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Is the Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider better than the V12 hard-top?

We’ve just published an article about the very first customer finally taking delivery of an Aston Martin Valkyrie when Top Gear publishes a video in which they talk about the fact it might have been a better idea to get the Spider version because let’s face it, who doesn’t like a convertible hypercar?

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The Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider truly is the closest thing to a street-legal Formula One car you can get when you remove the roof section, and while the Valkyrie comes with nice-looking gullwing doors, the Valkyrie Spider looks even better with those outward and upward-opening doors, almost like wings on a bug, and it allows an easier entry into the cockpit, especially when you remove the small roof section with the two panels that open up too.

The first Valkyrie Spider will not be delivered until well into 2022 and with only 85 units of this convertible, production will run out quickly, the amazing looking Valkyrie Spider has been developed from the coupe version, taking unique engineering solutions by combining the talents of both Aston Martin themselves and Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), the engine is still the same 1,160 hp hybrid unit, combining 1,000 hp from the Cosworth developed 6.5-Liter V12 engine with 160 hp from the KERS-style hybrid system, using a 12-in-1 exhaust design, the Valkyrie’s soundtrack is reminiscent of a 90s F1 race car.

Thanks to a lot of development and slight modifications between the Valkyrie and the new Valkyrie Spider, Aston Martin managed to keep the weight gain on the Spider to a strict minimum … the result is still a top speed in excess of 350 km/h with the roof in place while driving topless will still get you over 330 km/h … all while sitting nearly in the center of the car, fixed in place by a six-point safety harness.

Even the entire removable roof system is special, consisting of a central panel made from carbon fiber that contains the hinges for the two panels above the occupants, all of these panels can be removed once the doors open, and stowed in their dedicated sections, carefully cut into the new carbon fiber structure … due to the lack of a roof, the gullwing doors from the coupe had to be redesigned into front-hinged dihedral doors, bespoke to the Valkyrie Spider.

November 8, 2021 / Comments Off

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The first Aston Martin Valkyrie for a customer is ready for delivery

It has taken nearly 5 years for Aston Martin to finally have the first unit of their AM-RB 001, also known as the Valkyrie, ready to be delivered to a customer, it was back in 2017 when they showed the car as a concept for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show, at the time they intended to use a 6.5-liter NA V12 engine designed and built by Cosworth to be combined with a Rimac battery pack for a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio – 1 bhp per kilo, an estimated power output between 900hp and 1000hp was listed, production was to be limited at 150 units for the road, and 25 track-only versions.

Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies teamed up to create this new hypercar, hence the internal AM-RB 001 designation and the final figures were a hybrid powertrain with a Cosworth-built 65-degree naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 paired with a Rimac-sourced battery-electric system, with a total power output of no less than 1,176 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, with 106 hp of that coming from the electric motor, do note that the maximum hp from the engine is reached at the screaming 11,100 rpm!

Two years later, in 2019 we finally saw the first Aston Martin Valkyrie in action, at Silverstone ahead of the 2019 British Grand Prix, driven by Chris Goodwin who had this to say about the car: “I’ve driven this car around Silverstone for countless hours on the simulator at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s HQ and in many other sportscars throughout my career, but to drive Aston Martin Valkyrie here today feels exceptionally special, of course, we still have a lot of development work to go but we can now begin to really push the physical testing process and realize the capabilities of what we have developed over the past months.”

Development of this Aston Martin hypercar continued, and by March 2020 we finally saw a car being tested on the road, without any camouflage this time, equipped with a Rimac-developed Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) style electric motor and battery, instead of a constant electric assist. The KERS system will dump power to the rear wheels on hard acceleration and will recover energy during braking. The aerodynamics of the car were developed alongside the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team and used both over car airflow and venturi ground effects to suck the car onto the road. No official statistics on cornering G or total downforce have been confirmed by Aston Martin, but it is expected that at speed, the car will effectively double in weight from the force of the air moving over, through, and around it.

Back in early 2020, the intention was to have the first customer car from the 150 production run being delivered by August 2020, that didn’t happen due to the worldwide pandemic, and deliveries were pushed to Q2 of 2021, sadly that wasn’t possible either and it seems the first client will be receiving his very own Aston Martin Valkyrie in Q4 of 2021 instead, the price for this road-going monster is rumored to be between £2m and £3m or about $2.46 million to $3.69 million.

Note that Aston Martin has already unveiled the Valkyrie AMR Pro in meantime, thanks to the aerodynamic efficiency, the Valkyrie AMR Pro offers track performance previously only seen in Formula One cars, a lot of weight has been saved on the Valkyrie AMR Pro by removing the entire hybrid system, using an extremely light carbon fiber body, carbon fiber suspension wishbones, built to compete at the 24h of Le Mans, the design has been created to be able to lap the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe in a mere 3 minutes and 20 seconds, only 40 units of the AMR Pro version will be made.

