At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during last week’s Monterey Car Week, Aston Martin took the wraps off the Spider convertible version of its Valkyrie hypercar. The company promises an even more intense roof-off driving experience, comparable to that of a Formula One (F1) car but not limited to the track. The Spider was available for viewing by invitation only.

The pursuit of open-top motoring came with the challenge of ensuring the core experience remains true to the performance objectives of Aston Martin and F1 engineering-design legend Adrian Newey of Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), for the original Valkyrie program at the very cutting-edge of hypercar design and engineering.

The Spider’s 1155-PS (850 kW) hybrid-electric V12 powertrain remains unchanged from that of the original closed-roof Valkyrie. That original car first made news in 2016 as the AM-RB 001 Concept, with first- and second-generation prototypes shown between 2017 and 2019, and with a dynamic public debut in front of an enthusiastic crowd ahead of the 2019 British Grand Prix.

The new open-top car received revisions to its carbon-fiber structure and recalibration of active-aerodynamics and active-chassis systems—aimed at maintaining optimal performance when driven roof-off. Key to the Spider’s performance is ultra-lightweight construction and a high-downforce aerodynamics package.

The upper body surfaces of the teardrop-shaped cockpit and lower-tub contours follow the space available between the large full-length Venturi tunnels that run on either side of the cockpit floor. Drawing large quantities of air beneath the car to feed the rear diffuser, these tunnels are the key to generating the Spider’s extraordinary levels of downforce—1400 kg (3090 lb) at 240 km/h (149 mph) in track mode—while keeping the upper body surfaces free from additional aerodynamic devices that could spoil the open-top styling. The resulting design has a marginal weight difference compared to the Coupe.

Capable of a maximum speed of more than 330 km/h (205 mph) with its roof removed—and more than 350 km/h (217 mph) with the roof on, the Spider is the fastest and most extreme open-top, road-legal car Aston Martin has ever built. The company adds that the car is simulated to set lap times not normally achievable in road-going cars and more in keeping with LMP1-racecar levels of performance.

With the same driver-focused cabin as the closed Valkyrie, the Spider’s interior has Formula One-inspired low hip-to-heel height and a near-central seat positioning along with a six-point safety harness. A center rear-view camera system along with front and rear parking sensors aid the driver at high and low speeds, with displays sitting just above the instrument panel.

The Spider’s removable lightweight roof has a carbon-fiber central panel and a pair of polycarbonate roof windows hinged on either side. Modifications have been made to the carbon-fiber tub and doors to support the removable roof panels and the luxury open-top layout. The dihedral doors of the Spider were redesigned to tilt forward instead of up gull-wing style like the coupe.

“With the Valkyrie Spider we are taking that passion and emotion to the next level,” said Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers. “The driving experience promises to be truly sensational. The sound of that 6.5-L V12 engine revving to over 11,000 rpm with the roof removed is something I cannot wait to hear.”

Extensive use of simulation tools is already well underway by the Aston Martin engineering team ahead of the build and physical testing of the first development prototypes.

“What you see is a simple removable roof panel, but the challenge of remaining true to the Valkyrie concept was anything but,” said Newey, Red Bull Racing CTO. “Maintaining aerodynamic performance with the roof removed was of paramount importance, likewise keeping any unavoidable weight gains to an absolute minimum whilst maximizing enjoyment for the driver.”

The 85 examples of the Spider are over-subscribed, and allocations will begin shortly. Available in both left- and right-hand-drive derivatives, the first deliveries are scheduled for the second half of 2022.

While Aston Martin hasn’t revealed many technical details about the closed-roof Valkyrie recently, it did confirm performance figures for the car’s hyper-car-pioneering full-hybrid powertrain in 2019. Back then, the company said the car would boast maximum power of 1160 bhp (853 kW) at 10,500 rpm and peak combined torque of 900 N·m (664 lb·ft) at 6000 rpm. The naturally aspirated 6.5-L V12 delivered 1000 bhp (746 kW) at 10,500 rpm and 740 N·m (546 lb·ft) at 7000 rpm, the battery-electric system adding 160 bhp (119 kW) and 280 N·m (207 lb·ft).

The battery pack integrated served as the carrier for the vehicle’s power electronics. In addition to power-boost and energy-recovery system functions, the e-motor aided the mechanical performance of the gearbox. The F1 KERS-style boost system was developed with two main technical partners; Integral Powertrain supplied the custom electric motor and Rimac the lightweight hybrid-battery system.

This year, the closed-roof Valkyrie has been back in the news with an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and in the form of the AMR Pro racecar stripped of its hybrid powertrain.

At Goodwood, the Valkyrie took on the famous Hillclimb in the Supercar batch. Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team driver Lance Stroll showed off its acceleration, which the company revealed was 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in under 2.5 s.

The AMR Pro is intended to be the ultimate no-rules hypercar designed to be capable of lapping the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit in 3 min, 20 s. It is a further development of the design Aston Martin, Adrian Newey, RBAT, and Multimatic worked on in 2019 aimed at winning Le Mans in the new Hypercar class.

It uses a unique version of the Valkyrie chassis with a 380 mm (15.0 in) longer wheelbase and has a greater track width of 96 mm (3.5 in) in front and 115 mm (4.5 in) at the rear. An aggressive aerodynamic package adds 266 mm (10.5 in) to the car’s length. Weight savings come from the deletion of the battery-electric hybrid system plus other weight-saving measures including ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber bodywork, carbon suspension wishbones, and Perspex windshield and side windows.

Plans call for a production run of 40 AMR Pros plus two prototypes, all in left-hand drive, with first deliveries scheduled in Q4 2021.