The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the first hypercar made by the Aston Martin brand. Headlining Aston Martin’s entry into the world of hybrid sports cars, the Valkyrie derives its name from ancient Norse legend. Codenamed as the Nebula and AM-RB 001, the Valkyrie was born out of partnership between Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin. Built on the premise of speed and performance, the Valkyrie is a carbon fiber sports car with specially crafted tires and characteristics that you would normally find in a race car. The hypercar beams with elegance and explicit styling, looking like a car from a future racecourse.
Sporting a hybrid powertrain, the Aston Martin Valkyrie showcases the excellence of engineering. Aerodynamic in its nature, the Valkyrie boasts of itself as a masterpiece. This hypercar has three versions: the Coupe, Spider, and AMR Pro( AMR meaning Aston Martin Racing and produced solely for the racetrack). The pricing starts from around $3 million to $4 million, the Coupe being the least expensive. With seating befitting a Formula 1 car and a teardrop-shaped cockpit, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is bound to compete for buyers’ attention.
Exterior
The Valkyrie is designed with inspiration from formula one cars. For improved aerodynamics, the hypercar replaces exterior mirrors with a rear camera. These allow the driver to monitor blind spots. The street-legal versions of the Valkyrie, the Coupe, and Spider feature the necessary tail and headlights with rear space for the license plate. The Spider and AMR Pro versions of the Valkyrie have features that set them apart. The Spider doesn’t have a roof because of its butterfly-shaped doors; the AMR Pro features a rear wing, dorsal din for improved stability, and side mirrors. The car features a drag reduction system (DRS) rear spoiler, single lugged wheels for quick tyre changes, and exhausts identical to those in Formula one cars.
To accommodate the pocket of space left by the venture tunnels running down both sides of the cockpit base, the vehicle’s lower body is contoured, and the upper surface of the cockpit is shaped like a teardrop. Lateral grip and cornering are obtained throughout the car by directing a huge amount of air from under the vehicle through the rear diffuser. This is important to the car’s downforce generation and keeping the upper body clear of aerodynamic gadgets that may deter the wind-tunneled styling. The doors are flipped upwards to suck the car towards the ground, and the vehicle is built using carbon fiber in place of steel to achieve the design weight of 2,200 pounds.
Performance, Engine, And Transmission
Featuring a hybrid powertrain, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is an object of horror. Taking inspiration from formula one cars, this Aston Martin and Red Bull partnered build wields a powertrain consisting of a 160hp electric motor, a naturally aspirated 6.5L V-12 engine, and a 40Kwh battery. Combining all the power sources, the powertrain produces a staggering output of 1,160 horsepower and 664 lb-ft. of torque. The same powertrain is found in AMR Pro, but the engine has been tweaked for increased output given its sole use on the racetrack.
Power is transmitted to the rear wheels using a seven-speed single-clutch auto transmission system. It also features an active suspension system that works closely with the four control surfaces around the car. The street-legal versions of the Valkyrie have specially made high-performance tyres, while the AMR Pro has carbon-ceramic brakes. The staggering amount of power produced by the car results in blistering acceleration. The Valkyrie runs from 0 to 62mph in less than 3 seconds, with its top speed estimated at 250mph. The AMR Pro has a top speed of 225mph, and the Spider has a top speed of 217mph with the roof. Without its roof, the Spider reaches a top speed of 205mph. Its aerodynamic features and curb weight adds to its huge performance. The Aston Martin is a performance and speed-themed sports car.
Interior
Inspired by race cars, the interior looks like a passenger-friendly formula one car. It is characterized by two seats fitted directly onto the tub. The interior is designed using carbon fibre to use the limited space efficiently; the seats are fitted using 3D scanning, with the pedals and steering wheel designed to be adjustable. There is no front, rear, or cargo space due to the emphasis on performance and styling. The switchgear is fixed on the steering wheel, and the OLED TV displays vital signs to reduce the level of distraction. The switches are colored in red, anodized silver, and black. Aston Martin offers standard four-seat harnesses, but six harnesses are available alongside a wide range of patterns, colors, and upholstery finishes.
Aside from the screen built into the steering wheel, the Valkyrie has a central screen and dual digital displays to replace the regular side mirrors. It has a digital gauge cluster as found in formula one race cars. To maximize the sp
ace available, the steering wheel is detachable for easy exit and entry and serves as an extra security gadget.
Safety And Infotainment
The provision for safety isn’t similar to what you’ll find in a regular car. The usual modern driving assistance technology isn’t built into the vehicle. Key safety features found in the Valkyrie include a basic backup camera. Racing harnesses and the carbon fiber structure provide ample protection for the passenger and driver. The Advanced safety technology includes an electronic stability control system and traction control.
The other versions of the Valkyrie come with the standard infotainment system, primarily the central screen. The AMR Pro has removed infotainment features and the air conditioning system.
Pricing And Warranty
The Aston Martin brand is known for luxury, and its debut hypercar is expected to cost a lot. The different versions have varying prices with limited production and a few optional packages.
The Coupe is estimated to cost around $3 million; the Spider is said to cost around $4 million. Settling between the two models is the Valkyrie AMR Pro costing $3.5 million. The base car, however, offers more than enough for buyers.
The warranty coverage for the Aston Martin Valkyrie is similar to that of rival supercar brands. It has limited warranty coverage for three years with no complimentary maintenance.
Conclusion
The Valkyrie is the product of a partnership between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing, giving Aston Martin a hypercar to call its own. Built with inspiration from formula one vehicles, it is designed with the motive of enhanced performance and speed. The Valkyrie features a cutting-edge powertrain and a stylish exterior with versions built for race tracks and highways, the hypercar is an alluring and stellar vehicle.