In August of 2021 we found out the entire production for the Aston Martin Valkyrie had sold out, all of the 150 units were gone, so Aston Martin did what any car builder would do to maximize profit … create an additional version, hence the Valkyrie Spider was born, this time, limited to 85 units in total, and according to the official press release from Aston Martin, these are already over-subscribed and allocations would only begin shortly, available in both left and right-hand drive version, the first deliveries were scheduled for H2 2022 but it seems not all that have put their name down will eventually receive this amazing hybrid topless hypercar.

Finally, in early November 2021, it seems the very first customer will be receiving his (or hers) Aston Martin Valkyrie as the car is completed at the Gaydon HQ, production of this hypercar is started and deliveries will be happening in the coming weeks. Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Moers commented: “It is an immensely proud moment for us to complete our first-ever hypercar. The Aston Martin Valkyrie program has tested everyone who has worked on it to the limit but the commitment to the dream has produced a truly incredible car, an F1^® car for the road. The Valkyrie is born out of the steadfast dedication of a large group of highly skilled engineers and technicians who have worked tirelessly to get Valkyrie to the production stage. I’m sure our customers will be delighted with what they have achieved.”

As with every Aston Martin sports car, the Valkyrie is built at the UK Headquarters in Gaydon, where a dedicated project delivery team manages the build right through to delivery in a specially commissioned Valkyrie production area, a team of highly skilled technicians will hand-built each of the 150 cars, with each Valkyrie taking over 2000 man-hours to create. Before each Valkyrie is delivered, it is track-tested at the Aston Martin high-performance facility at the home of British Motor Racing in Silverstone where much of the development of the hypercar has taken place over the last five years.

November 5, 2021 / Comments Off

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Potential First Production Aston Martin Racing Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar Reavealed?

While the recently announced Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider is the talk of the town, there was one specific image that Aston Martin put on their Twitter that may have dropped a heavy hint about 2022’s plans for the prestigious marque.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie family.#AstonMartin #Valkyrie pic.twitter.com/GOiqN7jeEe

— Aston Martin (@astonmartin) August 13, 2021

If the image or tweet doesn’t load, here is the picture in full:

From front to back, you have the beautiful Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider, the original Aston Martin Valkyrie Coupe, and then…. wait, wasn’t the Aston Martin Pro Le Mans Hypercar program originally canceled, and then announced it was delayed until the 2023 season?!

Taking a closer look…

It’s lowered. It has a hypercar-spec shark fin. It has a rear spoiler that is raised and solid. It has aerodynamically shaped wheels, which look to have at least some carbon fiber. It’s a full AMR Valkyrie Pro!

While Aston Martin has not announced anything yet for 2022, the Hypercar class, new for this year with Toyota and SCG running their models, is going to be quite heavily populated in 2022. Peugeot is returning with the 9X8, ByKolles producing the PMC Project LMH, and Ferrari recently announcing their intention to join the class in 2023, based on the successor to the LaFerrari. Aston Martin originally announced they would be producing the Valkyrie Pro LMH for 2023, but almost all pictures so far have been of prototypes or computer renders, and most of them are only about the customer race car program.

This picture, however, is real photographic evidence that they might be moving up a year. Especially considering how much Aston Martin and Ferrari are close competitors on the Formula 1 circuit…

The discussion on this tweet from Aston Martin has, naturally, been focused almost entirely on the race car in the background, so while this is just a rumor right now, could this be the first appearance of a WEC Hypercar class Valkyrie Pro LMH for 2022? Only time will tell!

August 13, 2021 / Comments Off

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Valkyrie Spider, an F1 for the road

I don’t think any customer has already received his (or her) Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar yet, but deliveries should start imminently as prototypes have been seen on the open road, some have been able to be a passenger in Aston Martin’s first hypercar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hill Climb, and apparently, demand for this 1,160 hp F1 car for public roads has succeeded availability tremendously, despite the price tag between £2m and £3m (about $2.46 million to $3.69 million), all 150 units are long sold out.

And that’s just for the Valkyrie road car, remember there will also be another 40 units of the Valkyrie AMR Pro track-only version, and thanks to demand, Aston Martin now unveils the Valkyrie Spider … open-top motoring at its best, this time, limited to 85 units in total, and according to the official press release from Aston Martin, these are already are over-subscribed and allocations will only begin shortly, available in both left and right-hand drive version, the first deliveries scheduled for H2 2022 but it seems not all that have put their name down will eventually receive this amazing hybrid hypercar.

This amazing looking Valkyrie Spider has been developed from the coupe version, taking unique engineering solutions by combining the talents of both Aston Martin themselves and Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), the engine is still the same 1,160 hp hybrid unit, combining 1,000 hp from the Cosworth developed 6.5-Liter V12 engine with 160 hp from the KERS-style hybrid system, using a 12-in-1 exhaust design, the Valkyrie’s soundtrack is reminiscent of a 90s F1 race car.

