Aston Martin Valhalla Spider Claims 217 MPH as Open-Top Hypercar

Aston Martin revealed the Valhalla Spider as the open-top version of its mid-engined hybrid hypercar, capable of the same 217 mph top speed with the roof removed that the coupe achieves with the roof fixed in place. That figure makes it the fastest open-cockpit car the company has ever built, and the engineering team preserved nearly all of the coupe’s structural stiffness and aerodynamic balance while adding a removable roof system. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2027 after a public debut at the Concours at Wynn in Las Vegas.

A 4.0-litre twin-turbo flat-plane-crank V8 produces around 817 horsepower on its own, but when three electric motors are added, that figure rises to 1,064 horsepower and a remarkable 811 lb-ft of torque. Two motors on the front axle help with electric torque vectoring, while the third team member tucks itself into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, helping the V8 along and driving the rear axle via an electronic differential. With no mechanical driveshaft in sight, the front and rear axles are left to Aston Martin’s clever Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control system, which manages not only the power split but also suspension, braking, steering, and active aerodynamics.

With the same hybrid setup and transmission as the coupe, 0-60 mph takes roughly 2.5 seconds. The Spider can reach the entire 217 mph electrical limiter with the optional carbon-fiber hard top installed or without a roof at all, which is also an option. That is, unless you opt for the standard removable black fabric roof, which, while not the most elegant thing I’ve ever seen, stores in the sills alongside a nice three-piece wind deflector, limiting speeds to 124 mph but still allowing you to go faster than many other open-topping hypercars on the market. The separate rain cover is a good feature, allowing you to park the vehicle without worrying about it getting wet.



The passenger cell is the same carbon-fiber tub as the coupe, and it was built using the same resin-transfer molding and autoclave procedures that Aston Martin’s Performance Technologies mastered from years of working with Formula One. The dry weight only increases by around 25 kg to a total of approximately 1,680 kg since the construction proves to be far stronger than projected, eliminating the need for additional bracing to keep it from collapsing.



Oh, and what about the active aerodynamic surfaces and underbody ducts? Those adjust automatically because with the roof on, they can generate more than 600 kg of downforce, and with the roof off, they are recalibrated to protect the whole thing from becoming too difficult to drive at high speeds. And, as expected, the Dihedral doors are still carbon fiber, but they are now frameless, and the kinematics, as well as the upper edge of the side glass, have been adjusted to make getting in and out much easier, even with the fabric roof installed.





A new carbon-fiber Touring Seat with lower bolsters and a wider cushion is standard, making getting in and out of the cockpit a little easier, and if you’re the type of driver who wants maximum lateral support, the more aggressive carbon bucket from the coupe is available at no extra cost. It’s worth remembering that the Spider will be one of only 999 Valhalla cars produced, so if you want one, you’ll need to act quickly. Official pricing has yet to be announced, but it’s safe to assume that it’ll be expensive, likely a significant premium over the coupe’s starting price of around $1.05 million.
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