We Configured an Aston Martin Valhalla Hypercar. Here’s What to Know.

It’s an experience denied to all but a select few. It’s intriguing and exciting, bewildering, and a little overwhelming. In this room, the luxury of boundless choice meets the inevitable need to make a decision. Lots of decisions, in fact. 

Welcome to Aston Martin’s VIP studio, where clients come to configure their new Valhalla hypercars. I’m visiting the factory in Gaydon, England, but similar suites exist at the Q New York store on Park Avenue, and at The Peninsula hotel in Tokyo, Japan. There are experts on hand from Aston Martin’s bespoke Q division, along with countless paint and trim swatches. An enormous 25-foot x 9-foot screen occupies one entire wall, displaying my car in life-size 5k clarity.

My car? Well, not quite, because while I will venture behind the frosted glass into the exclusive world of a Valhalla customer, my budget falls sadly short of the $1 million required to buy one. Even so, that doesn’t make choosing my perfect spec any easier.

Before we delve into the many options available on the giant screen, I’m walked around a Valhalla prototype by Sam Holgate, Aston Martin’s exterior design chief. It’s an incredibly dramatic shape: brutal in places, yet also more elegant and aesthetically pleasing than either a McLaren W1 or Ferrari F80, in my opinion. “It’s about duality of character,” says Holgate. “Imagine an F1 car that’s been clothed with something flowing and beautiful on top.”

There are clear nods to Aston Martin’s AMR25 Formula 1 racer in the Valhalla’s jutting front splitter, serrated sills, and prominent roof scoop. The latter funnels air to a mid-mounted 4.0-liter V-8 with twin turbochargers and top-exit tailpipes. Also combining three electric motors—two on the front axle, plus a third integrated into the dual-clutch transmission—the power train of the Valhalla delivers 1,079 hp and 811 ft lbs of torque. It also gives the car the ability to cover zero to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 217 mph. 

Holgate points out many form-follows-function design touches, such as the traditional Aston Martin side strakes that double as air extractors, or the upswept venturis that expose the outer edges of the rear tires—emphasizing the car’s width and squat stance. There’s also a T-shaped rear wing that lies flush with the tail, only elevating to full height when the driver selects Race mode.

Interior designer Adam MacKerron then steps forward to show me around the cockpit. Like the vehicle’s scoops and spoilers, the dihedral doors don’t simply look dramatic but are purposeful in design, in this case aiding access by incorporating sections of the roof and sill. The sight of a naked-carbon tub as the door swings upwards is a tantalizing glimpse at the engineering underneath. 

Drop down into the sparsely padded seat and the first thing you notice is the driving setup. With a seat position that has your heels just 2.8 inches lower than your hips, a low, letterbox-shaped windshield, and a squared-off steering wheel, the Valhalla immediately feels like a racing car. “We brought a lot of the Valkyrie AMR Pro to Valhalla,” says MacKerron. “This car leads the way in terms of our future interior-design language.”

Despite its extreme performance, though, this isn’t a bare-bones track weapon. Its snug cabin is beautifully trimmed in high-quality materials, and features wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay connectivity, and a premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system. The infotainment screen also has a unique user interface designed by the Aston Martin Formula 1 team. 

Before I get carried away and start making flat-plane V-8 noises, we clamber out and MacKerron ushers me to the VIP studio where I can build a Valhalla in digital high-definition. We are joined by Nicole Gee from Aston Martin Q, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of all the options available. My first decision concerns paint. “We have over 60 colors on the core configurator,” Gee explains, “but you can also go off-menu and have something bespoke. Some clients already have a very clear idea of what they want, but we can help and guide them through the process if needed.”

I’m tempted by an unpainted, tinted-carbon finish, but eventually settle on Spectral Silver—a pearlescent paint that morphs from white to sparkling silver depending on the light. The color flip is demonstrated to great effect by the configurator, which can rotate the car through any axis and give it one of 10 backdrops, from a mountain road to being on track at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. I “parked” my Valhalla inside the Aston Martin Formula 1 pit garage, as seen in the rendered images here.

I then get a choice of six liveries and select one of the more subtle options, comprising a nose-to-tail racing stripe and highlights around the lower air ducts. For these details, Podium Green—the color of Aston Martin’s Formula 1 cars—seems like the ideal complement. I combine it with clear side-window glass, AM Racing Green brake calipers, and a machined-aluminum front grille with a dark chrome finish. 

So far, this feels like trying to order an eight-course meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant. But we’re only just getting started. The next decision is about alloy wheels. Would I prefer the forged rims—available in three finishes—or the lightweight magnesium option? Given I have already, theoretically, spent seven figures on a Valhalla, the latter is the obvious choice. I’ll have mine with a “liquid titanium” look and wrapped in road-friendly Michelin Pilot Sport tires—thanks very much.

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After more time using an iPad to scroll through the many customizable parts (mirror caps, exhaust tailpipe finishers, and more), my final exterior detail is the badge. You can have Aston Martin’s familiar green-and-white wings or a bespoke version with, for example, a Union Jack background. Alternatively, there is the “ultrafine” aluminum badge—as seen on the Valkyrie—that is just 70 micrometers thick and sealed beneath the paint lacquer. No prizes for guessing which no-expense-spared option I went for.

Next, we virtually step inside the car and begin to configure it. With guidance from Gee, I go for a mix of Alcantara and semi-aniline leather in a purposeful shade of Onyx Black, with the stitching and stripes on the seat belts in bright Eifel Green. There’s a satin, dark chrome finish on the air vents and metallic switches, while the motorsport-inspired steering wheel and gearshift paddles are both made from carbon fiber.

Speaking of carbon, it covers much of the interior, and you can pick from two types: the checkered “2×2 Twill” in my Valhalla, or a marbled “chopped carbon” material—as seen in cars such as the Lamborghini Huracán Performante and new Land Rover Defender Octa. There are no wrong decisions here, of course. It’s all down to personal taste.

Sadly, I left Gaydon without adding a Spectral Silver Valhalla to the order bank. Only 999 people will be fortunate enough to experience this process for real, with the first cars due for delivery later this year.

Click here for more photos of our virtual Aston Martin Valhalla hypercar.