OVERDRIVE: Other interesting cars we've been driving

Other interesting cars driven by Octane staff and contributors

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.