Aston Martin Valkyrie
A track-oriented road car conceived by Adrian Newey and built by Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing.
Last updated
via Wikipedia: Aston Martin Valhalla · see source
The Aston Martin Valkyrie, originally code-named Nebula and later AM-RB 001, is a limited-production hybrid sports car. It was built through a collaboration between Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing Advanced Technologies, and other firms, with the goal of creating a track-focused car that remains fully usable and enjoyable on public roads. The project was conceived by Adrian Newey, Andy Palmer, Christian Horner, and Simon Sproule. Newey, then Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer, played a direct role in the car’s design.
The codename Nebula stood for Newey, Red Bull, and Aston Martin Lagonda. The final codename, AM-RB 001, reflected the partnership between Aston Martin (AM) and Red Bull (RB), with “001” likely marking their first joint production car. In March 2017, Aston Martin announced the production name Valkyrie, taken from Norse mythology.
Design
Red Bull explained that the name continued Aston Martin’s tradition of “V” nomenclature for high-performance models. The related Aston Martin Valhalla, nicknamed “Son of Valkyrie,” also draws its name from the mythological location Valhalla. Most specifications were revealed in February 2017, with final details later that year. Numerous manufacturers contributed to the Valkyrie’s construction, including Cosworth, Ricardo, Rimac Automobili, Multimatic, Alcon, Integral Powertrain Ltd, Bosch, Surface Transforms, Wipac, HPL Prototypes, 3T Additive Manufacturing Polymers Ltd (Prototal UK), Martins Rubber Company, and Michelin.
Exterior features
A show car was initially unveiled to give the public an idea of the design, which was nearly production-ready. The exterior is highly aerodynamic, featuring an extensively open underfloor that uses Bernoulli and Venturi principles for ground effect, generating up to 18 kN (1,800 kgf) of downforce at high speed. Gaps on the car’s top—above the front axle and roof intake—along with a large front splitter, help produce downforce.
The wheels are designed to manage airflow while minimizing weight. Red Bull Advanced Technologies handled the aerodynamic profile, while Aston Martin, led by Miles Nurnberger, oversaw much of the exterior design. According to Adrian Newey, the green painted surfaces on the model represent Aston Martin’s work, while the black surfaces—canopy, rear wing, and everything below the waistline—are Red Bull’s. The interior was leaked online on 20 June 2017.
Lore & Background
The original codename was Nebula, an acronym for Newey, Red Bull and Aston Martin Lagonda. The name AM-RB 001 was chosen as the final codename. In March 2017, Aston Martin revealed that the car would be named Valkyrie, after the Norse mythological figures. The name was chosen to continue the tradition of 'V' nomenclature of Aston Martin's automobiles.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
- Some believe the Valhalla was always planned with a Mercedes-AMG V8 engine. In fact, the initial concept featured an in-house 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6, and the switch to the Mercedes-AMG M178 LS2 V8 occurred with the production version in July 2021.
- It is commonly assumed that the Valhalla ranks above the Valkyrie as Aston Martin’s flagship. Actually, the Valhalla is meant to sit below the Valkyrie and is intended to be more usable as an everyday car.
- The car’s FlexFoil rear wing is sometimes misunderstood as a moving wing that changes angle. The concept’s wing could change downforce without changing its angle of attack, and was integrated into the bodywork to generate no drag or aerodynamic turbulence.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
The Aston Martin Valhalla matters because it represents a rare convergence of Formula 1 engineering and road-legal usability, blending Red Bull Racing’s aerodynamic expertise with Aston Martin’s grand-touring heritage. Its dramatic mid-life pivot from an in-house V6 to a Mercedes-AMG V8 hybrid powertrain also illustrates how modern hypercars must adapt to performance targets and production realities, ensuring the model endures as a landmark of collaborative ambition in the early 2020s.
Did You Know?
- The Valkyrie's engine is the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine ever fitted to a production road car.
- The car's exhausts exit at the top, similar to Formula One cars and the Porsche 918 Spyder.
- Each seat is designed specifically for the owner's body shape through 3D scanning.
- Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer announced a policy that owners who 'flip' the car would not be able to buy further special edition models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who built the Aston Martin Valkyrie?
It is a joint project between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing's advanced-technology division, with additional partners contributing to development. The car was conceived by a team that included Adrian Newey, Andy Palmer, Christian Horner, and Simon Sproule.
How many Valkyrie cars were made?
A total of 275 units rolled off the line between November 2021 and December 2024. The split is 150 coupés, 85 open-top Spiders, and 40 track-focused AMR Pro versions.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Aston Martin Valkyrie (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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