Beyond Valhalla
2023 ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE
RICHARD MEADEN
NOT SINCE THE outlandish Bulldog has Aston Martin even attempted a mid-engined supercar. While the outrageous '70s wedge remained an underdeveloped one-off oddity, the £2.5m Valkyrie's 150-car production run was sold out long before its fraught, seven-year development collaboration between Aston Martin, Adrian Newey and Red Bull was completed. It's easy to see why: this is a spectacular machine.
Newey's influence can be seen in every functional detail. More than any production car before it, the Valkyrie has been shaped by the uncompromising pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency specifically, colossal downforce with minimal drag. Aston's design team was allowed to finesse the surfaces but only if the aesthetic enhancements came without functional penalty.
At the Valkyrie's heart is a Cosworth-developed 6.5-litre V12 supplemented by a Rimacdeveloped battery hybrid and KERS system. Together they deliver 1139bhp at 10,500rpm, which is directed to the rear axle only via a seven-speed singleclutch sequential paddleshift transmission built by Ricardo. Top speed is limited to 220mph.
The chassis and body are carbonfibre (the former made by Multimatic), while the active suspension system employs a combination of conventional springs and dampers plus lateral torsion bars controlled by a powerful hydraulic system. It's these torsion bars that actively control body roll, squat and dive to maintain a consistent ride height and combat the compressing action of downforce.
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness
