The new Valhalla Spider is the fastest Aston Martin convertible yet, capable of 217mph at full chat — with or without its roof in place.
This means that when its lid is removed, Gaydon's V8 drop-top can outpace the V12 Valkyrie Spider, which is restricted to 205mph without its roof.
The new version of the Valhalla is expected to make up a quarter of the 999-unit build run, and will command a sizeable premium of about 40% over the coupé, taking the entry price to around £1.3 million — three times as much as the Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider. Most have been sold already, approximately a year before production begins.
Its high list price means that despite its relative exclusivity, the Spider will play a significant role in boosting Aston's average selling price as the company strives for better profits. The firm has previously said it will prioritise range-topping derivatives of existing models over the coming years as part of a push to increase margins.
The substantial uplift in price also reflects the level of engineering that has gone into creating a convertible version of the carbon-tubbed two-seater. To preserve the rigidity of the base car, as well as its sleek silhouette, the Valhalla Spider features a targa-style removable panel — fabric as standard and optionally upgradable to a carbonfibre panel — rather than a weighty, complex folding mechanism.
The Spider also has a wind deflector that has been designed to channel air up and over the cockpit — reducing buffeting at speed — and down to the air scoop at the rear, which has been raised by 35mm to optimise cooling with the interrupted airflow. When not in use, the wind deflector, like the fabric roof, can be folded and stowed in one of the new 15-litre cubbies that have been engineered into the lower sills.
The Spider alters its active aero and ESP settings to adapt to changes in airflow when the roof is removed, ensuring "consistent vehicle balance, stability and driver confidence", said Aston.
