Before we consider the Valkyrie, I came across this 2010 mock up of a road car (see above) designed by Adrian Newey and on display in the Red Bull Hanger-7 near Salzburg Airport. It’s not a real road car and only exists in the virtual word of the Play Station 3 game, Gran Turismo. It came about following this question from the Japanese games designer Kazunori Yamauchi,“If you built the fastest racing car on land, one that throws aside all rules and regulations, what would that car look like, how would it perform, and how would it feel to drive?” As the Valkyrie matches that description, is it a precursor to the most extreme Aston Martin in history? I don’t really know but its a possibility I suppose.
Combining the strongest elements of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Advanced Technologies, Aston Martin and project partner Switzerland based AF Racing AG, the new partnership unites the world’s best aerodynamicists, composite experts and manufacturing masters. Rather than trying to out-drag the Bugatti Chiron, the focus is on aerodynamics and building a car that will be quick around a circuit. AML CEO, Andy Palmer has stated that the new road car is intended to lap the Silverstone GP circuit in a time equal or less than either an F1 or LMP1 race car – this is about 1 minute, 37 seconds. All this from a two seater road car.
The concept was unveiled at the Gaydon factory in July 2016 in front of workers and members of the press. Not too many details were given but what we did find out was the price (between £2 and £3 million), numbers (at least 99 but no more than 150) and that the performance will be comparable to that of an LMP1 sports car. By the time of the unveiling, 370 people had requested to be on the list to own one of the cars.
Aston Martin have never built a production mid-engined car before although they came close back in 1980 with the unique, 200 mph, gull-winged two seat concept known as the Bulldog. Also another mid engined Aston Martin that never saw the light of day was the AM305M, the forerunner to the massively successful V8 Vantage.
Below is a selection of press images showing the full sized concept model
The photographs below show what I believe to be the same model but repainted in signature AMR colours, probably in advance of the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, to coincide with the launch of the AMR sub-brand. It was displayed during 2017 at both the opening event of the St Athan factory and the Gaydon factory family day.
Again at Gaydon but this time in the Atrium. A more developed full sized concept with a representation of the interior taken during 2018 and 2019.
