Aston Martin 003 preview: design, engine specs, price and release

Aston Martin has released the first teaser image of its new rival to the McLaren Senna and LaFerrari.

The new mid-engined hypercar, code-named Project 003, will sit below the British carmaker’s forthcoming Valkyrie and track-only Valkyrie Pro hypercars and will feature a similar compact design, judging by the shadowy preview picture.

The curvy shape is designed to help air pass over the vehicle as efficiently as possible, which should help the 003 achieve some seriously fast speeds.

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The company will reveal the car in the metal at the Geneva Motor Show, which runs from 7 to 17 of March.

In the meantime, here are all the details on Aston Martin’s next hypercar:

When does it come out?

Orders are expected to open shortly after the car’s Geneva debut - and prospective buyers will need to be quick, with only 500 examples to be produced.

Deliveries are due to kick off at the end of 2021.

How much will it cost?

Autocar is predicting that the 003 will have a price tag of around £1m, reflecting the car’s limited-edition status.

What will the 003 look like?

The newly released image shows only a silhouette of the car’s rear-end, but the 003’s design is clearly inspired by the hardcore Valkyrie.

The upcoming model appears to have the same compact cabin and curvy bodywork, while a large carbon-fibre air scoop above the cockpit helps channel air into the engine at high speeds.

The 003’s exhausts are also expected to be positioned directly above the engine, like those on the McLaren 600LT and Porsche 918 Spyder.

As with the Valkyrie, the 003 will feature “active aerodynamics”, an electric system that automatically adjusts the angle of the car’s wings in order to maximise the car’s cornering grip and straight-line speed.

Active suspension has also been confirmed. That will mean the car’s ride height can be electronically adjusted to improve downforce - generating even more grip for drivers looking to take the car onto a racing circuit.

What engine will be used?

Given that the higher-spec Valkyrie and Valkyrie Pro are powered by a 6.0-litre naturally-aspired V12 engine, Evo suspects the Project 003 will feature a smaller motor - possibly a V6.

Although Aston Martin is keeping quiet about the car’s engine specs, the firm has confirmed that the motor will be turbocharged and paired to a hybrid system.

Power figures are expected to be announced at the Geneva show, but Auto Express predicts an output of “around 1,000bhp” and a 0-62mph time of less than three seconds, with a top speed of more than 200mph.