If the McLaren Senna is called the ultimate race car for the road, the Aston Martin Valkyrie should then be known as the ultimate Formula One (F1) car for the road since it will adopt an ultra-high-revving F1-derived naturally aspirated V12 engine that spins up to 11,100 revolutions per minute.
Aston Martin has just released more information about the Valkyrie’s powertrain, confirming that the 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 Cosworth petrol engine will be boosted by a battery hybrid system for increased performance and meeting strict emission standards. However, the internal combustion engine (ICE) on its own is a force to be reckoned with.
Aston Martin’s brief to Cosworth is “to create the ultimate expression of the internal combustion engine” and the result is a 6.5-litre V12 that develops 1,000 bhp (1,014 hp) at 10,500 rpm. Peak torque of 740 Nm arrives at 7,000 rpm and the engine will continue to build revs to 11,100 rpm, unheard of in a homologated road car. While the production version of the Valkyrie is still some time away, Aston Martin has graced us with a sound clip of the 6.5-litre V12:
To answer the question why Aston Martin has opted for a naturally aspirated V12 engine while its direct rival, the Mercedes-AMG Project One employs a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid that makes over a thousand horsepower, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer said: “To anyone with a drop of petrol in their blood, a high-revving naturally aspirated V12 is the absolute pinnacle. Nothing sounds better or encapsulates the emotion and excitement of the internal combustion engine more completely. Despite the apparently insurmountable challenges it presented, there was never any question that the Aston Martin Valkyrie would make do with anything less.”
Thank you, Dr. Palmer and Cosworth, for keeping the symphony of a naturally aspirated V12 going for many more years to come.
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Aston Martin Valkyrie 6.5L V12
Aston Martin Valkyrie
