When Aston Martin took the cover off the Valkyrie in 2017, we thought it was pretty wild. Now after more than a year in development, we’re getting our first taste of its singing voice.
So just how does it sound? Absolutely savage.
The source of this incredible sound is a 6.5-liter V12 engine from a very British source – Cosworth. In a recent interview with Top Gear, the Valkyrie’s designer Adrian Newey also said it’s loosely based on the CA2010 Formula 1 engine.
This 2.4-liter V8 engine powered cars from Williams, Lotus, HRT, and Virgin during the 2010 season. It also found its way into the 1,000 mph Bloodhound SSC – at least for a time.
Just how a 2.4-liter V8 morphs into a 6.5-liter V12 is still a bit unclear. But when something sounds that good, is the “how” really important? Probably not.
Unfortunately, Newey didn’t disclose the horsepower for the Valkyrie. However, he did tell Top Gear it will bypass the 1kg to 1hp ratio. With a weight goal of 1,000kg, it’s sure to pack quite the punch.
Cosworth did give us a bit of insight into the horsepower though. In a recent Tweet (now deleted), it suggests that the V12 will turn out a whopping 1,130hp. If true, this would make it the most powerful naturally aspirated engine fitted to a road car.
The 1,130hp figure is only part of the Valkyrie’s powertrain, however. In addition to the screaming V12, it will also get an electric motor as well. This could further boost the power by another 200 ponies.
Altogether we could see the Valkyrie putting down 1,300 horses or more. Couple that with its lightness and extreme aero package and track records are in danger.
These numbers also leave us wondering about the AMR Pro. When the track-focused Valkyrie dropped in Geneva, we found out it had a 1,100hp on taps. With the Tweet from Cosworth, we assume it’s getting a bit of a power boost as well.
There are undoubtedly still more surprises lurking with the Valkyrie. We will just need to wait until its release sometime next year to see what they are.
In the meantime, turn up your speakers and give this a listen:
The sound of “THE” GREAT British car company! Thank you @Cosworth @redbullracing #AstonMartinValkyrie #NaturallyAspirated#V12 pic.twitter.com/HmEICj29uH
— Dr. Andy Palmer (@AndyatAuto) October 3, 2018
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