Aston Martin has announced that Valhalla – which made its debut in the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die – is now ready for production. Although it is the same hybrid vehicle, it differs massively from the lighter V6 engine it was originally rumoured to be.
Aston Martin’s CEO, Tobias Moers, says that the changes will not stop Valhalla from delivering on all its promises. “Preserving the essence of an exceptional concept car is vital when meeting the challenge of bringing it into production. With Valhalla not only have we stayed true to our commitment to build a world-beating supercar, but we have exceeded our original aims. The result is a pure driving machine – one which exists right at the cutting edge of performance and technology yet allows the driver to feel the emotion and thrill of complete connection and control.”
What does this mean?
First, the hybrid hypercar features three motors, the most powerful of which is a rear-mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. That sounds very Mercedes, but Aston says this engine is bespoke. With a flat-plane crank, it’s the “most advanced, responsive, and highest performing V8 engine” ever fitted to an Aston Martin. It revs to 7,200 rpm and produces 740 horsepower on its own steam, all of which goes to the rear axle. Top-exit tailpipes finish off the exhaust, which is both lightweight and features active flaps.
Along with the V8, you get a 150-kW battery hybrid system with two electric motors, one for each axle. This system adds another 201 hp for a total of 937 hp.
Then, there’s an EV mode that, when active, powers the front axle exclusively, while other driving modes see the percentage of power sent to each axle varying, depending on the driving demands. In certain situations, the Valhalla can direct 100% of its battery power to the rear axle for maximum performance.
Helping manage all this power is an all-new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic that has been developed specifically for a hybrid powertrain. It features an electronic limited-slip diff for enhanced handling and no reverse gear, as the electric motors can easily handle backing up. This saves weight and makes the most of the electric system.
It is worthy to note that in the EV mode, it can go up to 80 mph (128km/h), although the maximum range in this mode is just nine miles.
With regards to acceleration, the sprint from 0-62 mph takes just 2.5 seconds and top speed is rated at 217 mph. As for the rest of the highlights, the Valhalla is getting a new carbon-fibre tub for maximum stiffness with minimal weight; Formula One-style pushrod front suspension with inboard mounted springs and dampers; multilink suspension at the rear; Multimatic variable spring rates, and adaptive spool valve dampers. Thanks to these, Track mode will see the ride height “dramatically reduced”, while street driving offers a nose-lifting system for help with tricky bumps.
There are no images of the cabin, but Aston promises a new AM HMI system with a central touchscreen boasting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Valhalla will be offered as both a left-hand and right-hand drive vehicle and will feature other luxuries like full LED Matrix headlights with auto high-beams; forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking; active cruise control; blind-spot monitoring, and the obligatory rearview camera, which can be upgraded to a surround-view system at an extra cost.
Aston Martin is holding back on when the final product will be unveiled, but the first deliveries are expected in 2023.
Source: CarBuzz