Aston Martin Valkyrie 'within sight' of F1 speeds

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Aston Martin's upcoming Valkyrie is "definitely within sight" of speeds that could rival an F1 car.

Speaking to Motor1, head of special operations David King revealed the track variant is already "approaching Formula 1 lap times" on "conventional race tracks" during tests on the company's simulator.

While the road-going Valkyrie will have "a little bit more weight" and "ride a little bit higher", it will still be "extraordinarily fast on a track in the right hands".

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However, there are no plans to pursue a lap record around the iconic 12.9-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit, despite several carmakers chasing the record to demonstrate their on-track capabilities, says King.

Ruling out "any particular lap records at this stage", he added: "You make a lot of radical adjustments to come to the Nordschleife with how high the car has to ride for the bumps."

The Valkyrie is set to become one of the fastest road cars ever, with Aston Martin partnering with the Red Bull Racing F1 team to develop the vehicle.

According to Road&Track, it will be powered by a 986bhp naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine paired to a 128bhp kinetic energy recovery system (kers) similar to an F1 car.

There's no word on how the kers will work, but the majority of these systems generate battery power by harvesting braking energy. These batteries can then be used for either an automatic or manual performance boost.

Only 150 road-going and 25 track-only Valkyrie's will reach production next year, with Evo reporting a price tag "between £2-3m".

Aston Martin Valkyrie will have 'around 1114bhp'

23 June

Aston Martin is keeping tightlipped over the performance specs of its upcoming Valkyrie, but a report from Road & Track claims the hypercar will have "around 1,130hp [1,114bhp]".

In addition, sources "deeply familiar with the car", which is being co-developed by the Red Bull Racing F1 team, say it will feature a 986bhp 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine and a 128bhp F1-style kinetic energy recovery system (Kers).

There's no word on how that will work, but conventional Kers devices recover braking energy and turn it into battery power that can be deployed by the driver for a speed boost.

The collaboration between the British carmaker and the Austrian-backed F1 team has managed to get the Valkyrie's weight down to 2,270lbs, adds Road & Track, meaning the Valkyrie weighs around 60lbs less than the lightweight Mazda MX-5 sports car.

Meanwhile, leaked video footage of the car's interior this week revealed it will have three monitors: one in front of the driver, another at the top of the centre console, and a screen in front of the passenger.

These could be used to relay "live information" on the "powertrain and chassis control systems", says Autocar, "as well as make adjustments while on the move".

Only 150 examples of the £2m Valkyrie are expected to reach production, says Motor1, making it more exclusive than the Porsche 918 Spyder, LaFerrari and McLaren P1.

Deliveries "are scheduled to commence in 2019", but the car is expected to appear in production-ready form before then, with Aston Martin rumoured to be taking an example to the Le Mans 24h next year.

There will also be 25 track-only examples, boasting "an even more advanced aero pack with a massive rear wing and a beefy front splitter".

Aston Martin Valkyrie's high-tech cabin leaked

20 June

Images of Aston Martin's upcoming Valkyrie hypercar have been revealed through leaked video footage - and it looks as if the car will feature a high-tech cabin.

According to the film, the hypercar is fitted with three screens: one fixed to the steering wheel, one at the top of the centre console and the other located on the dashboard in front of the passenger.

All three appear to be directed towards the driver, suggesting they "drivers will be able to access live information for the car's powertrain and chassis control systems", Autocar says.

There's also a host of switches and dials on the steering wheel similar to the British carmaker's other hypercar, the front-engined Vulcan.

The video provides the first glimpse into the Valkyrie, which has so far only appeared in concept form with its window's completely blacked out.

It is the most expensive Aston Martin available after the company teamed up with Red Bull Racing's F1 team to design a vehicle faster around a circuit than a Formula 1 car.

F1 designer Adrian Newey was tasked with creating the aerodynamics, says AutoExpress, while Aston Martin will add its signature styling touches to the bodywork.

Unlike an F1 car, which is restricted by aerodynamic regulations for competitive racing, the Valkyrie's design will only be limited to safety regulations, allowing Newey to create a design that produces "huge amounts of downforce" for better high-speed grip.

It'll be powered by a 900bhp 6.5-litre V12 engine developed by Cosworth, a former independent engine supplier in F1.

Prices for the Valkyrie have yet to be announced, but Evo expects it to cost around £2-3m.