Aston Martin Valkyrie status
Discussion
I think Red Bull Racing Advanced Tecnologies are the dominant partner in the project.
The testing phase seems to be taking longer than expected.
Seem to recall that it was originally announced as 1,000 bhp and 1,000 kg weight ( ie the magic One to One. )
As most of us probably know, keeping weight down is not always easy.
I did spot one other recent news comment, leerandle.
Red Bull talking about their sponsorship and include a mention of the Valkyrie.
While Red Bull is hoping to add fresh sponsors to its portfolio in 2021, team boss Christian Horner has made it clear that it is not expected to land a fresh title sponsor just yet.
"We don't have a title sponsor replacing Aston Martin for next year," he said. "We will have new sponsors that we introduce into next year. Aston Martin obviously won't be on our car. We've enjoyed four years [in total], three years as title and four years with them on the car. We've helped to push the brand, and we've obviously enjoyed a great relationship with Valkyrie.
Although the sponsorship deal is ending, Red Bull will continue work on the Valkyrie project, with deliveries of the car expected in 2021."
Horner added: "The car is running, and we are doing all the testing. Of course the relationship goes until all the cars are completed through Red Bull Advanced Technologies."
I was given some information, by a person who was actually working on the project.
Obviously not courteous to pass on details, but imagine trying to turn an extreme race car, into something reasonably acceptable and comfortable for road driving, especially when attempting not to increase the weight.
Don't want any tooth fillings falling out!
AML did say at the outset, that the Valkyrie will be a 'halo' project, used to showcase AML's mid-engine expertise, to potential buyers of future models, eg. Vanquish. Important when new to the mid-engine market.
I first tried to find the main Valkyrie topic, but will post on this one.
Update on the Valkyrie AMR Pro.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/aston-martin-re...
oilit said:
Neil1300r said:
I'm sure I read somewhere that it was now going to be a track only car. But tried Google and can't see anything confirming it
Fingers crossed that its not the AM equivalent of the XJ220I have done a bit of research lately on the Valkyrie for an update piece on Aston Martin. Here's the section on the Valkyrie:
Moving onto the Valkyrie. If Aston Martin finally delivers a customer Valkyrie before the end of the year, it will have taken Aston longer to develop this car than it took Henry VIII to go through 4 wives or the Allies to defeat Germany in WW2. Both Moers & Stroll are on record as having promised the first deliveries will happen before the end of 2021, though Aston Martin also said the same for deliveries last year. From what I have gathered from a few different sources, that is likely to happen. These sources also indicated that given the massive problems Aston has had trying to get the electronics to work in the road cars, it’s now the track cars that are being prioritized as they will be built without the sophisticated electronics & hybrid system. Apparently, Aston has had major challenges getting the Valkyrie road car mules to run for more than 20 minutes at a time with the longest run being around 45 minutes so far. On a more positive note, I have heard that the Valkyrie is by far the quickest car (road or track) a few of the drivers have ever experienced. How many owners will be able to drive the track cars anywhere near the limit without the sophisticated electronics systems will be interesting to see.
In terms of the track Valkyries, Aston has outsourced the development & production of the car to Mulitmatic (Multimatic also built the latest Ford GT) with instructions to get it done as quickly (and if the rumors about Stroll’s instructions are true, as cheaply) as possible. Multimatic will also likely be doing the final development and most of the production on the road Valkyries with final assembly planned at Aston Martin’s Graydon facility. Continual failed crash tests by Multimatic have not helped speed development along, and its believed they are struggling. Last I heard, neither Valkyrie variant had passed crash tests yet. In addition, Aston has only bought 30-40 of the Valkyrie’s Cosworth V12s to date so the actual number of cars that can be produced right now is fairly limited. Needless to say, the relationship between Aston Martin & Red Bull (way back in the middle of the last decade, the Valkyrie was originally conceived as a joint project with Red Bull’s Adrian Newey as the chief designer) has turned bitter and toxic. Red Bull has not been involved at all since the end of last year. How this is going to end is anyone’s guess but I’m sure there will be plenty of finger pointing. Neither Stoll nor Moers have any “ownership” of the project and seem to view it as an unwelcome stepchild that they just can’t wait to get out of the house. Just to make it even more interesting, apparently there is no love lost between Moers and Multimatic. This might have something to do with Moers’ experience in his prior job on the almost equally delayed Mercedes AMG One, which Multimatic was also working on.
