Red Bull’s $7.7 million RB17 hypercar nearly bore Ford’s badge
- Red Bull unveiled its first-ever hypercar – the RB17 – earlier this month
- Red Bull boss Christian Horner says the project was ‘discussed’ with Ford
- In the end, Ford decided the car wasn’t a good fit for the brand
Published on Jul 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 17, 2024 at 6:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Red Bull’s first-ever hypercar – the F1-inspired RB17 – almost had a Ford badge splashed on the front.
The jaw-dropping car was unveiled to motoring fans at the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month.
“We are excited to reveal the RB17 at Goodwood Festival of Speed, a project that is one of the most authentic and exciting that Red Bull Advanced Technologies has embarked upon to date,” Red Bull Racing CEO Christian Horner said.
You can check out Supercar Blondie’s exclusive first-look at the RB17 here.
READ MORE! F1 designer Adrian Newey to complete highly anticipated RB17 hypercar before leaving Red Bull
Christian Horner said the project was ‘discussed’ with Ford
The RB17 looks every inch the modern hypercar and is the first car to be manufactured entirely by Red Bull Advanced Technologies.
However, Horner recently revealed that it could have been a different story.
As you may be aware, Ford and Red Bull are set to collaborate on a 2026 F1 entry, with Red Bull gearing up to produce its own engines for the first time.
The two brands are also working on an all-electric together – a vehicle Ford CEO Jim Farley branded a ‘strategically important EV’.
And it seems that Ford were close to getting involved with the RB17, too.
“It’s funny. We discussed the project with Ford early on, but it didn’t really fit with their criteria, with EV,” Horner told CarBuzz at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
“This is […] a 4.5-liter V10. I’m sure Jim Farley would love to drive one, but it didn’t really fit with their current lineage, so it’s a full Red Bull car.”
The RB17 is a seriously impressive vehicle
And the ‘full Red Bull car’ certainly packs a punch.
Weighing just 900kg it boasts a powerful 1200 horsepower and is able to produce a top speed of over 350kph – or around 217mph.
Impressive numbers, but still not quite as quick as the Koenigsegg One, one of the fastest cars in the world.
The RB17 features an aerodynamic design and glossy carbon fiber body with a roof scoop giving it an aggressive and modern look.
The car is sure to become a collector’s item, with just 50 units being produced.
But such a vehicle doesn’t come cheap – and the RB17 will cost around $7,457,491 (£5.75 million), without any added extras.
Deliveries of the RB17 will start in 2026.
That gives us a bit of time to get saving, right?
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.
