Valkyrie (car)

Valkyrie (car)
source
Name	Valkyrie
Manufacturer	Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing
Production	2021–present
Class	Sports car
Layout	Mid-engine design
Engine	6.5 L Cosworth V12 engine
Designer	Adrian Newey

Valkyrie (car). The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a limited-production hypercar developed through a collaboration between the British luxury goods manufacturer Aston Martin and the Formula One team Red Bull Racing. Conceived to be a road-legal car with performance approaching that of a contemporary Formula One car, its design was led by renowned aerodynamicist Adrian Newey. The project represents one of the most extreme road cars ever created, pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering and materials science.

Overview

The genesis of the Valkyrie project stemmed from a partnership announced in 2015 between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing's advanced technologies division. The car was initially revealed as the **AM-RB 001** concept at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, creating a sensation for its radical, aerodynamically obsessed form. The development was spearheaded by Adrian Newey, whose expertise from Formula One was directly applied to create unprecedented levels of downforce for a road car. The Valkyrie's name continues Aston Martin's tradition of using names beginning with 'V', such as the Vantage and Vanquish, and evokes imagery from Norse mythology.

Design and engineering

The Valkyrie's design is a pure function of its aerodynamic requirements, resulting in a dramatic, sculpted form with extensive use of carbon fibre for its monocoque and body panels. The chassis is a lightweight carbon fibre tub, with the suspension components and the entire V12 engine acting as stressed members of the structure, a technique borrowed from Formula One. The interior is starkly minimalist, featuring bespoke FIA-approved racing seats and a steering wheel inspired by those used in Formula One, complete with integrated displays and controls. Complex aerodynamic features include prominent venturi tunnels under the car and active aerodynamic elements that adjust to optimize performance.

Performance and specifications

At the heart of the Valkyrie is a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine developed exclusively by Cosworth, which revs to over 11,000 rpm and produces approximately 1,000 horsepower. This is supplemented by a hybrid system from Rimac Automobili, incorporating a battery pack and an electric motor developed with Integral Powertrain Ltd, bringing total system output to around 1,160 horsepower. The powertrain is mated to a bespoke single-clutch transaxle gearbox from Xtrac. Projected performance figures include a top speed exceeding 250 mph and the ability to generate more than 1,800 kg of downforce at high speed, rivaling the figures seen in Le Mans Prototype race cars.

Production and variants

Production of the Valkyrie is extremely limited, with only 150 road-going coupes planned for customers, all of which were pre-sold. The assembly process involves significant hand-building at Aston Martin's facility in Gaydon. In addition to the standard coupe, Aston Martin announced several variants, including the more track-focused Valkyrie AMR Pro, which features even more extreme aerodynamics and a lighter weight, and a limited-run Spider convertible version. A small number of track-only models, developed in conjunction with the FIA's World Endurance Championship regulations, were also produced.

Motorsport

The racing derivative of the Valkyrie, initially known as the **Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro**, was intended to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship under the new hypercar regulations that began with the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, Aston Martin postponed its World Endurance Championship program. The track-only variant remains a formidable machine, designed without hybrid assistance but with a more powerful V12 engine and capable of generating even higher downforce levels, with performance targets aiming to lap circuits as fast as contemporary Formula One cars.

Category:Sports cars Category:Aston Martin vehicles Category:Hypercars