It has been a while, but Aston Martin has finally launched its hypercar monster, the Valhalla.
First revealed in 2021, Valhalla has inched its way to production form and lands, as it did in 2021, offering performance that comes in part from the technologies of Formula One. And that power and those performance figures are pretty stunning.
At its heart, the AWD Valhalla boasts a 794kW/1100Nm hybrid powertrain comprising a 4-litre twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 engine busting out 609kW, with three electric motors – two of which drive the front axle – contributing a further 185kW. An 8-speed DCT transmission – which incorporates the third e-Motor and an electronic rear differential (E-diff) – sends drive to the rear axle. There’s a 6.1kWh high-voltage battery.
Performance sees the 0-100km/h sprint competed in 2.5 seconds with top speed limited to 350km/h and that performance is aided by aerodynamics that were sculpted with input from Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT) – the consulting arm of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. Active aerodynamics generate in excess of 600kg of downforce. Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control (IVC) electronics monitor suspension, braking, steering, active aerodynamics and powertrain systems to achieve optimal performance.
On start-up, Valhalla selects Sport mode as default, with the driver able to manually select Pure EV, Sport+ and Race as alternative drive modes. Each mode has its own combination of settings for powertrain – including Torque Vectoring and hybrid system integration – plus suspension stiffness, active aero, and steering calibration. In pure EV mode, drive is from the front-axle motors only with that 6.1kWh battery enabling a range of 14km and a top speed limited to 140km/h.
The mid-engine two-seater Valhalla has a carbon fibre tub. Aluminium subframes are attached front and rear of the tub. The front-end features Formula One style push rod front suspension complete with inboard mounted springs and dampers. The rear is built around a five-link suspension system. 410mm Carbon Ceramic (CCB) discs on the front axle and 390mm on the rear provide the stopping power.
A beautiful-looking machine, the Valhalla sports forward-hinged dihedral doors for that supercar flair while, inside, there’s the taste of Formula One. There’s carbon fibre everywhere, including carbon fibre seats, and raised footwells for a low hip-to-heel seating position. The steering wheel shape has also been inspired by Formula One and features a one-piece carbon fibre armature.
The HMI system features a central touchscreen incorporating the introduction of EV features, such as a drivetrain visualiser illustrating the PHEV Powerflow. Valhalla also introduces selectable ADAS modes to configure the preferred level of intervention different driving scenarios.
Aston Martin says the Valhalla can be customized via its luxury brands personalisation service, ‘Q by Aston Martin’.
Limited to 999 units, first deliveries of the Aston Marin Valhalla are scheduled to being in the second half of 2025.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (December 2024 / January 2025)
22 January 2025