Aston's mean, green, racing machine

Is this the ultimate proof that 'environmentally friendly' can be cool?

In what Aston Martin is calling a world first, the brand will contest this year’s gruelling Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race in this – the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S.

Aston is convinced it can complete an entire lap of the 25 kilometre circuit running on nothing more than hydrogen, with the feat designed to showcase the British marque’s ‘green potential’.

Should it succeed, the Rapide S will become the world’s first hydrogen-powered racecar capable of achieving aero C02 emissions in race conditions.

Aston has teamed up with hydrogen experts Alset Global to build the car, which also boasts a twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 for extra grunt.

Four ultra-strong hydrogen cells are fitted throughout the car to store the highly volatile gas stored at a pressure of 350 bar.