The British automaker Aston Martin has a long legacy of creating sought-after open-cockpit cars, from the DBR1 and DB3S from the 1950s to the contemporary Vantage Speedster. Now it doubles down on these super-rare offerings with the equally limited Aston Martin DBR22.
Debuting at Monterey Car Week, the new DBR22 celebrates the 10th anniversary of Q by Aston Martin, the same division responsible for the one-off Aston Martin Victor, the limit-to-24 Vulcan, and the even rarer Vantage V600. The design concept that is being shown at Monterey and in the gallery above will form the realized production car, which is said to be one of the rarest machines the marque has made in its 109-year history and will only be available to a select number of Q by Aston Martin customers, meaning only the brand’s crème de la crème of clientele will be offered the DBR22.
Following the manufacturer’s open-cockpit legacy, the DBR22 presents itself as an open-air two-seater hypercar underpinned by new technologies and design concepts. Notably, a minimal amount of body panels have been used to keep the car looking sleek yet muscular, while a coachbuilding philosophy has been applied to ensure every detail is meticulously designed. From a brand-new carbon fiber grille to a dramatically elongated bonnet that features a horseshoe vent, everything is penned to draw the eye to the driver’s cabin, while extending behind this are two aerodynamic scoops blending into the rear end. Here, you’ll find a slim full-length light bar darting across the middle, splitting badging from the considerable diffuser and air vent.
Accentuating the car’s presence is a newly-designed set of 14-spoke 21-inch rims made exclusively for the DBR22, as well as bespoke carbon fiber treatments and a Q by Aston Martin-developed “Paint to Sample” colorway that, again, is only available on this car.
It all comes together thanks to a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine that produces 715 PS and 753 Nm of torque, which is enough to send the rear-wheel-drive two-seater to 60 MPH in 3.4 seconds before hitting a top speed of 198 MPH. Weight saving comes in the form of a 3D-printed aluminum rear subframe, the aforementioned lack of multiple panels, and a heavy use of carbon fiber inside the cabin to keep things light while simultaneously luxurious.
Roberto Fedeli, Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer, said, “Technology is pivotal in the construction of DBR22, with extensive use of carbon fiber throughout, and the use of 3D printing for the manufacture of a structural component. As such DBR22 showcases Aston Martin’s unique capabilities, with world-class design combined with an agile, intelligent approach to engineering and production. For a car that was designed to celebrate the ultimate bespoke customization service, the engineering developments mean DBR22 truly has the dynamic theatre to match, ensuring the drive is just as addictive as its looks.”
Aston Martin will debut the DBR22 at Pebble Beach Concours D’ Elegance from August 19-21. Take a closer look at the car above, and if you’re at the car week, be sure to check it out in real life.
Elsewhere in the automotive world, Porsche recently turned Sally from Cars into a realized Porsche 911 Carrera “Sally Special.”
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