These days the roof is an integral part of the body structure and supplies overall rigidity, removing it isn’t as clear cut as it sounds, for the Valkyrie Spider this meant a modification of the carbon fiber structure, and that also implied a total recalibration of the active chassis, and the impressive active aerodynamic parts on the Valkyrie to make sure removing the roof didn’t compromise the overall experience, and more importantly … performance.

The brand new Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider will be shown during the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California, from 12 August 15 August 2021, but getting into the VIP section holding this amazing roofless hypercar will be by invitation only … no information in pricing either, by the way.

August 13, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro

The new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro isn’t just another version of the original Aston Martin Valkyrie with some added aerodynamic parts, the Valkyrie AMR Pro increases the wheelbase of the original chassis by 380 mm, adds 96 mm to the front track and 115mm to the rear track width, the added aerodynamic parts effectively lengthen the entire car by 266 mm making it a ‘longtail’ is McLaren would call it, and as we’ve seen on the new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport … the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro can reach a lateral acceleration in excess of 3G.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro still uses the Cosworth-built naturally aspirated V12 engine with a 6.5-Liter displacement … but now with 1,000 hp available at a screaming 11,000 rpm, a lot of weight has been saved on the Valkyrie AMR Pro by removing the entire hybrid system, using an extremely light carbon fiber body, carbon fiber suspension wishbones. The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro doesn’t use glass but comes with a Perspex windshield and side windows … thanks to the aerodynamic efficiency, the Valkyrie AMR Pro offers track performance previously only seen in Formula One cars.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is built to compete at the 24h of Le Mans, the design has been created to be able to lap the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe in a mere 3 minutes and 20 seconds putting her in front of the other LMP1 cars with a firm chance of actually winning this world-famous endurance race in France.

Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Moers said: “The entire Aston Martin Valkyrie programme has been an extraordinary adventure in engineering. As an expression of the passion and expertise that can be found within Aston Martin and its closest technical partners, Valkyrie AMR Pro is a project beyond compare, a true ‘no rules’ track-only version. The Valkyrie AMR Pro is a testament to Aston Martin’s commitment to pure performance and this performance DNA will be evident in our future product portfolio. Nothing else looks like it, nothing else sounds like it, and I am absolutely certain nothing else will drive like it!”

Only 40 clients will be able to obtain one of these Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro cars as production is limited, in addition to the 40 customer car, 2 prototypes are built by Aston Martin, working closely together with Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One^® Team drivers to finetune the dynamic setup of this amazing Valkyrie AMR Pro. Customers will also be invited to a bespoke track day on an official FIA circuit somewhere in the world, where they will have both track and pitlane access with support from the Aston Martin Valkyrie Instructor team, as well as FIA exclusive racewear and a VIP hosted dinner.

The first units of this brand new, exhilarating Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro are expected during the final quarter of 2021 already, but no word in pricing at this moment.

June 28, 2021 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin sues dealer over $3.5 million Valkyrie supercar

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings said it’s suing a company affiliated with one of its dealers in Switzerland, alleging that it withheld customer deposits collected for the $3.5 million Valkyrie supercar.

The automaker accused Nebula Project AG of failing to pass some deposits taken from customers along to Aston Martin and said it has terminated an unconventional commercial arrangement its previous management team entered in 2016. Under the now-dissolved deal, Nebula had agreed to fund development of the Valkyrie and other mid-engine cars in exchange for royalty payments.

As a result of terminating the agreement with Nebula, Aston Martin is no longer liable for any potential royalty payments, which could have been “significant” over time, the carmaker said in a statement Tuesday. The company also cut off its dealer arrangements with AF Cars AG, the company that operates Aston Martin St. Gallen in Switzerland, whose board members manage Nebula.

A spokeswoman for the cantonal prosecutor’s office in St. Gallen said they are expecting a lawsuit to be filed but hadn’t received it as of noon Tuesday. A spokesman for Aston Martin St. Gallen was not immediately available to comment, according to a receptionist.

The canton of St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland is home to just 510,000 people but generates gross domestic product of almost 39 billion Swiss francs ($42 billion), making it a natural fit for wealthy fans of supercars. The Valkyrie, which Aston Martin expects to start shipping in the second half of the year, is intended to compete with mid-engine models made by the likes of Ferrari and McLaren.

While Aston Martin believes the net impact of its actions against Nebula will be positive over time, it’s expected to reduce cash flow and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization by as much as 15 million pounds this year. The automaker’s shares traded down 1.9% as of 11:50 a.m. in London, paring an earlier decline of as much as 4.9%.

Valkyrie customers will still receive their cars as scheduled, Aston Martin said, despite the company not having received all the deposited funds. The company said it will take deposits for special vehicles directly from customers going forward instead of through dealers.

Aston Martin racked up significant losses after going public in 2018 and has spent the last year restructuring itself after a rescue by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, who took over as chairman. The 61-year-old fashion mogul has injected much-needed cash and forged closer ties with Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz to ensure the company survives tumultuous times for the auto industry.

