Aston Martin has rolled up to Monterey Car Week with an all-new two-seater, open cockpit concept: the DBR22.
This concept car was made to celebrate 10 years of Q by Aston Martin, the automaker’s in-house bespoke design division, as well as the brand’s history of open-cockpit racers. The DBR22 will actually become a production reality limited to a very exclusive number of units, reserved for Q by Aston Martin customers.
Proportionally, the DBR22 pays homage to some of Aston’s most iconic open-cockpit designs, such as the DBR1 and DB3S; however, its coach-built form, made from a minimal number of separate body panels, is crafted with modern design elements and materials. For example, the new front grille, while distinctly on-brand, replaces the usual Aston Martin veins with a carbon fiber design.
Behind that grille is a tantalizing power plant: a 5.2-liter V12 engine, twin-turbocharged to the effect of 705 horsepower and 555 lb-ft of torque. It all adds up to a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph. Delivering this power to the wheels is a uniquely calibrated 8-speed automatic transmission, operable by paddle shifters.
Those paddles are, of course, located in the cabin, where two carbon fiber sport seats reside for one driver and one lucky passenger. A new dashboard layout covers the various displays, and the use of exposed carbon fiber interlaced with premium leather bits creates the duality of sport/luxury we’ve come to expect from Aston. Twin nacelles, one rising behind each seat, sweep back to smooth the airflow behind occupants’ heads.
The DBR22 serves as a sort of test bed for Aston Martin, utilizing unique manufacturing techniques for various parts. For instance, the rear subframe was made by 3D printing various components out of aluminum, which were then bonded together into a complete assembly. This process is said to save a significant amount of weight while maintaining stiffness; it also means special parts can be more easily fabricated for low volume models.
Few people will be lucky enough to own a production sample of the Aston Martin DBR22, but a fair number more will have the chance to see it while it’s on display at the Pebble Beach Concours D’ Elegance, August 19th-21st.
Keyword: Aston Martin DBR22 Concept; Open Cockpit, Closed Exclusivity