Aston Martin Valkyrie’s V12 Sounds Wild

The Aston Martin Valkyrie’s V12 is the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated engine. Tailored by well-known engineering specialist Cosworth, the 6.5-liter V12 is capable of making 1,000hp at 10,500 rpm. The engine continues to spin until it reaches an impressive 11,100rpm.

It’s a frightening monster, which has been tested all the way through a virtual lap of Silverstone on the dyno. Its screams really sound like pure wickedness. More than that, it spins up so fast as it performs though its Ricardo-designed single-clutch gearbox.

The V12 unit feels as if it seeks to remind us of the wonderful mid-90s time of V12 F1 machines. It’s not surprising, since the artistic force responsible for the Valkyrie and its powertrain is none other than Red Bull Racing’s star engineer, Adrian Newey.

For Adrian, the Valkyrie project is so special. He and Red Bull initially asked Cosworth for a 6-liter V12 making 950bhp, which would have been easier to build by going the turbocharged route, whose company’s past index consists of memorable engines like the YB used in the Ford Escort Cosworth and Sierra.

Yes, they’re fine machines, but they lose some sound excellence. Packaging is also a problem here. So in the end, the choice fell on a naturally aspirated V12, because the main goal is an outstanding driving experience.

The 6.5-liter V12 may look big, but it actually weighs only 454 lbs. It achieves 1,000hp at a shrieking 10,500 rpm and 740 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. In addition, the Cosworth heart generates 153.8hp per liter. And its mate will be a plug-in hybrid system that is ready to help deliver an even higher combined output.

Regrettably for any of American reader ready to break his bank account for the ultimate hypercar thrill, the Valkyrie won’t be available in the US. It won’t be officially arriving, at least. Even though word has spread that each the (already-pre-sold) 150 examples costs $3.2 million, the prices assumed for the US were considered too high.