June 22, 2021 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin Valkyrie laps Silverstone

The Aston Martin Valkyrie performed a low-level fly-by at Britain’s Silverstone Circuit during the Formula One Grand Prix weekend. The lap marked the first public demonstration of the future paterfamilias of the Aston Martin range, after months of digital modeling and time in the simulator. Aston Martin test driver Chris Goodwin didn’t drive the 1,160-horsepower coupe in anger, but he did touch the throttle with some emotion. Regrettably, video of the event lays music over the far more redeeming Cosworth V12 soundtrack, but we do get a taste of what’s to come.

Thing is, “Top Gear” visited Cosworth in December last year to get some face time with the 6.5-liter V12. Toward the end of the video, Cosworth ran an engine dyno simulation of the V12 going hard through the first sections of Silverstone. Oh, the sound. Oh, the fury. Combine that with the sight of the car cruising the circuit, and know that something wicked this way comes.

If you want to know just how serious the team behind the Valkyrie takes the brief, presenter Jack Rix said Red Bull F1 aerodynamics guru Adrian Newey stopped by the shop to look at the finished product, after two years of development. Newey tapped the lacquered carbon fiber intake manifold cover, then asked Cosworth how much the lacquer weighed. When Cosworth told him “130 grams,” Newey looked disappointed. That response turned into offering Valkyrie buyers the option of having the engine’s carbon cover with or without lacquer. In American terms, this is much ado over 4.6 ounces, or a McDonald’s Royale with Cheese.

With deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, Aston Martin has a packed program of validation testing for the car, called Verification Prototype 1. After that come competition entries into the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

July 15, 2019 / Comments Off

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The Aston Martin Valkyrie Will Attempt Nürburgring Lap Record

Taking on The Green Hell

The Aston Martin Valkyrie is an amazing car. It features a 1,160 horsepower coming from a 6.5-liter V-12 hybrid powertrain that will make the car rocket anywhere. It also has some of the world’s most advanced aerodynamics. Altogether it is a performance monster. Now, Aston Martin wants to prove just how amazing the car is by trying to beat the Nürburgring lap record.

In an interview, Aston’s boss Andy Palmer told the Australian publication Car Sales, that the car would make the attempt. While the attempt will happen, Aston doesn’t plan to rent out the whole racetrack to do it. Palmer said he would rather do the lap attempt during a public day or an industry testing day. That could make things a bit more difficult.

The time to beat is the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 6:44.97, according to Car Sales. That’s a tough time. The all-time, any vehicle best time was set by Porsche’s 919 Evo time-attack car, which managed a 5:19.55. The Valkyrie likely won’t beat that time, but it has a good chance chasing down and passing the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ’s time.

In addition to taking on The Green Hell’s fastest lap time, the company plans to take the Valkyrie to other racetracks for top lap time attempts, including Silverstone and the Belgium Spa circuit. It will be interesting to see how the Valkyrie fares.

June 20, 2019 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin’s Valkyrie has 1,160 hp and 664 lb-ft of Torque

A High-Revving Powerhouse

The Aston Martin Valkyrie final horsepower and torque numbers are in. The hybrid powertrain in the car features a Cosworth-built 65-degree naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 paired with a Rimac-sourced battery electric system. That powertrain is good for a whopping 1,160 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque.

The battery electric system from Rimac produces 106 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque on its own. The Cosworth V12 supplies the rest of the power. Aston Martin worked with Red Bull Advanced Technologies on the car. It noted that its partnership produced the powertrain as it is. Aston lists the high-revving F1 cars of the 1990s as a key influence.

According to Aston, the gasoline engine’s maximum horsepower is reached at a screaming 11,100 rpm and peak torque comes at 7,000 rpm. From there, the electric power system can add to the power output. The electric power system and the engine don’t operate separately, though, they augment each other and work together for maximum efficiency and maximum performance.

More Than Just a Power Mill

The V12 engine and gearbox both work as structural elements of the vehicle. This helps keep weight down and provides superb structural rigidity. Through the use of this unique construction, Aston has removed the need for an additional subframe. This highly unique feature alone would make the car special.

Vice President & Special Vehicle Operations Officer, David King seemed confident the new car would not disappoint. He said:

Aston Martin Valkyrie is set to be the ultimate hypercar in the automotive world and these performance figures underline that statement. Red Bull Advanced Technologies, Cosworth, Rimac and Integral Powertrain Ltd. have been fantastic partners in the development of this powertrain, ensuring that we have already created a hybrid system that is emissions-compliant and ready to begin fitting to our first physical prototypes. I am, as I’m sure the rest of the world is, incredibly excited to see and hear the first of these cars on track.

The British automaker said the development will continue on the car. Aston is currently building the prototypes of the car. It will be interesting to see how this project continues to progress as things move forward.

March 1, 2019 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin Project ‘003’ Hypercar Confirmed

The Third Installment of the Valkyrie

Prepare yourself for the next Aston Martin hypercar dubbed the Project ‘003’. Sounding like some kind of MI6 code for a secret mission designated for James Bond, Aston Martin’s Project ‘003’ should be an amazing machine. According to the company, the hypercar will utilize mid-engine hypercar features and technology used on the Valkyrie.

