Aston Martin is a British brand that's always been associated with subtle luxury; a kind of understated elegance borne by their cars. All that changed with the introduction of the Valkyrie, Aston Martin's first-ever hypercar. There is nothing restrained about this speed demon it projects the Norse origins of its rather unique name with every carbon fiber weave.
The Valkyrie was first announced in 2017 and after a few delays, deliveries are now expected to start mid-2021, several months after it was first spied testing on public roads. It may be the carmaker's first hypercar but make no mistake about it, the Valkyrie will challenge the very best among the hypercar royalty. It is automotive engineering at its finest and the Valkyrie is well poised to change performance driving forever when it hits public roads.
10 A 1,000 Hp Petrol Engine
This is no ordinary hypercar and it is only fitting that it should be powered by something quite spectacular - in the form of a 6.5-liter V12 engine. However, it is not just any V12. It draws inspiration from the CA2010 18,000 rpm 2.4-liter V8 used by Williams in their 2010 F1 car.
It will be the most powerful naturally aspirated engine unit ever fitted to a production car, capable of cranking out 1,000 horses at a truly impressive 10,500 rpm. That translates to about 156 hp per liter. To put this in perspective, the 6.5-liter V12 in the Aventador SV makes 114 hp per liter.
9 Extra Oomph - Electric Motor and Battery Packs
For most cars, 1,000 hp is at the very limits of automotive sanity but for the Valkyrie, it is still not enough to unleash its full potential. The engineers have added a battery-electric system to create a formidable hybrid powertrain.
It was designed by Rimac and adds a further 160 hp for a total output of 1,160 hp and 663 pound-feet of torque. That's Veyron Super Sport levels of power for a car that weighs almost 2,000 lbs less.
8 Steel Delete
The Valkyrie is a car that promises uncompromising performance; helped in no small measure by a healthy dose of power and corresponding lightweight. One of the ways by which the designers have addressed the weight issue is by opting for carbon fiber as the preferred material in building the car.
A statement on the company's website proudly proclaims that the complete absence of a steel component anywhere on their hypercar, minimizing load while maximizing the power-to-weight ratio.
7 Exclusive Car, Exclusive Pricing
Yes, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is not cheap and no one expected it to be. After all, this is a performance vehicle that checks all boxes for a proper hypercar claim, and such cars, by definition, carry a hefty price tag. Still, the $3.2 million price tag for the Valkyrie must have been seen by some as over-ambitious.
It does not matter much today though as the entire planned production run of 150 cars has been fully sold out. That's a minimum of $480 million in total - and that does not include the number of well-heeled customers who will want no doubt want to customize their prized possession in one way or another.
6 About The Customization Options
It's only fair to assume that anyone willing to splurge north of $3 million on an automobile will not hold back when it comes to adding personal touches to make the car even more unique. Aston Martin understands this only too well and the suite of options available for the Valkyrie is quite extensive.
There are titanium badges designed to save weight just like the special lightweight paint that adds less than 3 pounds to the car's total bulk. You can also opt for the AMR performance pack that adds even more aggressive wing work, lowered suspension, and bodywork to the Valkyrie whilst still keeping it road-legal.
5 Extreme Aerodynamics
One of the brains behind the design of the Valkyrie is Adrian Newey, a true wizard of F1 Aerodynamics. His ingenuity is clearly evident in the styling of the extreme hypercar; one that's said to be able to generate almost 4,000 lb of downforce.
That is enough for the car to drive upside down in theory. The entire car has been designed around aerodynamic efficiency and that can be seen around the F1-inspired winglet and diffuser design, among other components of the car.
4 That Interior Design
The Valkyrie has a tear-drop-shaped canopy that's designed for 2 passengers. The seats are placed in a reclining 'feet-up' position, much like in modern F1 cars. All the relevant buttons and switches are located on the detachable steering wheel to minimize distractions as the car is being pushed to its limits.
The street-legal Valkyrie also gets a single OLED screen that communicates vital information to the driver. That is in addition to the smaller screens that transmit images from the rear-facing cameras (in place of side mirrors). It all feels very modern and quite minimalistic at the same time.
3 A Clever Way To Back Up
Once you engage reverse in the hypercar, the electric motor completely takes over and supplies the power needed for the car to roll backward. It eliminates the need for a traditional mechanical system found in other cars.
This ingenious engineering makes do without unnecessary gears and bearings and helps to keep the overall gearbox as small as possible. It is just another example of how the engineers and designers have been able to keep the Valkyrie's weight to the barest possible minimum.
2 Many Partners Are Involved
There is a popular saying that 'many hands spoil the broth.' In this case, however, it has been proven that there are times when that statement simply does not hold true. The Valkyrie may be the brainchild of Aston Martin and Red Bull racing but several others partners were involved in the creation of the futuristic hypercar.
Apart from Rimac that developed the hybrid battery system, there are others like Multimatic that worked on the carbon fiber monocell. Alcon and Surface Transforms supplied the brakes; Bosch was responsible for the ECU, traction control, and ESP systems, and Wipac Technologies took charge of the LED and tail lights.
1 It Did Not End With The Valkyrie
It is almost inconceivable that there would be another Aston Martin hypercar more extreme than the Valkyrie in the same era. However, that is exactly what the Valkyrie AMR Pro is here to demonstrate. It is an extreme version of what is already the most outlandish car from the carmaker.
The V12 has been recalibrated and on its own, generates over 1,100 hp! The AMR Pro is lighter too at about 1,000kg (2,200 lbs) and what that means is that this beast offers more than a one-to-one power ratio. Add that to everything else going on with the car and you will understand why the AMR Pro is track only. Aston Martin will build just 25 units and yes, they have all been sold.