Latest news with #Valkyrie
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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
A German Valkyrie Owner Is Suing Aston Martin Over His Car's Alleged Flaws: Report
The Aston Martin Valkyrie may be the single most extreme performance car ever to wear a license plate — a distinction that comes with plenty of sacrifices for buyers used to the creature comforts and general reliability of a more typical road car not built like a top-level endurance racing machine. One German Valkyrie owner has apparently had enough, however, and is now reportedly suing the company after driving just 274 miles in his car. As originally reported by German outlet Handelsblatt and brought to broader attention via Carscoops, the driver is suing after multiple reported system failures, claims of delivery-related damage to the otherwise brand-new hypercar, and one apparent worrying run-in with an ambulance. Issues allegedly included a high-voltage system failure, an uninstalled locker system meant to keep the car at ride height when hydraulic pressure is low, and a flurry of other, unrelated warning lights. Based on his account, the incident with the ambulance seems particularly troubling. The interior of the Valkyrie is exceptionally loud, so Aston Martin recommends that drivers wear a headset that protects the driver's ears and transmits outside noises into the car's cabin. That system allegedly malfunctioned last summer when the suing owner encountered an ambulance, however, reportedly leading the Valkyrie driver to miss the sirens and narrowly avoid a collision. According to Handselblatt, Aston Martin asked for a usage fee of more than $63,000 if the car were to be returned, reflecting a price of about $231 per mile driven to date. The car has apparently not yet been returned or resold, however — and for now, the unsettled dispute continues in German court. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Valkyrie bring in French international Sarah Menaa to bolster ranks
YORK Valkyrie have added French international Sarah Menaa to their ranks. Menaa joins the Valkyrie for the remainder of the 2025 season, having made the switch from Catalans Goddesses. The 21-year-old has been a part of the Catalans team that won the French Championships on three different occasions, whilst also being capped four times for the France national team. Advertisement Menaa is able to operate at either prop or in the second-row, and has been described as both a strong attacker and defender, arriving into York with a reputation of being a highly-skilled player. Menaa commented after her move to the Valkyrie was announced: 'I'm really excited to come to York and to have the opportunity to play in the Super League. 'It's a huge challenge for me, and I'll give everything I have to help the Valkyries go all the way!" Valkyrie's Director of Rugby Lindsay Anfield added: 'Sarah is a hard hitting middle who has good ball handling skills, as well as enjoying the contact aspect of the game. Advertisement 'She has a wealth of experience playing rugby league for Catalans and for the French national team, and I think she will thrive in our environment. 'In the past we have had training camps in Perpignan where Sarah has trained with us and shown she has the talent to be competitive in our league. 'Competition for shirts is what we need going into this next stage of the season, and we look forward to seeing what she can do in Valk colours.' Menaa could make her debut for York in Saturday's game at Leigh Leopards' Golborne Parkside (2pm), with her arrival coming at a good time for the Valkyrie, who announced on social media last night that first-team options Kelsey Gentles and Jess Sharp have left the club. Advertisement Sharp has since been announced as a Leeds Rhinos player, having won York's Young Player of the Year for the 2024 season. Gentles' exit comes as a surprise after initially joining the club in 2021, having also scored a try in the last season's Women's Super League Grand Final for the Valkyrie.
