Unveiled: 2028 Aston Martin Valhalla Spider Breaks Cover, Promises Thrilling Performance

Aston Martin has unveiled the 2028 Valhalla Spider, an open-top version of its highly anticipated Valhalla hypercar, offering an exhilarating driving experience with the capability of reaching its top speed even with the roof removed. While the majority of the 999 Valhalla coupes are already sold, prospective buyers with a significant budget still have a chance to secure one of the exclusive Spider models. Only about one in four Valhallas are expected to be Spiders, and they will command a premium of approximately 40 percent over the coupe, with the first units slated for U.S. delivery in the third quarter of 2027.

Mechanically, the Valhalla Spider is identical to its coupe counterpart, ensuring that none of its extraordinary performance is compromised in its open-top configuration. This means it features the same sophisticated hybrid powertrain, centered around an 816-horsepower flat-plane-crank 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine sourced from AMG. This engine is complemented by three electric motors: one driving each front wheel and a third integrated into the new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The combined system output is an astounding 1,064 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque, enabling the Valhalla Spider to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 217 mph. Remarkably, it retains this Vmax capability even with the roof off, making it the fastest open-top Aston Martin in history.

The Valhalla Spider also shares its suspension, braking, and steering hardware with the coupe, along with 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged alloy wheels fitted with bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires developed specifically for the Valhalla. The car's exceptional driver appeal, praised in the coupe, is expected to translate seamlessly to the Spider. Its blend of ultra-high technology with an analog feel, combined with a coherent chassis and powertrain, allows drivers to quickly find balance and pace, delivering a scintillating experience on real-world roads.

Developing a roofless version capable of such performance required significant engineering. The Spider’s carbon-fiber structure, crafted from hand-laid carbon fiber and bonded to the molded carbon lower tub, provides a fundamentally stiff base. According to Andrew Kay, Valhalla platform chief engineer, this inherent stiffness means that engineers did not need to add substantial mass to the rockers or central tunnel to compensate for the removed roof. Although at first glance it might appear to be a coupe with a removable targa roof, closer inspection reveals key differences. The Spider's doors lack the window frames and roof cutouts found on the coupe. Consequently, the cant rails of the carbon-fiber targa roof, which will be standard on all U.S.-spec Spiders, arc slightly higher to improve entry and egress into the snug, carbon-fiber-lined cabin when the roof is attached. Aston Martin engineers have also refined the kinematics of the dihedral-opening doors, making them lighter and easier to operate.