If there is anything that is absolutely certain, it’s the fact that the Geneva Motorshow brings out the best of the best from just about every brand. All eyes are on what’s new, and it’s a place where everybody speaks the same language. Now, usually, it’s the companies in the major leagues that grab all the headlines, however, this time around there happens to be another automaker that took the headlines just as well as Koenigsegg did with the Jesko or Bugatti did with the La Voiture Noire, and that is Aston Martin. One could say that Aston Martin went way beyond everybody’s expectations by unveiling 3 cars that over delivered without any doubt. And they did so by unveiling the AM RB-003, the Vanquish Vision concept, and the Lagonda all-terrain. 

For starters, the main reason why Aston Martin was able to grab some significant attention in Geneva is because their cars were a promise of what is to come from Aston in the future, and indeed, this vision is unlike anything we’ve ever seen from Aston Martin. First let’s look at the AM RB-003. The AM RB-003 is a result of a partnership between the RedBull racing Formula 1 team and Aston Martin, the same team that took on the Valkyrie. Speaking of the Valkyrie, the 003 is actually nicknamed the ‘son of Valkyrie’ because the entire car is based on the foundation of the Valkyrie. Just about everything from the design to the engineering to the performance has been softened down just enough to make less extreme in comparison to the Valkyrie, yet keeping it sharp enough to challenge the Senna.  

The 003 packs a hybrid V6 turbo engine inspired by Formula 1 engineering, thanks to the partnership with RedBull, while also having an interior very similar to that of the Valkyrie. Now, Aston were not kidding when they called this car F1 inspired because the engine actually comes with and F1 style lubrication system which is capable of changing the engine oil in less than 90 seconds on the spot. The seats are basically a carbon tub with bits and pieces of cushion here and there, the steering wheel too, is all carbon fiber, however it comes with a touch of elegant Aston Martin leather to remind the driver of the classy side to Aston Martin. In terms of design, the car features a clean, yet very aerodynamic look packed with some hidden active aero bits. The rear end features exhaust pipes placed close behind the driver’s head and the entire overall look is nothing but a softer version of the Valkyrie, without compromising on the aggressive fighter jet look. 

Next up is the serious head turner, and we’re about to look at exactly why that is so. The second car that Aston unveiled is called the Aston Martin Vanquish Vision concept. Now, while it may only be a concept, Aston promises that the production version will merely differ from its concept. The Vanquish concept is a trickle down of the RB-003 and the Valkyrie. What really makes this car the head turner is the way it looks. Originally, the Vanquish has always stood for the purest form of elegant design and performance combined into one. Which is perhaps why all this time it has been considered as one of Aston’s best-looking cars. And the new Vanquish concept is certainly no less. With design inspiration taken from the RB-003, and some bits and pieces taken from the Valkyrie, the Vanquish amplifies what the Vanquish has always stood for: Elegance and performance. Now it’s a no-brainer as to why this car is beautifully designed, but what most do not see is what is set to lie under that bodywork. The Vanquish concept is set to hit roads in 2020 with 700 a bi-turbo V6 churning out 700 horses from the same Formula 1 inspired engine in the RB-003. 

Now here comes the best part: The Vanquish, unlike the Valkyrie and RB-003, is going to be a non-limited edition car, available to just about anybody with 250,000 USD to spend and will challenge the likes of the Ferrari F8 and the McLaren 720s. To think that Aston are going to put a Valkyrie inspired car with Formula 1 technology along with the looks of a jet for about the same price as a Ferrari 488 on the road is quite mind blowing. To further put things into perspective, the RB-003 is set to have a price tag of about 1 million USD, and Aston are offering a car that looks very similar to the RB-003 for about 750,00 USD less, open to just about anybody who craves it’s ownership. Obviously, there are aspects of the car that set that price gap. For one, the Vanquish Vision won’t an all carbon-fiber bodywork unlike the RB-003, since the sole focus of the Vanquish won’t be for track driving but rather daily driving on the road. That being said, the body of the Vanquish will consist mainly of Aluminum. Furthermore, it is highly likely that the Vanquish will not feature any active aero dynamics or the F1 style lubrication system found in the RB-003. As of now, not much further information is disclosed in regards to the major differences between the two concepts, however one this is certain: These two car will surely be hitting the streets looking just as good as the concept versions. Aston already stirred up some attention with the new Vantage and the DBS, but obviously that wasn’t enough and hence the RB-003 and the Vanquish concept. While there may not have been a very strong market demand for Aston about 5 years ago, there sure is now.