecessary distractions; physical controls dominate the cockpit (praise be). Everything was designed with lap times in mind, from the seating position and steering wheel to visibility.
A Powerful Hybrid V-10
Photo by: Red Bull
At the heart of the RB17 is a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V-10 developed by Cosworth that revs to a ridiculous 15,000 rpm. That engine is good for around 1,000 horsepower on its own, and it’s paired with an electric motor that adds an extra 200 hp. All told, the RB17 makes a whopping 1,200 hp.
Power gets to the rear wheels via a sequential gearbox with six forward gears, and it’s joined by a hydraulically locking active limited-slip differential. The hybrid system, meanwhile, handles reverse gear duties.
Red Bull will only build 50 examples of the RB17. The company still hasn’t provided specifics on price, but it’s safe to assume this hypercar will cost well over seven figures. The RB17 is currently undergoing final testing, which means production shouldn’t be far off.
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Source:
Red Bull Advanced Technologies via Top Gear
