The 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 of the upcoming Aston Martin Valkyrie is one hell of an engine, and as this video from Drive Tribe reveals, has quite an interesting history behind it.
Now, the idea of having a naturally-aspirated V12 with 1,000 hp in a world governed by strict emissions regulations may seem impossible, but the experts at Cosworth have been able to make it happen.
Watch Also: How Does The Aston Martin Valkyrie’s Naturally Aspirated V12 Produce 1,000 HP?
Development of the Valkyrie’s V12 first started with a compact inline-three cylinder. This engine can be traced back to both the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo and the Jaguar C-X75. You see, Cosworth designed the 1.6-liter four-cylinder of the C-X75, and when it was tasked with developing the engine for Nissan’s GT-R LM Nismo, it took the C-X75’s engine, removed one of the cylinders, and then doubled it up to get a 3.0-liter straight-six. When Aston Martin came to Cosworth looking for a V12 for the Valkyrie, the engine manufacturer started off with one of these three-cylinder mule engines before quadrupling it to get the V12.
It goes without saying that in a world where hybrid and all-electric performance cars are becoming increasingly common, the Valkyrie’s V12 is a very special thing. The key reason why it is a reality is that by first developing it in three-cylinder guise, Cosworth was able to verify it would put out the horsepower and torque figures necessary while still being emissions compliant when another eight-cylinders were added.