The automaker says the car will arrive late 2021. When it does, Aston will build only 500 coupe examples globally. The company specifically says coupe examples, so that makes us think there’s a possibility of a convertible version of the car at some later point down the road.

The Project ‘003’ will be the company’s third try at a hypercar. It hit it out of the park with the Valkyrie, so this one will likely be a ringer, too. The details for the model are scarce, but Aston says the car will have a lightweight structure, which probably means a carbon fiber chassis.

The vehicle will also get a turbocharged hybrid powertrain. However, Aston neglected to mention what that powertrain would be in terms of size. We’re hoping for a turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain that makes somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000 hp.

The car will be a road car. Aston said the vehicle will have “class-leading dynamics on both road and track.” Aston noted in its press release that special attention is being given to making the car more practical for road use, including some luggage space. Both left and right-hand drive versions of the car will be made, and it will be sold around the world. We’ll update you with more info as we get it.

February 20, 2019 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Track Performance Pack

It was not long ago when were falling head-over-heels for one particular hypercar form a distinguished British Marque. Prior to its launch, the manufacturer was even drumming up more hype with a recording of its revving engine. Every serious car enthusiast knows that the brand delivers only the best when it comes quality, speed, and handling. However, everybody is awestruck to learn that the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Track Performance Pack even exists for this beast. This might be the what most gearheads could call “overkill” but you won’t hear anyone complaining about it.

Let’s rewind a little and check out what the stock model already has to offer. You already have a 1,130-horsepower monster that’s legally at your disposal to unleash on the streets or on the tracks. Beneath its 2,230-pound frame lies a 6.5-liter V12 engine as well as an electric drive system. The brand knows that discerning clients might want something more, hence the AMR Track Performance Pack upgrade.

If you’re keen on throwing a little more cash to tweak your ride, then expect to see a bump in performance. We’re talking about up to an eight percent speed increase in lap times over the default configuration. The slew of improvements included in the package makes the machine even more intimidating. The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Track Performance Pack adds titanium brakes, race-ready suspension, matte black magnesium wheels, and more. You can even personalize the interior components with various materials. If the Alcantara upholstery is not enough, you can even request to have gold leaf accents underneath the lacquer.

Take It Up A Notch

January 25, 2019 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin Valkyrie gets a track package, moves closer to production-ready

Aston Martin continues to trickle out news for the upcoming Valkyrie hypercar, and today it’s telling us about an AMR Performance Track Pack that will be on offer. We’ve previously told you about the Valkyrie AMR Pro, which is a track-only version of the car Aston intends to build. This new package will be on offer to the 150 lucky folks who will be buying the road-going version of the Valkyrie.

The Track Pack consists of a new front clam producing greater downforce, a second set of exterior body panels, a track-focused suspension lowered by 2 inches, titanium braking components and magnesium wheels with carbon fiber discs covering them. All this results in lap times that are supposed to be 8 percent quicker than the standard car — an impressive improvement over a car with bonkers performance to begin with. The only catch you might ask? With the Track Pack accessories fitted, the Valkyrie loses its road-legal status like the AMR Pro. You’ll need to hand the car over to Aston for them to put it back to street-spec after your track day is done.

Aston Martin also announced some customization options that will be available for the car. The only limit here is your pocketbook, folks, as Aston’s personalization program, Q by Aston Martin, will be helping buyers make the cars exactly the way they’d like. Four designer spec themes will be offered to those not interested in total custom work. Wherever you see paint or trim, carbon fiber is most likely possible. Colors and material choices on the interior will be up to your imagination, as well. The wildest option available appears to be the Gold Pack, wherein 24-carat gold livery is laid under the paint. Check out all the pictures of custom examples Aston has come up with on its simulator up above — this is going to be one sweet car, not to mention the 1,000 horsepower 6.5-liter Cosworth V12 that revs to 11,100 rpm.

Related video:

January 23, 2019 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin Valkyrie Hybrid Hypercar

To herald the impending arrival of the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the marque shares a sound clip of the engine revving like a beast. We took a moment to listen to its roar and it sounds ready to leave everything else in the dust. It might still be a while until collectors can get their hands on the Valkyrie. Nevertheless, the brand is already proudly showing off its potential. The designer and engineers made it their mission to turn this vehicle into a lightweight road-ripping machine.

The exterior design subtly reminds everyone that it’s ready to race both on the tracks and on the streets. Weighing in at only 2,230 pounds, you can look forward to breakneck acceleration and speed, which comes from a combination of a 1,000-horsepower 6.5-liter V12 engine and a 130-horsepower electric drive system. Both of which deliver a total of 1,130 horsepower at your disposal.

