[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/supercars\/secrets-behind-aston-martin-valkyrie\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/supercars\/secrets-behind-aston-martin-valkyrie\/","headline":"Secrets behind the Aston Martin Valkyrie","name":"Secrets behind the Aston Martin Valkyrie","description":"It\u2019s been close to 12 months to the day since we told you about an outrageous new hypercar produced in collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull. The AM-RB 001 was jaw-dropping in so many ways. It looked amazing with quintessential hypercar lines and a power output of around 900bhp to justify its ballsy appearance. Weighing little under a ton, it boasted a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio, which means it goes like absolute lightning. You can read more on the car […]","datePublished":"2017-07-17","dateModified":"2018-12-05","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Aston-Martin-Valkyrie-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Aston-Martin-Valkyrie-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/supercars\/secrets-behind-aston-martin-valkyrie\/","about":["ASTON MARTIN","PERFORMANCE CARS","SUPERCARS"],"wordCount":489,"keywords":["aston martin","Aston Martin Valkyrie","hypercar","Red Bull Racing","supercar","Valkyrie"],"articleBody":"It\u2019s been close to 12 months to the day since we told you about an outrageous new hypercar produced in collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull.The AM-RB 001 was jaw-dropping in so many ways. It looked amazing with quintessential hypercar lines and a power output of around 900bhp to justify its ballsy appearance.Weighing little under a ton, it boasted a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio, which means it goes like absolute lightning.You can read more on the car as it broke in 2016 here, but Aston Martin has now revealed some of the design secrets that shaped the car that was eventually renamed Valkyrie.Downforce plays a massive part in the Valkyrie\u2019s awesomeness and its extraordinary levels of stick comes from the teardrop-shaped cockpit\u2019s upper body surfaces and lower tub contours, which draw buckets upon buckets of air beneath the car to feed the rear diffuser.Hypercars aren\u2019t renowned for their spaciousness but interior space benefitted from the seats being mounted directly to the tub, with occupants adopting an F1-style \u2018feet-up\u2019 position to make the driver feel \u2018at one\u2019 with the car. Surprisingly, this seating position actually serves to improve safety too.Wing mirrors create drag and on a hypercar that\u2019s the last thing you want. Consequently, traditional door mirrors were ripped off and smashed on the design room floor, only to be replaced by discreetly mounted rear-facing cameras in each of the Valkyrie\u2019s flanks.Footage from these cameras is fed into two displays sat at the base of either A-pillar, mimicking the view provided by conventional door mirrors.As well doing away with any unwanted aerodynamic disturbance, this unorthodox approach to door mirrors also avoided any stylistic clutter.There\u2019s no rearview mirror either, but that\u2019s more down to the all-enveloping bodywork and roof-mounted engine air intake killing off any potential space for a rear window.Aston Martin\u2019s creative director of interiors Matt Hill said making the Valkyrie\u2019s cockpit design work had been \u201ca tremendous challenge\u201d.\u201cWe\u2019ve embraced Red Bull Racing\u2019s Formula One ethos and approached from a different angle than conventional road car design,\u201d commented Mr Hill.\u201cIn this instance, we\u2019ve started from a position where you think something is impossible and work at it until you find a way to make it work. We\u2019ve been fighting for millimetres everywhere, but the battle has been worth it, as it\u2019s been fantastic seeing customers try the interior buck for size.\u201cThey love the ritual of getting in and how it feels to be sat behind the wheel. They\u2019re also genuinely surprised at how the car just seems to swallow them. You really do have to sit in it to believe there is genuine space for two large adults.\u201dThe Valkyrie is due to go into production in 2018 ahead of going on sale the year after, with a price tag expected to be \u00a32-3 million."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Supercars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/supercars\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Secrets behind the Aston Martin Valkyrie","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/supercars\/secrets-behind-aston-martin-valkyrie\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]