Project Neptune: Aston Martin unveils luxury submarine

BARCELONA: Aston Martin has unveiled the complete design of the exclusive, strictly-limited edition luxury submersible called Project Neptune, the production of which will commence later this year.

Aston Martin announced completion of the design phase for the joint venture with underwater specialists Triton Submarines. The British sports car manufacturer made the announcement of the creative collaboration in September 2017, and ever since both companies have worked meticulously to refine the detailed design of the submersible’s hydrodynamics, body styling and luxurious interior packaging.

For a vehicle to wear the iconic Aston Martin wings, it must be equipped with all the performance, beauty and elegance one has come to expect from the British marque.

To mark this key milestone, Project Neptune’s final technical specification confirmed that the submersible will be able to dive to depths of 500 metres and carry two passengers and a pilot.

For the first time since initial pictures emerged, interior shots  have been shown, revealing a James Bond-style three-seat layout offering near 360-degree visibility that would be ideal for Aston fan to escape his adversaries by water.

By improving the hydrodynamic efficiency, reducing frontal area, and increasing the power; the submersible will have an anticipated sprint speed in excess of 5 knots and approximately four times the acceleration of Triton’s flagship 3300/3 model.

Aston Martin previously said Project Neptune would be heavily influenced by Valkyrie – the forthcoming hypercar that will be able to surge past 200mph once production of the 175-only limited run commences this year.

The transparent acrylic bubble offers panoramic views of the surroundings, while the powerful LED headlights should mean there are no depths too murky for the Aston Martin vessel.

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin EVP and Chief Creative Officer commented: “Project Neptune’s interior was a great challenge. Unlike a sports car where the interiors are installed into an open-sided cabin before the doors are fitted, everything you see inside will be lowered through the upper-hatch and assembled within the completed sphere of the pressure hull. We have been able to present a congruous aesthetic that defies its multi-part complex installation.”

John Ramsay, Chief Technical Officer at Triton Submarines, commented: “The work we have done together on the exterior of the submersible pleases me most. I’m particularly proud of our joint development of the acrylic canopy and iridium coating. The prototypes look incredible, being simultaneously functional and beautiful.

“The interior is quintessentially Aston Martin – a luxurious mix of hand-stitched leather and high-performance carbon fibre, assembled without obstructing the panoramic sight-lines that Triton submersibles are famous for,” he added.

Additional customisation and personalisation options including created by the in-house design team will be available courtesy of Aston Martin’s bespoke service, Q by Aston Martin, the car maker revealed.

While the price has yet to be confirmed, more details are due to be made available on the vessel when it appears LYBRA Superyacht Show in Barcelona, Spain later this week.