Aston Martin reveals Valhalla Spider, its fastest open-cockpit car, with 1,079PS plug-in hybrid power

Aston Martin has unveiled the Valhalla Spider, which it calls the fastest open-cockpit Aston Martin ever made and its first mid-engined open-cockpit production supercar. It follows the mid-engined hybrid Valhalla Coupe introduced earlier this year, and its stated mission is to increase opportunities for driver enjoyment while preserving the coupe's dynamic bandwidth on road and track. Aston Martin says close collaboration with Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT), the consulting arm of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team, on dynamics, aerodynamics and materials added knowledge and skills to the Spider's design and development. The car will make its global debut this weekend at the 2026 Concours at Wynn Las Vegas.

The Spider shares the coupe's plug-in hybrid powertrain, producing 1,079PS and 1,100Nm of torque. Central to it is an 828PS 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a flat-plane crank, whose 207bhp-per-litre specific output Aston Martin says is the highest of any of its combustion engines. Three electric motors and a High-Performance Battery add a further 251PS: two drive the front e-axle with full Electric Torque Vectoring for agility and stability, while the third sits alongside the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission to drive the rear axle and e-diff. With no mechanical connection between the axles, drive to each wheel is managed by the Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control system, which monitors suspension, braking, steering, active aerodynamics and powertrain and works with four driver-selectable drive modes.

Because the Spider shares the coupe's foundational hardware and software, the technical differences are limited to specific changes to active aerodynamics and electronic stability control calibration, tailored for roof-on and roof-off airflow. Maximum downforce is in excess of 600kg with the roof fitted. The carbon fibre tub is designed and engineered by AMPT and moulded using resin transfer moulding combined with Formula 1-derived autoclave technology to create a stiff, strong and light passenger cell. A new carbon fibre Touring Seat is now standard, though the coupe's original carbon fibre seat can be retained at no cost, and the dihedral doors keep their theatre but gain refined kinematics, a frameless design and a slightly more curved glass top edge for easier entry and exit with the roof fitted.