Inside the cabin is just enough space to comfortably seat two people. Moreover, true to its racing DNA, the interior is basically barebones. All the unnecessary components are intentionally absent to closely keep its weight at a minimum. Even the side mirrors were replaced by video cameras that directly feed the footage to individual displays on the dashboard. Furthermore, the copious amount of carbon fiber used in its construction does not compromise the structural integrity of the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Discover more from Aston Martin

Photos courtesy of Aston Martin

January 17, 2019 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin Valkyrie set to make 1,000 horsepower, rev to 11,100 rpm

Aston Martin is working with Cosworth to develop the Valkyrie engine, an engine (we now know) unlike that found in any other production car. Today it has shared some of the specifics. The naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 will make 1,000 horsepower and rev up to 11,100 rpm. We did the math, that’s 153.8 horsepower per liter in a non-boosted car. Cue the jaws dropping to the floor. The first thought here goes to what this thing will sound like. Aston has us covered there with a video it tweeted out this morning, which you can play below.

Developed in conjunction with longtime technical partner @Cosworth, the new V12 had to satisfy a simple, yet extraordinary brief; to create the ultimate expression of the internal combustion engine. #AstonMartinValkyrie #ASTONMARTIN #Cosworth pic.twitter.com/BQXUVD355f

— Aston Martin (@astonmartin) December 12, 2018

We got a sneak preview awhile back of the sound, and this just confirms how awesome it’s going to be. The noises bring us back to a time when F1 engines actually sounded good. Peak power is made at an astounding 10,500 rpm, so you’ll want to rev it all the way up to the top before shifting. Torque is predictably much lower — it makes 546 pound-feet at 7,000 rpm, when most engines are either done or running out of steam. Numbers for the Valkyrie’s hybrid system are still unavailable, so we’ll have to wait to find out the combined output.

The large V12 weighs 454 pounds, and Aston says it’s a fully stressed element of the chassis — removing the engine would literally split the car in two. Titanium connecting rods, F1-spec pistons and a billet-machined crankshaft that takes six months to produce are but a few highlights of the Cosworth engine. Aston Martin says the crankshaft is 50 percent lighter than the One-77’s V12 rotating assembly.

Thankfully, we’ve been provided with a gallery of engine photos to drool over. Making such a ridiculous and powerful engine emissions-compliant enough for a road car is something every car enthusiast can appreciate. Naturally aspirated V12s are arguably one of the most satisfying engine configurations to have been put forth on this earth. One that revs to 11,100 rpm sounds like it could crack anybody’s list of greatest road car engines ever. Aston Martin sounds hyped about it, and we don’t blame them. This car, and this engine, are going to be monsters.

Related video:

December 12, 2018 / Comments Off

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Production Ready Aston Martin Valkyrie Revealed

Aston Martin have finally signed off the shape of the Valkyrie. That much we can deduce from the pictures Aston martin shared on tis official Instagram page earlier today. The photos show both the inside and the outside of the Valkyrie with a light to dark, fading blue colour scheme.

The car in the pictures looks distinctly different to the models we have seen at car shows worldwide. The design lines around the rear of the window appear to have been smoother over and the roof is now dominated by a small air intake. The side sills feature what look like gills and the front rear fender now features what looks like side lights.

The design is still notable for its lack of side mirrors which perhaps suggests that the Valkyrie will use cameras, much like the recently announced McLaren Speedtail. The photos also show the massive cutaway front clam which is clearly visible from above.

The Valkyrie is expected to debut at some point next year. It has already been announced that the 6.5 litre V12 engine will be powered by a Cosworth engineered system. The total power output will be 1,130 hp when combined with a hybrid drive system. Weight will be just 1,030 kg.

Aston Martin hopes to have a road-going prototype by the end of the year with production scheduled to start in early 2019. 150 are planned for production at a cost of $3.2 million. Every single one is accounted for.

November 2, 2018 / Comments Off

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The Aston Martin Valkyrie and its V12 sound insane

Formula 1 is where the mind goes when we listen to this teaser engine clip of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar. And we’re not talking about the lame-sounding turbo cars they’re racing now. No, this sound brings to mind the stupid-high-revving machines of the 2000s.

It makes sense too, because we’ve been told that the 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine is loosely based on Cosworth’s 2.4-liter V8 it made for Formula 1. Rumors place the Valkyrie engine somewhere around 1,000 horsepower with a kinetic energy recovery system providing even more thrust. We’ve seen a number of reports putting the final combined figure around 1,130 hp, but the actual number will remain a mystery for the time being.

The sound of “THE” GREAT British car company! Thank you @Cosworth @redbullracing #AstonMartinValkyrie #NaturallyAspirated #V12 pic.twitter.com/HmEICj29uH

— Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) October 3, 2018

This video with the Valkyrie’s soundtrack layered behind it comes courtesy of Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer. Dramatic renderings of the Valkyrie cycle through in the background, but the noise is what we’re paying attention to here. The engine’s redline is reportedly 11,000 rpm and we don’t doubt it after listening to the soundtrack more than a few times. No other production car revs that high — even LaFerrari tops out at 9,250 rpm.