The recent lawsuit Aston Martin filed against the Swiss company Nebula, is quite interesting. Nebula had helped to finance the development of the Valkyrie and sign-up customers in return for future royalties. Aston is claiming Nebula withheld customer deposits on the Valkyrie and is writing down £15 million against 2021 earnings as a result. This would be roughly equivalent to the deposits on 30 Valkyries. Nebula is claiming that it has done nothing wrong. Needless to say, this has the potential to get very messy and drag out over an extended period. What is clear is Aston Martin wants out of the royalty agreement. From a purely business perspective, Aston is taking the risk that the cost of litigation and potential settlement will cost less in the long run than the royalty payments.
It is also possible Moers could be warming up shareholders for a much bigger hit, given there is potentially more ugly news to surface with the Nebula dispute. That figure could easily be in the £50 million plus range, given that more deposit holders have also been refunded recently. In addition, you have the Valhalla depositors who have been requesting refunds as that project has gone badly off the rails. Based on Moers recent statements, if the Valhalla ever does see the light of day, it will be a far cry from what was originally presented. All this will likely put increasing strain on the Stroll – Mercedes relationship.
SSO said:
It went up the hill beautifully yesterday.
I am not complaining, but is that exhaust really road legal. Hearing what sounded like a previous generation F1 engine in the High Street will be glorious, but the 'do gooder mob' will soon be complaining. Statues will be toppled.
Jon39 said:
It went up the hill beautifully yesterday.
I am not complaining, but is that exhaust really road legal. Hearing what sounded like a previous generation F1 engine in the High Street will be glorious, but the 'do gooder mob' will soon be complaining. Statues will be toppled.
super7 said:
No it didnt….. conked out closing the hill last night as well….!!!!
If not last night, then it went OK sometime yesterday.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=niA1hP6Hiak
Starts 1:55.
Jon39 said:
Jon39 said:
It went up the hill beautifully yesterday.
I am not complaining, but is that exhaust really road legal. Hearing what sounded like a previous generation F1 engine in the High Street will be glorious, but the 'do gooder mob' will soon be complaining. Statues will be toppled.
super7 said:
No it didnt….. conked out closing the hill last night as well….!!!!
If not last night, then it went OK sometime yesterday.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=niA1hP6Hiak
Starts 1:55.
Had a good nosey around it at the FoS yesterday. Everyone loved the throttle-blipping in the paddock, many times that was done, but yes the run up the hill was a great disappointment! I was chatting to one of the techs in the paddock later who said it was the high voltage electronics that had caused the car to go into limp mode. And it is road legal, according to him.
Having had a look a the seating position in the car, the cabin is tiny and it's all open for air-flow under the nose and the first quarter of the car, the tub wraps right under the the driver, and is minimised for the people in the car. The driver sits F1 (ish!) style with feet up at tummy level although seat back is more upright than F1. Wafer-thin racing seat and harness, and the passenger gets one even tinier Comfort for the road? Makes my Caterham Series III with racing seats seem like a Bentley... well, sort of.
Lots and lots of Astons at the FoS, F1 medical and pace etc, all looking good (still not sure of DBX in Aston Green!) and no other AMs seeming to have any problems. I have to say white does suit the new Vantage IMHO. One of the main stream cars breaking down would have been even worse than their 'in development' hypercar.
In contrast to Lotus who were sponsoring and the 'Lotus moment' was just two cars, some fireworks and big flags behind a virtual experience structural sculpture that drew scorn from the structural engineers I was with, illustrated as the tension cables at the end were loose and dangly. Excused as the organisers put on a great event yet again, in difficult circumstances to say the least.
Having had a look a the seating position in the car, the cabin is tiny and it's all open for air-flow under the nose and the first quarter of the car, the tub wraps right under the the driver, and is minimised for the people in the car. The driver sits F1 (ish!) style with feet up at tummy level although seat back is more upright than F1. Wafer-thin racing seat and harness, and the passenger gets one even tinier Comfort for the road? Makes my Caterham Series III with racing seats seem like a Bentley... well, sort of.
