Aston Martin and Prodrive create world's most exclusive rally car

Aston Martin’s racing division in a partnership with UK’s Prodrive has created the Rally GT, a vehicle labelled by its developers as the "world's most exclusive rally car." Already, the Rally GT has competed in three French Rally Championship events as part of its development program and it even came second in the GT class. The final production vehicle will be sold to independent rally teams with considerable budgets.

The rally version is based on the V8 Vantage but is modified with a Prodrive-designed roll cage, which increases torsional rigidity and improves safety. Though no power details have been released, the estimated figure is around 420bhp and 410Nm of torque from the modified 4.3L V8. Handling is improved thanks to the new Eibach springs and three-way adjustable EXE-TC dampers. An optional six-speed, close ratio dog-box is included, but the Rally GT comes with the road car’s standard transmission in its base form.

The first cars should be on sale by the end of this year and will be produced in limited numbers. We hope most teams don’t adopt the strange looking bright paint-scheme surrounding the grille. The look gives the car the effect of big lips, and when joined with Aston’s famous racing green body, makes the entire car look like a big ugly fish.

Click ahead for high-res images.