Aston Martin Valhalla takes on Italians with 1,064-hp PHEV V8

It’s been more than five years since the Aston Martin Valhalla was first unveiled as a concept car, and more than three years since its production-spec design was previewed. Now, the British brand has fully unveiled its flagship new mid-engine supercar ahead of production starting in the second quarter of 2025. It promises to bring attention to cars like the Lamborghini Revuelto and Ferrari SF90 Stradale, and follow in the footsteps of the Valkyrie.

At the heart of the new supercar is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that develops 817 hp (828 PS), the highest specific output of any Aston Martin. The V8 engine also features three electric motors, two of which are located on the front axle, boosting output to 1,064 hp (1,079 hp) and 811 lb-ft (1,100 Nm) of torque.

Read: Aston Martin Valhalla AMR looks sensational but sounds rather dull ‘in the ring’

As well as being the first Aston Martin to be sold as a plug-in hybrid, the Valhalla also debuts the brand’s new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. With more than 1,000 galloping horses and all-wheel drive, Valhalla will blast off the track and hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.5 seconds, on to a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h).

There are other V8 models in Aston Martin’s lineup, but the Valhalla’s engine is slightly different. Most notably, it has a dry sump lubrication system and is equipped with a 180-degree flat-plane crankshaft. Engineers also designed new camshafts and exhaust manifolds for the 4.0-liter engine, and the turbochargers are larger than those in the DBX707.

Combining three electric motors allows Aston Martin to deliver Valhalla torque vectoring on the front axle, while there’s an electronic limited-slip differential on the rear axle. Electrical assist also mitigates any noticeable turbo lag and captures lost energy under braking. Valhalla can even travel purely on electric power for up to 14 kilometers, but the top speed is limited to 80 mph (140 km/h).

Like the Valkyrie, the Valhalla prioritizes aerodynamics. It generates more than 600 kilograms of downforce at 149 mph (240 km/h), and as speed increases, stunt active aerodynamic components are used to bleed excess downforce from the front and rear wings. There’s no word yet on how fast it will circle around, but it should be pretty quick.

Key vehicle components, including suspension, braking, steering, active aerodynamics and powertrain, are optimized through an Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control (IVC) system, which allows fine-tuning of key parameters. IVC also ensures that the front and rear axles can communicate with each other, as there is no physical connection between them.

Like the best supercars, the Valhalla is built with a carbon fiber monocoque, drawing on Aston Martin’s expertise in Formula 1 racing. Aluminum subframes are mounted to the front and rear of the tub. The front features Trick pushrod suspension with inboard springs and dampers, while the rear features custom Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers. Braking is handled by carbon-ceramic discs at all four corners, including 410 mm discs at the front and 290 mm discs at the rear.

Development story…