Aston Martin launches ‘Project Neptune’ submarine

Your scenic weekend drive could soon be replaced with a journey to the depths of the ocean – up to 500 metres below sea level – thanks to Aston Martin’s impressive foray into marine travel. The submarine code named ‘Project Neptune' is a collaboration between the luxury car manufacturer and Triton Submarine, a luxury Florida-based producer of submersibles, the extraordinary launch combines the design of Triton's three-seater 1650 3/LP with Aston Martin’s sleek trademark styling and performance power.

The fully submersible vessel will be built to transport two passengers and a pilot and, thanks to the efficiency of hydrodynamics, will have an anticipated sprint speed of over five knots – around four times the acceleration of Triton’s flagship 3300/3 model. To fully explore life beneath the waves, a transparent spherical pressure hull at the front of the vehicle offers passengers unrivalled marine views.

“The exterior design of Project Neptune owes a lot to the pursuit of performance. As with the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the hyper-car we are developing with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, we have afforded as much attention to the hydrodynamics of the underside as we have the visible surfaces. Some of that detail may never be seen, but its effect will certainly be felt,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s vice president and chief creative officer. 

“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.”

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Stitched leather seats and carbon fibres that Aston Martin are so well known for make up the opulent interiors while three different colour and trim combinations are available to choose from, courtesy of Aston Martin's in-house design team. Customisation and personalisation options will also be on offer courtesy of Q by Aston Martin, the company’s bespoke design service. 

“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" John Ramsay, chief technical officer at Triton Submarines also commented. "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.”

The good news is you won’t have long to wait either as production begins this year, with the finalised model tipped to be unveiled later on in the year. But this isn't the first time Aston Martin have taken the plunge with a marine vehicle launch, debuting the Aston Martin AM37, a 37-foot powerboat, at the 2016 Monaco Yacht Show. The yacht combines innovative technology with bespoke craftsmanship raching an estimated 50 knots derived from its twin 520 hp Mercury petrol engines, exemplifying the brand's ambition to extend its automotive avenues.