The team definitely has the engine working, and production is slated to kick off sometime in 2019. We’ll be waiting impatiently until then to hear that insane V12 in person.

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October 3, 2018 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin confirms its third mid-engine hypercar

Consider the rumors confirmed. Aston Martin will build a third mid-engine hypercar that’s currently codenamed 003, following the Valkyrie (code 001) and track-specific Valkyrie AMR Pro (code 002). Aston Martin says 003 will borrow lots of technology from its forebears, including hybrid electric propulsion and carbon fiber-intensive construction. But there are some significant changes being baked into this third hypercar that will set it apart from the first two.

First up, Aston Martin will use a turbocharged engine in 003. Both versions of the Valkyrie used naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 powerplants co-developed with Cosworth. We don’t have any power specifications for the turbocharged hybrid drivetrain of 003 yet, but we know the Valkyrie’s V12 puts out as much as 1,130 horsepower from its gasoline-burning engine and electric motors. We can’t say for certain, but we wouldn’t bet against Aston pushing that figure further into the stratosphere with the turbo-enhanced unit that will power 003.

Aston Martin also promises “active aerodynamics” that provide “outstanding levels of downforce in a road-legal car” to go along with “active suspension systems.” Sounds like there’s a good chance double-oh-three could be more advanced than its older siblings. That said, Aston says its third mid-engine hypercar is being designed for use on the road in addition to the track, with “more practical concessions to road use, including space for luggage.” And all of that has our interest piqued.

Something conspicuously absent from Aston Martin’s latest hypercar announcement are any mentions of partnerships. Both Valkyrie models were designed with plenty of input from Red Bull Racing and its famous technical director, Adrian Newey. There’s also no mention of Mercedes-Benz or its AMG division, from which the British automaker sources its current lineup of V8 engines.

How much input will Red Bull have in 003? Will its turbocharged V8 be sourced from Mercedes-AMG? We’ll just have to wait and see. What we do know, though, is that the FIA’s Hypercar Concept racing series is sounding more interesting by the minute. And, if the sketch above is at all indicative of 003’s actual production design, this third hypercar will be quite a bit different from the first two.

Project 003 is expected to hit the road late in 2021. Global production will be capped at 500 units. Pricing, naturally, is not yet known, but if you have to ask, well, you know the rest.

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September 20, 2018 / Comments Off

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Cosworth briefly crows that Aston Valkyrie’s 6.5L V12 has record horsepower

It’s only natural that Cosworth would want the world to know that it’s building the world’s most powerful naturally-aspirated engine for the Aston Martin Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro. The timing of when the world should know about it, that’s at issue. Yesterday the English engine maker’s official Twitter account posted a picture of the barely-there coupe and the line, “We’re famous for breaking records and our latest engine, the Aston Martin Valkyrie 6.5-litre V12, will be the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated road engine with 1,130bhp.” Two tags accompanied the post, #Cosworth and #AstonMartinValkyrie. About 90 minutes later, the tweet disappeared.

The likely issue is that Cosworth got ahead of Aston Martin’s official confirmation of Valkyrie outputs, something we’re more used to from patent offices and Chinese model makers. The question is what output is Cosworth really talking about, and which car.

All of last year, however, various reports had the street-legal Valkyrie making 1,130 hp. A Road & Track report attributed “nearly 1,000 hp” coming from the NA V12, the remaining 130 from a kinetic energy recovery system working the front axle. Hence, we’re not sure if Cosworth’s talking about its own engine alone at 1,130 hp, or its engine with the KERS. But then there’s this: At the launch of the Valkyrie AMR Pro during the Geneva Motor Show this year, Aston Martin said the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro would enjoy “a combined power output of more than 1100 bhp — more than the Valkyrie road car and a figure than comfortably exceeds the magic 1:1 power-to-weight ratio.”

The truth’s a mystery for now, which is just as Aston Martin would want it. If Cosworth’s engine really does make 1,130 hp on its own, that would be monstrous, and it would mean the automaker’s been playing a serious game of English understatement. Even if Cosworth included the hybrid help, however, an NA V12 with 1,000 ponies would take the crown. The only competition is the 6.5-liter V12 in the Ferrari 812 Superfast, and that’s 211 horses adrift. The quad-digit figures expected from Mercedes-AMG Project One and McLaren Speedtail require turbochargers, as does the just-teased V8 going into the Shelby Tuatara.

With the first of 150 Valkyrie road car deliveries scheduled for next year, we probably don’t have that much longer to wait to find out.

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August 22, 2018 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin Valkyrie could beat that new Nurburgring record, Red Bull F1 boss says

During last weekend’s Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Race Fans asked Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner about the Aston Martin Valkyrie. The question was whether the coming hypercar, a collaboration between Red Bull and title sponsor Aston Martin, could beat the stunning lap record around the Nürburgring just set by the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo. Horner’s answer: “I’m not sure a Formula 1 car could actually do it, but I think that the Valkyrie — certainly the track version of the Valkyrie — could be a contender.” That’s a qualified endorsement, but it still counts as support merely putting the Valkyrie AMR Pro in the conversation.

