What's the news?
Aston Martin is, as are almost all high-end car makers, embarking on a project to make its first-ever SUV, based on the DBX concept car, and its set to be built in its new Welsh factory, constructed on an old RAF airbase.
This is all true. We know this to be happening. 'Project Sparta' on the other hand...
Would you believe that Aston Martin has just announced that, alongside its DBX SUV, it's going to make its own monster truck? You know, with the huge suspension, the massive wheels, and the car-crushing thing?
Aston says that Project Sparta is the latest addition to its motor sports stable, alongside the new GTE version of the Vantage coupe, which will compete at Le Mans this year. Instead of Le Mans, Project Sparta is destined for the monster truck racing series, Monster Jam, with an eye to competing in the 2019 season, alongside such, ahem, colourfully-named rivals as Grave Digger, Big Kahuna, Ice Cream Man and Jailbird.
Sparta has been developed under the aegis of David King, Vice President Special Operations Officer & President of Aston Martin Racing, and is set to feature the same 1,000hp V12 6.5-litre engine from the recently-unveiled Valkyrie hypercar, the one that Aston has built in collaboration with the Red Bull F1 team, with an aerodynamic package designed by the legendary Adrian Newey.
According to Aston Martin: "The project is yet another example of the marque's 'Q by Aston Martin Commission' capabilities and remains a unique build for one very special customer." Apparently, that customer has also requested that Project Sparta be raced by Aston's long-serving endurance racing driver, Darren Turner. Turner said, "Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a real thrill last year, but when I heard about this opportunity I just couldn't say no. I hope the guys line up a great selection of cars for me to tear apart, because I'm sure this monster truck will really do the business."
If you've gotten this far down the piece and not yet realised that this is an April Fools gag, well, have we got news for you... Still, have a look at the cartoon image and maybe there's a small hint in there of what the actual production DBX will look like (minus the monster truck wheels, of course).