Aston Martin Valkyrie

The new Aston Martin Valkyrie is an extreme hybrid hypercar that surpasses everything else in the British marque's lineup in price and performance. Conceived as a track car that remains usable on the road, the Valkyrie was co-developed with Red Bull Racing, but the list of technical partners doesn't end there: Cosworth had a hand in the 6.5-liter V12 engine's development, and Rimac supplied the hybrid battery system. This bold, collaborative effort has resulted in a car with a combined 1,140 horsepower at an astonishing 10,500 rpm and 663 lb-ft of torque. Like the Mercedes-AMG One, this is as close as it gets to a real F1 car while still being able to drive on public roads.

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There's no need to wait for the Aston Martin's release date as the Valkyrie has already arrived -at least, for those lucky enough to have snatched up the available build slots. The first customer car was completed late in 2021, but it's a slow process as each car takes more than 2,000 man hours to complete. In total, 150 Valkyrie models will be produced, all of which are already accounted for. The extreme Valkyrie AMR Pro is even more exclusive and is limited to only 40 units.

At a rumored $3 million to start with in the USA, the price of the 2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie is enough to make your eyes water. The AMR Pro costs even more at around $4.2 million, and lightly used examples are bound to cost even more - if you're even lucky enough to find one.

Rivals include the Mercedes-AMG One, a car that also incorporates F1 technology. It's priced close to the MSRP of the 2022 Valkyrie but has an entirely different hybrid powertrain featuring a 1.6-liter V6.

Sex appeal and Aston Martins typically go hand in hand, but the brief for the Valkyrie was different. It had to set new standards for the brand and hybrid hypercars alike, so form inevitably followed function. The Aston Martin Valkyrie's exterior is radical - its performance purpose is unmistakable, with an obvious focus on aerodynamics. And while it's not effortlessly beautiful in the way a DBS or Vanquish is, it has loads of presence.

Looking like a fighter jet for the road with its carbon-fiber bodywork, Aston Martin said it "stripped things back to the bare essentials," choosing to expose the engineering inherent in the design instead of hiding it behind unnecessary cladding. There are small headlights that draw inspiration from the simple functionality of F1 car components. There is no grille in front, just an almost entirely open intake area, which hints at the traditional Aston grille outline at the top. The doors open upwards, and Aston has made sure that the glasshouse promotes excellent forward and peripheral side-to-side visibility.

To aid aerodynamics, there are no traditional door mirrors; instead, rear-facing cameras are mounted in each of the car's flanks. The roof-mounted air intake eliminates a rear window. The dramatic rear aspect features high-mounted tailpipes and an open underfloor which you can easily peer through. Aston has chased maximum downforce in every possible way, and the openings between the cockpit and front wheel arches direct airflow accordingly.

Magnesium alloy wheels with center lock nuts measure 20 inches in front and 21 inches at the back. These are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The even more extreme AMR Pro gets wider bodywork, larger wing elements both front and rear, and a lighter polycarbonate windscreen.

British Racing Green is one of the Aston Martin Valkyrie colors available to customers, but Slipstream Green, Liquid Petroleum, Ethanol Silver, and Maximum Orange are options, too. With extensive customization potential - including extra carbon fiber, titanium accents, and more - it's unlikely that any of the limited numbers will look the same.

This rear-mid-engine hypercar is quite large, not that this is an issue when you have an entire track to yourself. Key Aston Martin Valkyrie dimensions include a length of 190 inches, a width of 76.8 inches, and a height of 66.1 inches. The AMR Pro has a wheelbase that is 14.96 inches longer than the standard version, and it boasts widened tracks. The front track is wider by 3.77 inches and the rear track by 4.5 inches. In body length, the AMR Pro is longer by 10.5 inches, courtesy of that aggressive aerodynamic package.

Whereas the AMR Pro was said to weigh just over 2,205 pounds when it was announced, the normal Valkyrie's weight isn't obvious. We know it will still be exceptionally light, however, with figures from 2,271 to 2,646 lbs quoted, depending on who you ask. The carbon fiber body, lightweight hybrid battery system from Rimac, and the elimination of an extra rear subframe all contribute to the car's light mass.

The 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 would have been a lot on its own, but the Aston Martin Valkyrie's engine is just one part of a much more complex puzzle. The KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) boost system is similar to what's used in F1 cars. Rimac stepped in to supply the hybrid battery system, while Integral Powertrain Ltd was responsible for the electric motor.

The powertrain's quoted specs have differed over the period of the car's development. Aston quoted a combined 1,160 hp initially, but that number has since dropped to 1,140 hp. Combined, the hybrid system promises 663 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps what's most astounding about the V12 is its ability to reach 11,100 rpm, with maximum power peaking at 10,500 rpm. Its piston speeds approach those of a modern F1 engine, too.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed Ricardo single-clutch automated manual transmission. The electric motor - located between the engine and gearbox - not only adds 160 hp on its own, but helps with the mechanical proficiency of the gearbox. A 0-60 time of well below three seconds and a top speed that is likely to exceed 200 mph sounds right, considering the car's power and weight.

The track-only AMR Pro has the same V12 but actually makes a bit less power at 1,000 hp. That's because it does without the battery-electric hybrid system. Aston says that the AMR Pro has been designed to lap the 8.5-mile 24H Le Mans circuit in just three minutes in 20 seconds, putting it alongside the best LMP1 cars.

The hybrid system in the new Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar has been designed to improve performance, not to increase range. It has a 40-kWh battery, but there aren't any mpg ratings or estimates available. Besides, no one buying a Valkyrie is overly concerned with fuel economy.

The interior of the Aston Martin Valkyrie doesn't look particularly spacious, but the automaker says that "two 98-percentile adults" can be comfortably accommodated inside, so unless you're LeBron James, you should be able to fit.

The seats of the Aston Martin Valkyrie are mounted directly to the tub in an effort to increase space. With a reclined, 'feet-up' seating position, sitting in the Valkyrie feels like being in an F1 or Le Mans race car. A four-point harness comes standard but a six-point harness is available. The interior has been kept as bare as possible; most switchgear is mounted on the steering wheel in an effort to reduce distractions for the driver. To improve ingress and egress, the steering wheel itself is detachable, a la Formula 1. Aston Martin claims that the "ritual" of getting in and out of the car over the high side sills has been enjoyable for customers, but it's probably not going to be easy for less dexterous individuals.

Besides the OLED display on the steering wheel, there are three more displays: one almost in the center of the dash and two at the base of each A-pillar. These two screens replace traditional rearview mirrors with visuals provided by rear-facing cameras.

Anyone asking about the Aston Martin Valkyrie's cargo space will have missed the point of this car entirely. Aston makes no mention of practicality at all, but if any car rewards packing lightly - or not packing anything at all besides, perhaps, a pair of racing gloves - it's this one.