The hypercar being co-developed by Aston Martin and Red Bull, formerly identified by its codename AM-RB 001, has now been officially named the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

The name continues a tradition of Aston Martin ‘V’ cars which began in 1951 with Vantage, which was selected as a name to distinguish high performance variants of the then current model, the DB2. With 125bhp versus 105bhp for the standard engine, the Vantage represented a significant increase in performance. The first time the Vantage badge appeared was on the side of the DB5.

Vantage remained a name reserved for the most potent model derivatives until 2005, when it became a model line in its own right. Twelve years later the family of V8 and V12-powered models has made the Vantage the most successful model in Aston Martin’s history.

Virage, Vanquish and Vulcan - Aston Martin’s very own God of fire - are more recent ‘V’ cars and now, seven decades after the Vantage name started it all, the Valkyrie continues the tradition.

For Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, Valkyrie perfectly captures the drama of what is not only the ultimate Aston Martin, but the ultimate expression of hypercar design, engineering and performance: “Aston Martin model names have deep meaning. They need to inspire and excite. To tell a story and enrich a narrative that stretches back some 104-years. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is an incredibly special car that demands an equally remarkable name; an uncompromising car that leaves nothing in reserve. The connotations of power and honour, of being chosen by the Gods are so evocative, and so pertinent to a car that only a fortunate few will ever experience.”  

While its name is rooted in ancient Norse mythology, the Valkyrie is a thoroughly modern machine, combining the knowhow of Aston Martin, Red Bull Advanced Technologies, project partner AF Racing and some of the world’s leading technology partners.