Seeing is believing for new Aston Martin Valkyrie

Speccing up a new car was never like this before… Meet the ultimate digital configurator, one that really brings your new pride and joy to life in whatever, colours or trims you desire. It’s all thanks to virtual reality.

It’s not available for any old car, though, just the £2m-plus Aston Martin Valkyrie, the “F1 car for the road” project from Aston Martin and Red Bull. While the rest of us tick spec boxes the 150 customers of the Valkyrie can don a special headset and enjoy what Aston calls “a fully-immersive virtual reality experience”. You can put yourself in that lucky owner’s position by watching the video.

All aspects of the Valkyrie are up for grabs – given deep enough pockets – for what Aston says will be one of the world’s most customisable cars. Aston design chief Marek Reichman tells us: “This is simply the best car in the world if you want something bespoke”. 

As the taster video shows, body colour, trim colour, wheels and seatbelts are the options brought to life by the real-time VR headset. But thanks to the most extensive Q by Aston Martin personalisation programme yet, Valkyrie options go much further than that.

Mirroring a similar bespoke system introduced by McLaren for the 250mph Speedtail, the Valkyrie is being offered in four designer-spec packages for those who have trouble deciding (Slipstream Green, Liquid Petroleum, Ethanol Silver and Maximum Orange).

The brave, though, can slip on the headset – which owners will be offered at specification-choosing sessions to be held at Gaydon – and explore the full panoply of options available. Here, everything from titanium Aston wings and titanium cabin switchgear to different colours and finishes for the carbon fibre, leather and Alcantara, can be decided upon. For the truly indulgent there’s a Gold Pack which features a 24-carat gold leaf livery laid under the paint lacquer.

Valkyrie personalisation of the 150 road cars to be built extends to performance. If the 1000bhp 6.5-litre normally-aspirated V12 isn’t fast enough you can opt for the AMR Track Performance Pack for when you fancy some circuit fun. The pack is made up of track-only components (extra-downforce front clamshell and body panels, titanium brakes, track suspension and magnesium wheels) that are all interchangeable for the road legal parts.

Aston says in this form the Valkyrie – which is already said to emulate an LMP1 car’s laptime – is eight per cent faster round any given circuit. Wannabe team owners can even indulge their racing fantasy by having have all the track parts finished in their own livery and have their pit crew attired in matching race suits.

Aston Martin’s Marek Reichman adds: “Every single element of the Valkyrie, including its performance, can be personalised. The materials are very much about science, the art of creativity and the ability to create a unique solution that doesn’t detract from this exceptional car’s performance capability”. 

Talking of which – Aston is yet to say just how fast the Valkyrie is…