Aston Martin has announced that its upcoming hypercar, which will be co-developed with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, shall be called the Valkyrie. Before that, the car was internally known by its codename – AM-RB 001.
According to the British carmaker, the Valkyrie name harks back to a long-standing tradition held by the company, where Aston’s highest performance cars have names starting with the letter “V.” This began in 1951 with the Vantage, which got its name to distinguish itself from the regular DB2.
The first time the Vantage badge appeared was on the side of the DB5, which was powered by a 315 hp engine, a 34 hp gain over the regular DB5’s mill. In 2005, the Vantage become a model line of its own, powered by a mix of V8 and V12 engines.
Other models which also adopted the “V” naming policy include the Virage, Vanquish, as well as the limited-edition Vulcan (named after the Roman god of fire). So, the Valkyrie name has a narrative to it, but the company acknowledges its ancient mythology relation as well. No, it isn’t named after that Tom Cruise movie.
In Norse folklore, valkyries are a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. The word itself translates to “chooser of the slain,” and those who are worthy in battle will be brought to the afterlife hall of the slain – Valhalla – ruled over by the god Odin.
“Aston Martin model names have deep meaning. They need to inspire and excite. To tell a story and enrich a narrative that stretches back some 104-years. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is an incredibly special car that demands an equally remarkable name; an uncompromising car that leaves nothing in reserve.
“The connotations of power and honour, of being chosen by the Gods are so evocative, and so pertinent to a car that only a fortunate few will ever experience,” said Aston Martin’s chief creative officer, Marek Reichman.
Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Aston Martin isn’t just waxing lyrical about its new car’s name either, which is claimed to offer impressive levels of performance with specifications like a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio, a 6.5 litre naturally-aspirated V12 and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
GALLERY: Aston Martin AM-RB 001 (now Valkyrie) concept
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I have to say that AM naming scheme are far more meaningful than P1