<h2></h2>Aston Martin are developing the AM-RB 001 hybrid supercar with Red Bull Racing. While in development the car was called the ‘AM-RB 001’ (I know, catchy!) it was then briefly referred to as the ‘Nebula’ but Aston Martin finally settled on ‘Valkyrie’. You will also see it referred to as a hyper car which reflects the hybrid engine as well as the fact it is a racing car and road car. <h3>What Is It?</h3> This is a super lightweight racer based on a carbon fiber structure. 150 models are planned for the road and a further 25 (Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro) will be designed for the race track. This means the design will have to comply with all the relevant regulations for emissions and safety needed for a road car as well as the pushing the performance boundaries so it can be a competitive track racer. No small feat. <h3>Where Did The Valkyrie Come From</h3> Funnily enough, the car started as a virtual design for the iconic game Gran Turismo, the DP-100. Aston Martin took the design of their virtual car seriously and the basic design elements of the virtual car can be seen in their new road models; the DB11 and Vulcan. If you want to find out what makes the DB11 so different you can already get behind the wheel of one via a driving experience even though the model was only released last year. Much of the Valkyries performance and design are down to F1 legend Adrian Newey from Red Bull Racing. He wanted to make a road car and was working on designs from 2014. In tandem, Aston Martin had their own supercar concept and the two came together via Andy Palmer (CEO of Aston Martin). The AM-RB 001 is an important part of Aston Martins ‘Second Century Plan’. Many of the core technological and design advances used on this model will form the basis of their future mid-engine cars. <h3>Design Highlights</h3> The car is primarily a track car that is road legal so don’t expect a high-fi or boot! The car is super lightweight with al superfluous items stripped out. That is why there is no music system and don’t even ask about cup holders. Even the traditional Aston Martin badge was considered to be too heavy and it has been replaced by an Aluminum badge which is chemically etched and is apparently only 70 microns thick! The dashboard will probably look more like a game console than a car – lots of buttons on the steering wheel, several screens and not much else. The gullwing doors have small apertures so short skirts or arthritic people are not going to find getting in the car very easy.  However, once you are in there is room for a 6foot 4inch man and racing helmet – Serena Williams was in one at 6 months pregnant. God knows how she got in and out though. The cars undercarriage design gives it it’s aerodynamic advantage and also its unique styling. It also has no front grille which has a major impact on the design. <h3>Performance</h3> The target for the car was a 1:1 power to weight ratio but the final design actually surpasses this. The car still needs to undergo final design tweaks and safety testing but it will have a top speed of about 250mph. <h3>Where Can I Get One?</h3> The first cars should come off the production line in 2019. The road version of the car is going to retail about £2.5 million and each car will need to be ‘fitted’ to the owners as well as manufactured to their specific interior and exterior customizations. Even if you have just won the lottery don’t think you are going to be able to walk into a dealer and buy one. These special models are only ever offered to important and seriously rich people who have a strong connection with the manufacturer or are serious collectors. Even if you meet these criteria you are out of luck as and they have already sold out.