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In years to come, there’s a fair chance we’ll look back and say, “That was the greatest engine ever made”. It’s a normally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12, it weighs just 205kg, it develops 1000bhp, it redlines at (get this) 11,100rpm, and it’s destined for the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar. This is the first time it’s been seen, and it’s really quite special. It’s a collaboration between Aston Martin and Cosworth, bringing in all Cosworth’s Formula 1 experience to develop what looks to us like an automotive masterpiece.
First thing we wondered was, why no turbos? Everyone else does it after all. Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer told us this: “To anyone with a drop of petrol in their blood, a high-revving naturally aspirated V12 is the absolute pinnacle. Nothing sounds better or encapsulates the emotion and excitement of the internal combustion engine more completely. Despite the apparently insurmountable challenges it presented, there was never any question that the Aston Martin Valkyrie would make do with anything less.” The point is that even with all the work that’s gone into turbocharging over the last five decades, there’s still a compromise in terms of throttle response and exhaust soundtrack, and a normally-aspirated engine is still the best driver’s solution.
The engineering is phenomenal. Peak power is made at 10,500prm but it doesn’t redline until 11,100rpm, which is motorcycle–or of course F1–levels of engine speed, and the torque peaks at 740Nm at 7000rpm. Perhaps even more incredible is the weight, which is super-light at 205kg, and that’s even before you consider that it’s a fully-stressed part of the chassis, so if the engine was removed there would be nothing joining the front wheels to the back. You might recall that the legendary Cosworth DFV F1 engine was famous for that 50 years ago.
Most of the engine’s internal components are machined from solid material, including the titanium conrods and F1-spec pistons. As an example, the crankshaft starts out as a solid steel bar 170mm diameter and 775mm long that is first roughed out, then heat treated, finish machined, heat treated again, gear ground, final ground and superfinished. By the time it’s finished 80% of the original bar has been machined away and some six months have passed, and it ends up 50 per cent lighter than the crankshaft used in the Aston Martin One-77’s V12 (which, by the way, was the world’s most powerful normally-aspirated engine in its day).
One more thing to bear in mind, and that’s that the Valkyrie V12’s 1000bhp will be supplemented by a battery hybrid system that will further boost the power and torque available. The hybrid system hasn’t been revealed yet–but we’re looking forward to hearing more about it very soon.
Images courtesy of Aston Martin
The point is that even with all the work that’s gone into turbocharging over the last five decades. – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2OurYuTZ25jl4zn9kPuN1g/about
This is very cool bro
This is very cool, but I really don’t understand why it is so hard for a specific commentor to understand this engine. The V12 in the Aston Martin Vulcan made 820hp with a much lower rev limit so I don’t see how people see this as some impossible feat. Back in 1990 a BMW E30 M3 Touring Car could get about 380hp out of 2.5 litres, which works out to about 152hp/L. This engine makes 1000hp from 6.5 litres, about 154hp/L. If you compare those numbers, I don’t see how one could have so much doubt that this engine does what they say.
HARDLEY: So a car from one of the most desirable car manufacturers, with an engine by one of the great companies in engineering (who are thriving at the moment, and whose skills stretch far beyond the Fast Fords and DFV) and designed by the greatest and most successful F1 designer ever, is destined to be a disappointment???
Bet you suck the fun out of any room you enter
Exactly ! A car from a once desirable manufacture who’s sales are constantly on the wane complete with non existent profits and who’s each and every so called supercar since day one has been an abject failure powered by a motor from a former legend who’s day was done and dusted over a decade ago and have yet to do one solitary significant thing since .
Get a grip son . All bets are you fall for every con/propaganda campaign thrown your way , automotive , political or otherwise due to your complete ignorance of the facts : as in F-A-C-Ts
Once desirable???? Every Valkyrie is sold and they are still a desirable at all levels, making great sounding, great looking cars.
Cosworth have expanded beyond just engines and are highly active in several levels of motorsports and with manufacturers.
And as you avoided mentioning, this is driven by Adrian Newey who is the greatest F1 designer ever. Obsessianal beyond belief and driven to perfection.
I see this as the true successor to the McLaren F1. No compromise, screw the cost masterminded by an F1 genius.
Obviously I don’t know anything compared to you as you’re obviously a full on know it all who loves the sound of his own voice and who cannot accept the fact that there are opinions contrary to his own.
Opinions are like arseholes, as are you !
And that is definitely a F-A-C-T
I have to say that this engine really is a feat of engineering, especially the fact that it is going into a street car. We are looking at the next generation of hypercar with F1 level performance. Great job Aston Martin and Cosworth, you have created the engine that should be used in Formula 1 right now, but it’s too bad that they don’t, can’t wait to hear this thing!
Go to http://www.pistonheads.com , they have a video and it sounds epic!!
Yawn . Here we go again with yet another vaporware pretentious A-M supercar destined to disappoint now with a claimed 1000 horsies under the hood from a motor built by a company ( Cosworth ) who’s time came and went over a decade ago . Yawn . Pardon me while I head over to Koenigsegg’s site to clear my mind with some genuine supercars with real innovation and the ( verifiable ) performance to match
A-M supercars . Bah humbug I say .
@.. Dennis White ; Apologies that my stating the facts and the truth steps on your delicate sensibilities as well as disrupting your fantasies and delusions .
@.. Dennis White . A simple question After reviewing the majority of your previous comments on this site : the simple fact is that not once have you ever offered so much as one solitary constructive or productive comment since you began posting here
Begging the question . Other than trolling those willing to express honest and viable opinions as well as deal with history and the facts rather than virtual fantasies , alt history and propaganda utterly devoid of realty ;
What exactly is your purpose for being here ?
FYI . In regards to the snark in your latest rely . Legend or not unlike yourself at least I have a mind .
@.. Dennis White ;
PS; Welcome to the big leagues splinky and thanks for playing .