Let’s compare, shall we? The 919 Hybrid Evo is based on the 2017 World Endurance Championship-winning 919 Hybrid. Freed from motorsport regulations, Porsche Motorsport upgraded numerous performance bits. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged V-four-cylinder went from 500 hp to 720 hp. The two KERS units went from 400 hp to 440 hp. We don’t have a figure for downforce, but items like active aero, a larger front diffuser, optimized turning vanes, and larger rear wing increased downforce by 53 percent over the WEC car, at the same time being 66 percent more aero efficient. It weighs 849 kg dry, or 1,868 pounds because Porsche threw out everything that didn’t contribute to speed.

The Valkyrie specs we know of so far state a weight of 1,000 kilograms, or 2,200 pounds. Powering that is a custom, naturally aspirated, 6.5-liter AMR Cosworth V12 with more than 900 horsepower, augmented by a kinetic energy recovery system contributing around 230 hp. According to Autocar’s sources, the Valkyrie could generate up to 4,000 pounds of downforce at an aerodynamically-limited 225 miles per hour. That boggling number comes courtesy of Adrian Newey’s prowess at making changes such as openings between the front wheel arches and the cockpit that work the front wing harder. The two-seater coupe’s unrestricted top speed is 254 mph.

Note, though, that the Valkyrie AMR Pro will be more powerful, lighter, and could have even more downforce. And since Aston Martin and Newey continue to work on the hypercar, specs could get even better before deliveries begin. Right now, Horner’s suggestion doesn’t seem all that outrageous.

We’ll also wait to see if the Mercedes-AMG Project One pokes its nose in the ring, too. Not long ago, AMG chief Tobias Moers said it’s “reasonable to speculate” the F1-inspired hypercar could claim an absolute lap record around the ‘Ring. But that was before Porsche went ahead and did it. Even if Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG don’t put up an official challenge, we’ll probably get an idea of what’s possible when the FIA’s new “Hypercar” class begins racing in 2021.

July 2, 2018 / Comments Off

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Aston Martin working on mid-engine Valkyrie ‘brother’ to rival McLaren P1

We know about the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the Valkyrie AMR Pro (pictured). And we know Aston Martin is planning a mid-engine rival for the Ferrari 488 and McLaren 720S. Now Autocar reports that the English luxury maker is working on yet another mid-engine model, a hypercar to outdo the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari and stand up to the coming McLaren BP23. The newest addition to the small carmaker’s grand plans is said to be known internally as “brother of the Valkyrie,” and came about because of the sellout success of both the Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro.

Both “brother of Valkyrie” and the 488 competitor are expected to use a carbon monococque with aluminum subframes. Both will use lessons from Aston Martin’s tie-up with the Red Bull Formula 1 team, especially in packaging. Both are due to hit the market around 2021. And both will be products of the carmaker’s Performance Design and Engineering Centre, a base of 130 engineers set up at Red Bull F1’s Milton Keyes headquarters. However, the former car will fight in the £1M-plus price bracket ($1.4M-plus) where various manufacturers have made amazing hay with warp-speed daily drivers, and will be a limited edition “in order to add to its desirability.”

We remain in the dark on powertrains for both cars, but outsiders expect both to use a V8. When it comes to the “brother” car, Aston Martin’s working relationship with Mercedes-AMG means it could tap the 4.0-liter V8 used by the DB11 and the Vantage. Apparently that engine can be wrung out to 800 horsepower with help from an ultimate EQ Boost setup. That still wouldn’t be enough to compete in the segment, though, so the “brother” could become a demonstrator for Aston Martin’s electric know-how — a rolling showcase that could turn its halo light on a potential electric sports car. Or perhaps there’s another option that turns to Cosworth, the company helping develop the 1,000-hp 6.5-liter V12 in the Valkyrie.

Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer wouldn’t say much more about the junior supercar powertrain than, “In our portfolio today, we don’t have an engine capable of giving us the output we require. Whether through collaboration with AMG or whether by ourselves, we have to find an answer.” He told Australian outlet Motoring that it would involve hybrid assistance with power as the aim and “a fringe benefit on efficiency.” That sounds a much more likely case for the AMG motor, where an 800-hp ceiling gives Aston Martin room to tone things down and still bare fangs at rivals. As an aside, the Vanquish is expected to “move into true front-engined supercar territory,” which will make brand space for every offering in the lineup.

Aston Martin raided its main competitors’ personnel departments last year to give it the best chance of beating those competitors. Last year Max Swaj, who was head of innovation and body structures at Ferrari and Maserati, and Joerg Ross, who was head of advanced engines at the two Italian camakers, jumped ship for England along with a third, unnamed engineer. Then it nabbed Chris Goodwin, McLaren’s test driver of 20 years, to provide the kind of feedback that’s made superstars of the 675LT and 720S, and who was last photographed in the McLaren BP23 due next year.

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March 12, 2018 / Comments Off

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