Aston Martin’s Valhalla supercar is on track to start production in 2024 as the company’s first plug-in hybrid.
In a development update announced on Wednesday, Aston Martin said its Formula 1 team is closely involved with the project and that the first prototypes will be on the road later this year.
The involvement of the F1 team is via the team’s consulting division, Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT). Key areas where AMPT is helping is in the areas of aerodynamics, materials, and vehicle dynamics, Aston Martin said. The project is also benefiting from AMPT’s rapid-development know-how.
A similar strategy was employed for the Valkyrie hypercar, albeit with Red Bull Racing, when Aston Martin was still a sponsor of the leading F1 team.
The Valhalla was first shown as a concept in 2019, originally with a newly developed V-6 serving as the internal-combustion component of the plug-in hybrid powertrain. However, Aston Martin scrapped plans for the V-6 following the onset of the pandemic, and switched to the proven twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 it sources from Mercedes-Benz and already uses in most of its models.
Performance targets have been increased from what Aston Martin previously announced. The company now plans to combine the V-8 with three electric motors, up from a previous two. There will be two motors at the front axle and a third motor integrated with the rear-mounted transmission, helping to form an all-wheel-drive system. The combined peak output for the Valhalla will be 998 hp, up from 937 hp previously.
The two front motors will act independently, enabling fast and highly precise torque vectoring. They will also serve as the reverse function for the Valhalla, allowing engineers to drop the reverse gear of the transmission (thought to be an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic) and thus save some weight. The third motor will send drive to ther rear axle and also serve as the engine starter.
Production of the Valhalla will be limited to 999 examples. Additional examples may be planned, for example if Aston Martin launches an open-top version.
