Thursday 16th November 2017

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro announced

The road car hasn't even been delivered yet, but the track Valkyrie is here already!

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Aston Martin's Valkyrie is set to redefine the performance car market when it arrives with the first lucky owners in 2019. It may be the pinnacle of modern motoring design, but there was always going to be something keeping it from reaching its full potential. So, despite still being over a year away from release, Gaydon has decided the time right to one up it already.

Because the standard one wasn't very extreme

To that end, Aston Martin has unveiled the Valkyrie AMR Pro, a car "freed from the constraints and considerations of road use." Developed in parallel with the street legal version, the Valkyrie AMR Pro will usurp its Vulcan based counterpart at the top of Aston's performance tree. And how!

Specific details are scarce, but we do know there'll be much larger front and rear wing elements for substantially increased downforce, as well as track focused revisions to the car's active aero. It'll be powered by the same 6.5-litre Cosworth-built V12 engine as the road car, but here it will develop more power and more torque - with exact figures yet to be released - thanks to a "significant engine recalibration" and the modification of the road car's emission control systems.

Smaller 18-inch wheels will allow for the fitment of Michelin racing tyres - made to the same spec as those used by LMP1 cars - while the AMR Pro will also feature Formula One inspired race-spec carbon brakes. Mr Newey's background coming to the fore in some pretty spectacular ways.

In order to save as much as possible from the existing car's already frugal 1,030kg kerbweight, the heater and infotainment screens have been shown the door, and several parts have been replaced with ultra-lightweight equivalents. The windscreen and side windows, for example, are now polycarbonate, the carbon fibre construction has been lightened, new suspension uprights and carbon fibre wishbones save further weight and moulded race seats replace the adjustable items from the road car. The exhaust has even been on a diet thanks to the decreased need for silencing.

This is your plain Jane version, OK?

All of this adds up to a top speed predicted to be close to 250mph. It's not just quick in a straight line though, the Valkyrie AMR Pro able to sustain cornering forces in excess of 3.3g and braking of more than 3.5g. In fact, following extensive simulation work, Red Bull reckons that the AMR Pro will be capable of lap times rivalling those of contemporary F1 and LMP1 cars. Let that sink in for a second.

In order to be able to safely handle and fully exploit that incredible performance, owners will be taken through an intensive driver development programme, including both simulator and on-track tuition and even physical fitness training. Once up to speed, customers will then have access to a series of dedicated track events held at some of the world's most prestigious circuits. Should be quite a spectacle!

We'll have a while to wait before we get to see that though, with delivery not scheduled till 2020. There's no word on pricing either; it's presumably an even greater amount than the £3 million charged for the road-going car, although - you guessed it - every single one is sold already anyway.

[sc0tt]

Marketing hype.