► New Valhalla supercar specs revealed
► Production version is a hybrid V8
► 937bhp, 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds
Aston Martin's new Valhalla supercar just took a big step forward towards production reality. The brand has confirmed the new car's performance specifications in detail as it gears up for going on sale.
And those numbers are impressive, almost rivalling the new Valkyrie for power, performance and aerodynamic prowess.
'Preserving the essence of an exceptional concept car is vital when meeting the challenge of bringing it into production,' says new Aston boss Tobias Moers, who took over from Andy Palmer in August 2020.
Come on then, give us the performance specs!
The new Valhalla will use a 740bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a flat-plane crank that revs up to 7200rpm, with all of its power being sent to the rear wheels. Couple that with two electric motors – one attached to the front axle, one at the rear – and you have a total power output of 937bhp. Aston claims a blistering 2.5sec 0-62mph time and a top speed of 217mph.
The Valhalla also makes couple of new technology debuts for Aston Martin. The new supercar uses an all-new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic that's been designed specifically for hybrid powertrains. Expect this gearbox to be used in future hybrid performance cars from Aston Martin. The other is an electronic limited-slip differential for the rear axle.
The addition of hybrid power also allows the Valhalla to run silently at up to 80mph for nine miles on e-power alone – much like Ferrari's SF90 – and a relatively low 200g/km CO2 emission target is promised. Aston's also promising that the new Valhalla can lap the Nürburgring in around 6m 30sec.
It's not just about power...
No, it's not. So it's a good idea that the Valhalla is made up almost entirely of carbonfibre, isn't it? Despite the big V8 and hybrid powertrain, the Valhalla's dry weight target is 1550kg.
The new supercar is built around a carbon tub, with pushrod suspension on the front end and a multi-link setup at the rear and adaptive dampers that have both road and track setups. In fact, Track mode drops the ride height to make use of the car's active aerodynamics that promise up to 600kg of downforce.
The Valhalla's sculpted looks and active aero that's been ripped straight off the Valkyrie hypercar, with flowing front intakes and venturi tunnels that allow air to pass underneath. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard.
What else should I know?
Well, this isn't like a stripped-out Valkyrie elsewhere. The cockpit has an all-new interface, includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Aston says tech like matrix LED lights, dual-zone air-con and Level 2+ semi-autonomous driving tech like active cruise control will be included.
We'll update this story with more details soon. In the mean time, keep reading for our first look at the Valhalla in concept form and the lead-up to the production version you see here.
Aston Valhalla: the development
The new Aston Martin Valhalla reflects a significant move by Gaydon to park its vehicle range on the front lawn of mid-engined mainstays in Modena, Italy. It's been testing at Silverstone, and Aston Martin has revealed new dynamic images of the supercar at Pebble Beach - and a video.
This Valhalla will be joined by the next-generation Aston Martin Vanquish as a two-pronged mid-engined attack on the supercar establishment, you see. Both Astons are powered by a new, in-house-developed V6.
Yes, that’s right: Aston Martin is going to start manufacturing its own engines again - for the first time since the turn of the millennium.
So what exactly is the Aston Martin Valhalla?
‘It was always the intention for the Aston Martin Valkyrie to be a once-in-a lifetime project,’ said Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer. ‘However, it was also vital to us that Valkyrie would create a legacy: a direct descendant that would also set new standards within its own area of the hypercar market, creating a bloodline of highly specialised, limited production machines that can exist in parallel with Aston Martin’s series production models.
'I’m thrilled to announce that this car is the Project ‘003’, and our next step into a dynamic and exacting arena.’
This was conceived as the next chapter in the Valkyrie story. Much of the technology has trickled down from the maximum Aston and the company’s association with F1 designer Adrian Newey, but deployed here in a more usable, day-to-day hypercar.
A-Z of the 2019 Geneva motor show on CAR magazine
LMP1-style doors cut into the roof, making access easier. It’s a full carbonfibre monocoque and the Valhalla’s bodywork is composite too, while suspension is by active systems to cater for use on road or track.
No performance stats or specs are available yet, but we know the V6 will be hybridised in this application.
It’s absolutely dripping with the latest tech: 3D printing is used to build many components, such as the centre console where it strips away 50% of the mass, according to the engineers. They’re also excited by the new, race-derived Nexcel sealed oil system which facilitates oil changes in less than 90sec. How will Kwik Fit compete with that?
When does the Aston Martin Valhalla go on sale?
First deliveries are scheduled for late 2021, according to Aston Martin. It seems the pace of change in Gaydon ain’t letting up any time soon...
Further hypercar reading: