We're barely recovering from the release of the stunning Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar, and the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro, and the company is already building a drop-top Spider version to display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Aston says it will build 85 examples of the new vehicle, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the second half of 2022.
The Valkyrie Spider uses the same 6.5-liter V12 hybrid powertrain as the coupe making 1,139 hp (SAE) and 664 lb-ft of torque. Its battery pack can drive all of the car's various sub-systems and provide power boost and energy recovery. It even has a KERS-style boost system akin to those fitted to Aston Martin's F1 cars. Aston says there's only a marginal weight difference and top speed is 205 mph with the top off and 217 mph with it on.
When you turn a coupe into a convertible, there are a bunch of things a manufacturer has to do to stiffen the chassis, make the aerodynamics work, and make the top easy to install and remove. Aston continued to use Red Bull Advanced Technologies for the changes, the same outfit also worked on the original car. It made revisions to the carbon fiber structure, recalibrated the aerodynamics and the attached active chassis system.
Instead of gullwing-style doors, the Spider gets new dihedral doors that tilt forward. The low-slung driving position remains with six-point safety harnesses for both occupants. The removable roof comprises a carbon fiber center panel, latched onto the tub at the rear and the windshield at the front. It also features two polycarbonate window roof panels, all of which can be stowed away at home.
"The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the product of incredible innovation and technology, but above all it has always been about emotion. With the Valkyrie Spider we are taking that passion and emotion to the next level. The driving experience promises to be truly sensational," said Aston CEO Tobias Moers. "The sound of that 6.5-litre V12 engine revving to over 11,000rpm with the roof removed is something I cannot wait to hear."
We don't have a price yet, but the Valkyrie coupe costs $3.25 million. We expect this to be a little more expensive than that. While the coupe will be produced in a 150-strong production run, the Valkyrie Spider will only have 85 units made, and all of which are already sold.
"Right from the very beginning of the Aston Martin Valkyrie project we were driven by exacting targets that went way beyond any previous road car and the Valkyrie Spider brings that same ethos to the open cockpit hypercar category. What you see is a simple removable roof panel, but the challenge of remaining true to the Valkyrie concept was anything but. Maintaining aerodynamic performance with the roof removed was of paramount importance, likewise keeping any unavoidable weight gains to an absolute minimum whilst maximising enjoyment for the driver," said Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey.