Latest news with #AstonMartin
Forbes
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
The Aston Martin Valkyrie LM Is Your Ticket To A Very Exclusive Club
The Valkyrie LM is a close relation of Aston Martin's Le Mans racer, itself based on the Valkyrie ... More street car. It might not be a race winner (yet), but the Aston Martin Valkyrie was undoubtedly the people's champion at last weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans – and now you can buy one of your own. Revealed in the run-up to this year's event, the Valkyrie LM represents the chance to own a car that, Astin Martin says, is very closely related to its Le Mans racer. It's powered by the same 6.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V12 engine that undoubtedly made the best noise at this year's race, and it shares the same vehicle dynamics and technology too. Limited to just 10 examples, the Valkyrie LM is a long way from being street-legal, as the standard Valkyrie is. Instead, purchasing this car unlocks the opportunity to take part in a series of track days, organized by Aston Martin as part of an event program launching in Q2 of 2026. Just 10 examples of the track-only hypercar will be built. Aston is creating what it calls 'a dedicated driver development program that is tailored to support, harness and optimize their driving ability and provide them with the ultimate topflight motorsport experience.' The company says this will remove the stress of owners organizing their own track days and running the car without factory support. Given the obvious wealth of such customers, Aston describes the Valkyrie LM ownership experience as one delivered on a 'fly-in-and-drive' basis, with every event managed by a team of professional engineers to help owners get the most out of their cars. There's even the option for simulator driver coaching between track sessions, and Aston says cars will be transported, maintained and stored by the company itself. Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin CEO, said, 'Valkyrie LM is an exquisite opportunity to be part of the most exclusive Aston Martin owners club in the world; a group who can immerse themselves in the purest and most comparable endurance driving experience, one that would otherwise only be available to our works drivers operating at the very limit of sports car racing's highest echelon.' The car uses the same 6.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V12 engine as the car that compete at this ... More year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. In a bid to ensure drivers get the most out of their new toys – and, one assumes, seek to avoid costly repair bills – Aston Martin added, 'clients will gain extra preparation through detailed track walks and classroom sessions before they are unleashed under one-on-one supervision. The Valkyrie LM's engineering team will also offer data and onboard video analysis to fully optimize the driving experience.' All that said, Aston Martin will allow customers to 'take full possession of their car' if they so wish, so it can live in pride of place in their garage at home, if preferred. There are a couple of key differences between the Valkyrie LM and the pair of racers Aston took to Le Mans this summer. Race ballast and series-regulation electronics are not fitted, since there are no rules to adhere to, and the cockpit interface has been modified for track day usage instead of professional motorsport. Buying the car gains access to exclusive track days with vehicle support and expert driving tuition ... More provided by Aston Martin. Aston also says torque sensors that manage power delivery during racing have been removed, in a bid to make the driving experience more customer-friendly. Although largely unchanged, the V12 engine has been recalibrated to run on regular fuel. Unsurprisingly, Aston Martin has not publically revealed a price for the Valkyrie LM. But given the standard road car costs from around $3.5 Million, the track special is sure to cost even more.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Disenchanted Aston Martin Valkyrie Owner Files A Dramatic Lawsuit
Disenchanted Aston Martin Valkyrie Owner Files A Dramatic Lawsuit originally appeared on Autoblog. We've all seen a new hypercar and dreamed that, in the right circumstances, we'd gladly make numerous comfort and practicality concessions to experience their brilliance in other areas. But one such buyer in Germany believes the incomparable Aston Martin Valkyrie pushes the limits of one's compromise beyond all reasonable measure. With a Cosworth-developed naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 capable of delivering over 1,000 horsepower at 10,500 rpm (with a redline at 11,100), it's to be expected that the highly strung engine will be fairly loud, but a new lawsuit suggests that the visceral noise it makes is dangerous, and wearing the protective headphones that must be used whenever the car is driven could actually put drivers of the Valkyrie in danger. And that's far from the only issue he's faced in his time owning the car, reports local publication Handelsblatt. The publication protected the disenchanted owner's identity with the alias Sebastian Kunze. Herr Kunze claims that on the 27th of August, the headphone system failed. As a result of the extreme noise, he alleges, he nearly crashed into an ambulance, despite the latter blowing its horn. The publication did not use the German word for siren, but one should surely be able to hear any car horn when driving anyway. After that encounter, Kunze's lawyer, Marco Rogert, says he hasn't dared drive the car again. Not that Kunze appears to want to, anyway. Kunze bought the car in February 2022 for €3 million, or around $3.5 million. But in the three years and 271 miles since, he's allegedly had numerous issues. One of the biggest was an issue with the "Rocket Locker," a locking system that keeps the car's hydraulic suspension from sagging when power is cut off. This was allegedly removed without Kunze's knowledge, causing the car to rest on its wheels. He claims this led to visible damage "during transport and visits to the workshop." Following this, and a claim of numerous warning lights related to the high-voltage hybrid system shortly after taking delivery, he wanted to return the car, but then Aston Martin told him to pay a usage fee of roughly €55,000 (~$63,000) for the 441 km/271 miles he'd done. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article An Aston Martin statement obtained by Handelsblatt, apparently in response to the cost-per-mile Kunze was asked to pay, reportedly said, "Most owners drive around 300, and certainly no more than 1,000 kilometers per year." Kunze also reportedly took issue with the short service intervals, perhaps not understanding the highly specific nature of this barely legal hypercar. This isn't a Bugatti Tourbillon, meant to crush continents at 250 mph without breaking a sweat or allowing its occupants to. This is an Adrian Newey-designed aerodynamic wonder that does the bare minimum to meet regulations. It's not meant to be used as a daily driver, and Kunze's argument that the Valkyrie had more defects "than all my other cars combined" might seem a little sensational. Moreover, Aston Martin says that the blame for the damaged wheels lies not at the feet of the Rocket Locker system, but with the owner himself, saying that the car's issues are "typical signs of wear or marks that arise from improper wheel replacement. In this context, we point out that the plaintiff insisted on changing the wheels on the vehicle himself and even purchased a jack set from the defendant specifically for this purpose." Unfortunately, this case will likely drag on a little longer. The presiding judge suggested a mutual settlement, but after arguments about where the case could be tried, and two earlier attempts by Aston Martin to arrange trade-ins for the Valkyrie, a court ruling of some sort seems to be the objective. Each side has six weeks to submit further statements, and if the Aachen Regional Court declines jurisdiction, the case may have to be argued back in the United Kingdom, where Aston wanted the case heard in the first place. Disenchanted Aston Martin Valkyrie Owner Files A Dramatic Lawsuit first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Auto Blog
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Disenchanted Aston Martin Valkyrie Owner Files A Dramatic Lawsuit
Valkyrie Owner Says Valkyrie Is Unsafe, Unreliable We've all seen a new hypercar and dreamed that, in the right circumstances, we'd gladly make numerous comfort and practicality concessions to experience their brilliance in other areas. But one such buyer in Germany believes the incomparable Aston Martin Valkyrie pushes the limits of one's compromise beyond all reasonable measure. With a Cosworth-developed naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 capable of delivering over 1,000 horsepower at 10,500 rpm (with a redline at 11,100), it's to be expected that the highly strung engine will be fairly loud, but a new lawsuit suggests that the visceral noise it makes is dangerous, and wearing the protective headphones that must be used whenever the car is driven could actually put drivers of the Valkyrie in danger. And that's far from the only issue he's faced in his time owning the car, reports local publication Handelsblatt. Noise Nearly Caused 'A Fatal Accident' Source: Aston Martin The publication protected the disenchanted owner's identity with the alias Sebastian Kunze. Herr Kunze claims that on the 27th of August, the headphone system failed. As a result of the extreme noise, he alleges, he nearly crashed into an ambulance, despite the latter blowing its horn. The publication did not use the German word for siren, but one should surely be able to hear any car horn when driving anyway. After that encounter, Kunze's lawyer, Marco Rogert, says he hasn't dared drive the car again. Not that Kunze appears to want to, anyway. Kunze bought the car in February 2022 for €3 million, or around $3.5 million. But in the three years and 271 miles since, he's allegedly had numerous issues. One of the biggest was an issue with the 'Rocket Locker,' a locking system that keeps the car's hydraulic suspension from sagging when power is cut off. This was allegedly removed without Kunze's knowledge, causing the car to rest on its wheels. He claims this led to visible damage 'during transport and visits to the workshop.' Following this, and a claim of numerous warning lights related to the high-voltage hybrid system shortly after taking delivery, he wanted to return the car, but then Aston Martin told him to pay a usage fee of roughly €55,000 (~$63,000) for the 441 km/271 miles he'd done. Something Doesn't Add Up An Aston Martin statement obtained by Handelsblatt, apparently in response to the cost-per-mile Kunze was asked to pay, reportedly said, 'Most owners drive around 300, and certainly no more than 1,000 kilometers per year.' Kunze also reportedly took issue with the short service intervals, perhaps not understanding the highly specific nature of this barely legal hypercar. This isn't a Bugatti Tourbillon, meant to crush continents at 250 mph without breaking a sweat or allowing its occupants to. This is an Adrian Newey-designed aerodynamic wonder that does the bare minimum to meet regulations. It's not meant to be used as a daily driver, and Kunze's argument that the Valkyrie had more defects 'than all my other cars combined' might seem a little sensational. Moreover, Aston Martin says that the blame for the damaged wheels lies not at the feet of the Rocket Locker system, but with the owner himself, saying that the car's issues are 'typical signs of wear or marks that arise from improper wheel replacement. In this context, we point out that the plaintiff insisted on changing the wheels on the vehicle himself and even purchased a jack set from the defendant specifically for this purpose.' Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Unfortunately, this case will likely drag on a little longer. The presiding judge suggested a mutual settlement, but after arguments about where the case could be tried, and two earlier attempts by Aston Martin to arrange trade-ins for the Valkyrie, a court ruling of some sort seems to be the objective. Each side has six weeks to submit further statements, and if the Aachen Regional Court declines jurisdiction, the case may have to be argued back in the United Kingdom, where Aston wanted the case heard in the first place. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Disenchanted Aston Martin Valkyrie Owner Files A Dramatic Lawsuit
