Aston's 'son of Valkyrie' revealed

We look at the new £1 million 003 to be revealed by Aston Martin

Mark Tisshaw

by Mark Tisshaw

5 March 2019

Follow @mtisshaw

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“If Valkyrie is the best of the best, then the 003 is the best at £1m”, Reichman said of Project 003, a new hypercar Aston will launch in late 2021.

The new model is the second to be co-developed between Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies in Milton Keynes, and will bridge the sizable gap in Aston’s fast-growing range of mid-engined models between the Valkyrie and the production Vanquish.
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Performance

Project 003’s performance and positioning – likely more than 1000bhp and the kind of performance that would threaten the Nurburgring lap record – would place it alongside next-generation versions of the likes of the McLaren P1, LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder, should this trio, which launched in 2013, have been replaced by the time it launches.
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New powertrain

The model will use Aston’s new twin-turbo V6 engine mated to a hybrid system, and the car will be built around a carbonfibre architecture and using carbonfibre bodywork. “It will have the same principles as the Valkyrie with its all carbonfibre tub but will be more usable,” said Reichman.
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Concept to reality

The Geneva concept car is 90% representative of the final production model, according to Aston’s design chief.
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Valkyrie and Vanquish are close relations

Aston boss Andy Palmer calls it “the bridge” in the world of mid-engined Aston Martins. “The aerodynamics and tub construction filter down from the Valkyrie to this, and then the new V6 powertrain will go down to the Vanquish,” he said.
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Aston are confident

“The Valkyrie is the fastest production car ever and now we’ve created a son of it that’s a halo car above everyone else’s range, like the P1, LaFerrari, and [McLaren] Senna.”
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It shares a lot with the Valkyrie

There is further technology transfer from the Valkyrie to Project 003 through the active suspension and electronic systems, with Aston claiming the dynamic brief for the car is to be class leading on both road and track.
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Hotter than the Vanquish

Those aerodynamics will not be as extreme as the Valkyrie, but will in turn be more extreme than on the Vanquish. A big bulk of the aerodynamic work, like on the Vanquish, is done under the floor and through the large rear diffuser.
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Space-age aero

The Project 003 also adopts aerospace aerodynamic morphing technology with a new variable airfoil called FlexFoil, which alters downforce without changing the physical angle as with an active rear wing, designed to improve aero performance and reduce wind noise, while also virtually eliminating turbulence and drag.
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Practicality

While the Project 003 adopts a look and ethos inspired by the Valkyrie, it does so while being more usable. The doors open out forwards and out of the roof, inspired by an LMP1 car, to improve ingress and aggress.
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Practicality

Unlike the Valkyrie, there is also luggage and storage space for oddments and a wider centre console to put more space between driver and passenger.
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Cabin is built for the driver

The cabin is unashamedly built around the driver and creating the perfect alignment between driver seat, steering wheel and pedals in what Aston calls ‘Apex Ergonomics’, with all major controls are aligned for the driver and their eyeline.
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Interior tech

Instead of a traditional instrument binnacle there is a small screen mounted directly on the steering column, with infotainment provided by what Aston calls ‘bring your own’, by simply mirroring a smartphone.
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Attention to detail

Aston has not quoted any key stats for the Project 003 beyond the engine configuration, but as with the Valkyrie and Vanquish, there has been an obsession with weight saving and optimised packaging.

For example, all four head and tail lights weigh less than one DB11 headlight, while 3D printing is used for parts big and small in the interior, including a centre console that weighs half of what it would using traditional construction methods.
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Big expectations

Development of the Project 003 will now continue in Milton Keynes, where Aston has a team of 130 people based within the Red Bull Advanced Technologies campus. The site is the home of development for Aston’s mid-engined models.

Palmer has also previously said that the Project 003 could form the basis for an assault on outright victory for Le Mans early after a regulation changed to make them more aligned to hypercar road cars than the LMP1 prototypes at present.

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