On January 15, 1913, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford joined forces to build the first Aston Martin. To mark 110 years of partnership, the Gaydon-based club are planning a year-long celebration. Of particular interest are the photos of the Valkyrie hypercar posing alongside the 1923 Razor Blade, one of the brand’s oldest racing cars. 2023 is being touted as a “monumental year”, with exciting cars coming in the next 12 months.
“A new, very limited and exclusive Aston Martin model” will be launched later this year. The British brand didn’t go into details about the vehicle, so it’s unclear whether the limited run model is based on the Valkyrie or something else. This could be an entirely different vehicle as AM is known for having an interest in low volume products like the Vulcan as well as one-off products like Victor.
In 2023, we will also see the first model parts of the next generation of sports cars, promising to “further enhance Aston Martin’s focus on ultra-luxury, high-performance and driving intensity.” Again, the identity of the model was not disclosed. It certainly isn’t the DBS 770 Ultimate debuting on January 18th as that model comes from the old guard. Realistically, the company is most likely referring to Valhalla.
Initially previewed in March 2019 with the AM-RB 003 concept, the Valhalla will initially have a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine. However, future production versions will use a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft. It will be a plug-in hybrid supercar with a combined output of just over 1,000 horsepower, good for 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h).
Aston Martin intends to build just 999 examples of the Valhalla, built around a full carbon fiber body to keep the dry weight to less than 1,550 kilograms (3,417 pounds). The combustion engine will spin up to 7200 rpm and produce more than 800 hp on its own, equipped with an electric motor with a power of over 200 hp.
As well as launching two cars, Aston Martin will celebrate its 110th yearth anniversary during the 2023 F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. In addition, the company is also planning something special for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and other important events held in countries where the company has a strong customer base.
As a final note, Aston Martin has sold more than 110,000 cars in the 110 years that have passed since its founding.
