Aston Martin Unveils Three Stunning New Concept Cars
Aston Martin has unveiled three new concept cars at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the mid-engine Vanquish Vision, the AM-RB 003 mid-engine hypercar, and an electric Lagonda SUV.
The three concepts give some insight into where the British automaker is going and focus on the company’s commitment to hybridization and electric cars.
AM-RB 003 Concept
The AM-RB in this new mid-engine hypercar concept’s name stands for Aston Martin-Red Bull, and the 003 signifies that it’s the third vehicle produced under this partnership, following the Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro. The production name has yet to be chosen, but expect it to be something dramatic and starting with a V. Last year, AutoGuide.com discovered an Aston Martin trademark for “Varekai,” which could possibly be used as a production name for the 003.
The carbon fiber AM-RB 003, which is heavily influenced by F1 racing tech and development, will be powered by a hybrid turbo V6 and feature some trick aerodynamic technology validated by NASA. The hypercar will be more practical, more comfortable, and better suited for regular road use than the track-only Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro, but should still be confident around the track. Only 500 of the AM-RB 003 will be built.
Vanquish Vision Concept
This green supercar previews Aston Martin’s first mid-engine series production supercar to compete with cars like the McLaren 720S, Ferrari 488, and the Lamborghini Aventador. It’s interesting that Aston Martin chose to revive the Vanquish name for this model, a name that has historically been reserved for the brand’s flagship production model. Like the AM-RB 003, the upcoming mid-engine Vanquish will be powered by a hybrid turbo V6, but no specs have been released yet.
Unlike the 003, however, the Vanquish will be built on a bonded aluminum chassis and not carbon fiber.
The revived Vanquish is scheduled to enter production in 2022.
Lagonda All-Terrain Concept
This odd-looking concept comes from Lagonda, a sub-brand of Aston Martin that will focus on ultra-luxurious electric vehicles. This design study is a new take on a concept we saw at last year’s Geneva Motor Show that was more intended for road use — this concept focuses more on going off-road, but should still be capable of autonomous operation. The concept features rear-hinged doors and a limousine-like atmosphere inside.
Lagonda vehicles will enter production in 2022 and this SUV concept previews its first model. This model hasn’t been named yet, but the above “ Varekai” name could also be applied here and is actually more suitable since it means “anywhere” or “wherever” in the Romani language.
Jodi has been obsessed with cars since she was little and has been an automotive journalist for the past 12 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and a jury member for the prestigious North American Car/Truck/Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY). Besides hosting videos, and writing news, reviews and features, Jodi is the Editor-in-Chief of AutoGuide.com and takes care of the site's day-to-day operations.
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