We've all seen a new hypercar and dreamed that, in the right circumstances, we'd gladly make numerous comfort and practicality concessions to experience their brilliance in other areas. But one such buyer in Germany believes the incomparable Aston Martin Valkyrie pushes the limits of one's compromise beyond all reasonable measure. With a Cosworth-developed naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 capable of delivering over 1,000 horsepower at 10,500 rpm (with a redline at 11,100), it's to be expected that the highly strung engine will be fairly loud, but a new lawsuit suggests that the visceral noise it makes is dangerous, and wearing the protective headphones that must be used whenever the car is driven could actually put drivers of the Valkyrie in danger. And that's far from the only issue he's faced in his time owning the car, reports local publication Handelsblatt. The publication protected the disenchanted owner's identity with the alias Sebastian Kunze. Herr Kunze claims that on the 27th of August, the headphone system failed. As a result of the extreme noise, he alleges, he nearly crashed into an ambulance, despite the latter blowing its horn. The publication did not use the German word for siren, but one should surely be able to hear any car horn when driving anyway. After that encounter, Kunze's lawyer, Marco Rogert, says he hasn't dared drive the car again. Not that Kunze appears to want to, anyway. Kunze bought the car in February 2022 for €3 million, or around $3.5 million. But in the three years and 271 miles since, he's allegedly had numerous issues. One of the biggest was an issue with the "Rocket Locker," a locking system that keeps the car's hydraulic suspension from sagging when power is cut off. This was allegedly removed without Kunze's knowledge, causing the car to rest on its wheels. He claims this led to visible damage "during transport and visits to the workshop." Following this, and a claim of numerous warning lights related to the high-voltage hybrid system shortly after taking delivery, he wanted to return the car, but then Aston Martin told him to pay a usage fee of roughly €55,000 (~$63,000) for the 441 km/271 miles he'd done. An Aston Martin statement obtained by Handelsblatt, apparently in response to the cost-per-mile Kunze was asked to pay, reportedly said, "Most owners drive around 300, and certainly no more than 1,000 kilometers per year." Kunze also reportedly took issue with the short service intervals, perhaps not understanding the highly specific nature of this barely legal hypercar. This isn't a Bugatti Tourbillon, meant to crush continents at 250 mph without breaking a sweat or allowing its occupants to. This is an Adrian Newey-designed aerodynamic wonder that does the bare minimum to meet regulations. It's not meant to be used as a daily driver, and Kunze's argument that the Valkyrie had more defects "than all my other cars combined" might seem a little sensational. Moreover, Aston Martin says that the blame for the damaged wheels lies not at the feet of the Rocket Locker system, but with the owner himself, saying that the car's issues are "typical signs of wear or marks that arise from improper wheel replacement. In this context, we point out that the plaintiff insisted on changing the wheels on the vehicle himself and even purchased a jack set from the defendant specifically for this purpose." Unfortunately, this case will likely drag on a little longer. The presiding judge suggested a mutual settlement, but after arguments about where the case could be tried, and two earlier attempts by Aston Martin to arrange trade-ins for the Valkyrie, a court ruling of some sort seems to be the objective. Each side has six weeks to submit further statements, and if the Aachen Regional Court declines jurisdiction, the case may have to be argued back in the United Kingdom, where Aston wanted the case heard in the first place. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
a day ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Report: Ferrari Is Apparently Delaying Its Second EV
Ferrari is pushing back plans to launch its second fully electric vehicle, according to a report from Reuters. An anonymous source told the outlet that there is "zero" demand for high-performance electric cars right now. Ferrari is planning to reveal its first EV next spring, with its second model now pushed back to 2028. After pushing back the reveal of its first EV from this October to next spring, Ferrari is now delaying the launch of its second EV. Citing two anonymous sources, Reuters reported that the Italian automaker is pushing back the car's launch from 2026 until at least 2028. NurPhoto | Getty Images The issue, according to Reuters' sources, is that Ferrari's customer base has "zero" interest in high-performance electric vehicles. One source told the outlet that "real, sustainable demand is non-existent for an electric sports car." According to the Reuters report, Ferrari's first EV will be a low-volume special model, but the second is supposed to be a higher-volume model, hence the delay. While a lack of real demand for the car is the main reason for Ferrari delaying, the extra time will also give the automaker more opportunity to develop in-house EV technology to entice future customers. Ferrari isn't the only sports-car manufacturer struggling to convince wealthy buyers that their EV is worth a price premium. When explaining why his company was delaying the launch of its first EV last year, Aston Martin CEO Lawrence Stroll told Autocar that customers simply want "sounds and smells" from their sports cars. Maserati found itself in a similar conundrum, and five years after announcing the electric MC20 Folgore, the brand scrapped the model entirely because of "a perceived lack of commercial interest." Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
