Aston Martin Unveils the Valhalla’s Open-Top Spider Variant

Aston Martin’s latest supercar just got even more fun.

James Bond’s favourite automaker has just unveiled an open-top Spider variant of the Valhalla. Despite the lack of a roof, the new model retains everything that has made its hard-top sibling so coveted up until now.

Turning a vehicle into a roadster is a lot more difficult than simply removing its roof. Aston Martin’s design department had to completely rework the sculptural two-seater’s aerodynamics to account for its deletion. Relying on help from its racing division, the team has outfitted the vehicle with a removable wind deflector that directs air over the cockpit and to the rear intake snorkel and recalibrated its active elements for open-air operation. There is also a standard removable fabric roof for those days when the weather refuses to cooperate. With it in place, the car can reach up to 124 mph, performance that Aston Martin calls “class-leading.” There is also an optional carbon-fibre top that allows the model to reach the same top speed as its coupe equivalent: 217 mph. The automaker did not disclose how much extra it will cost.

More subtle changes were made to the interior. In addition to the extra headroom when the roof is stowed away, the cabin is now equipped with carbon-fibre touring seats designed to be more comfortable and easier to get in and out of. The Valhalla’s dihedral doors, thankfully, were unaffected by any of the changes made to the vehicle.

Also unchanged is the supercar’s plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Valhalla Spider is still powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V-8 and a trio of electric motors (one of which is located on the front axle, effectively giving the car all-wheel drive). The combo is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and produces 1,064 hp and 811 ft lbs of torque. Aston Martin hasn’t announced performance numbers aside from how fast it can travel with its removable fabric or carbon-fibre roof in place. We imagine it will also be quick, since the coupe can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds.

Aston Martin has yet to announce how much the Valhalla Spider will cost, but something in excess of the coupe’s US$1.05 million starting price will be likely. You might want to move to secure your build slot sooner rather than later, too. Top Gear reports that nearly every example of the roadster, which will represent a quarter of the Valhalla’s 999-car run, has been spoken for.

Scroll through below for more photos of the Aston Martin Valhalla Spider

This story was originally published in Robb Report USA.

Photos courtesy of Aston Martin.