Lots and lots of Astons at the FoS, F1 medical and pace etc, all looking good (still not sure of DBX in Aston Green!) and no other AMs seeming to have any problems. I have to say white does suit the new Vantage IMHO. One of the main stream cars breaking down would have been even worse than their 'in development' hypercar.
In contrast to Lotus who were sponsoring and the 'Lotus moment' was just two cars, some fireworks and big flags behind a virtual experience structural sculpture that drew scorn from the structural engineers I was with, illustrated as the tension cables at the end were loose and dangly. Excused as the organisers put on a great event yet again, in difficult circumstances to say the least.
Thanks for the write up, I've been glued to the stream since Thursday so it's nice to hear what's happening on the ground. The V12 Speedster is stunning, and I am coming around to the new shape Vantage... slowly (I wouldn't say no, probably).
The Lotus installation does seem a bit of a folly, but with the Emira I'll forgive them. Up there with the Yaris GR as the two cars that I absolutely, positively do not need, but really, really want. Refundable deposits an option for both...
The Lotus installation does seem a bit of a folly, but with the Emira I'll forgive them. Up there with the Yaris GR as the two cars that I absolutely, positively do not need, but really, really want. Refundable deposits an option for both...
vernierMike said:
.... In contrast to Lotus who were sponsoring and the 'Lotus moment' was just two cars, some fireworks and big flags behind a virtual experience structural sculpture ....
Thanks for your post Mike. Glad you enjoyed the day. You chose the right day. Very wet at times there today.
Lotus seem to suddenly be on the verge of being much more successful.
Only two cars, but future models, not their models which we seem to have been familiar with for so many years.
Evita - 2,000 bhp electric car - wow!
Emira - Praise from all round and it sounds as though orders are flowing in strongly. AP used to say that about new models, but this time, it is the excited customers doing the talking. A very attractive looking car, which is so often the hook for buyers.
I have no affiliation with Lotus, but so good to see such a famous British marque about to enjoy better times. Their UK sales numbers have been very low for some time, but should now show quite a jump when the Emira production begins.
Agreed, both! The Emira is a stunning car, in many ways, as the long queue at the Lotus stand evidenced, at least in the sunshine! It's a strong move and looks a million dollars for the price; it and Lotus deserve to do really well.
I suppose my thoughts were really about the respective brands' presence at the Festival, as two sponsors. The Festival looks back at past glories and follies too (who doesn't love that flame-throwing nutter. the 28 litre 100 year old Fiat Beast of Turin?), celebrates today and looks forward to tomorrow. Both these epic brands play well into that framework and I really am hoping for a long future with both playing to their strengths.
And what is it with the Yaris GR? I saw the WRC version at Cadwell Park (just in the car park!) and it looked absolutely great!
I suppose my thoughts were really about the respective brands' presence at the Festival, as two sponsors. The Festival looks back at past glories and follies too (who doesn't love that flame-throwing nutter. the 28 litre 100 year old Fiat Beast of Turin?), celebrates today and looks forward to tomorrow. Both these epic brands play well into that framework and I really am hoping for a long future with both playing to their strengths.
And what is it with the Yaris GR? I saw the WRC version at Cadwell Park (just in the car park!) and it looked absolutely great!
vernierMike said:
Agreed, both! The Emira is a stunning car, in many ways, as the long queue at the Lotus stand evidenced, at least in the sunshine! It's a strong move and looks a million dollars for the price; it and Lotus deserve to do really well.
That Emira is stunning and at £60k they will sell thousands! Great to see the brand on the rise again 
This is a problem AM now face. The longer it takes for them to make meaningful updates to their current sports car range, the more leakage they will find to other brands that are or will offer a superior product.
The new Lotus Emira uses a Toyota engine yet this impressively hasn't dissuaded buyers in the slightest. Nor has the unremarkable 0-60. It sounds like it should and the brilliant design clearly resonates with their market. From this single vehicle Lotus will enter a new era and will undoubtedly do superbly.
The new Lotus Emira uses a Toyota engine yet this impressively hasn't dissuaded buyers in the slightest. Nor has the unremarkable 0-60. It sounds like it should and the brilliant design clearly resonates with their market. From this single vehicle Lotus will enter a new era and will undoubtedly do superbly.
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