We've all become accustomed to Aston Martin cars over the years. With beautiful lines, elegant curves, and just the right amount of class - aesthetically, they are very difficult to beat. And yet, despite being a sight for sore eyes, this has sometimes come at the expense of performance, with a heavy chassis, often weighing them down.
That time has come to an end. With the new mid-engined Valhalla, Aston Martin is confounding any preconceived notions of their brand, releasing a true performance monster. In doing so, they have recruited some of the sharpest technical minds, pouring millions into research and development to create a truly impressive spectacle.
The halo Aston Martin Valkyrie will steal many of the headlines, but we are here to remind you that the Valhalla is a phenom in its own right. Here's everything you need to know about the Valhalla, due for release in 2023.
Update May 2022: This article was updated with more information about the 2023 Aston Martin Valhalla.
Valhalla: The Son Of Valkyrie
The Valhalla is one of three mid-engined Aston Martin models that are in the works as far as we are aware. The Valkyrie is the halo that packs a massive naturally-aspirated, electrically-assisted V12 engine that revs all the way up to 11,000rpm making 1000hp along the way. It is poised to be a car that offers the ultimate race car experience on the road. A track-focused AMR Pro is also planned and all that power from the engine will be used on a car that will weigh between 2,646–2,811lbs which is just ridiculous.
Aston Martin also revealed the new Vanquish Concept which will be another mid-engined model. However, the Valhalla is the one we are currently interested in. Aston Martin calls it "The son of Valkyrie".
To be made available in limited numbers, the Valhalla will be a special project for the British marque. Unlike the naturally-aspirated V12 of its "father", the Valkyrie, the Valhalla will use a smaller engine. A 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 hybrid was in the works, but it was scrapped in favor of an AMG-sourced 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 (borrowed from the Vantage). The engine will be assisted by a pair of electric motors at each axle. Rimac would supply the hybrid KERS system and the overall weight target for the Valhalla is set at an ambitious 3,417 lbs. The combined power output of the powertrain is projected to be 937 hp according to Aston Martin.
The Valkyrie, Valkyrie AMR Pro, and Valhalla will be highly exclusive, very few will ever have the privilege of driving them.
Penned By The Genius Adrian Newey
Aston Martin's mid-engine flagship model projects came to exist through its partnership with the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team. The collaboration brought along Aston Martin's engineering abilities and married it with Red Bull's chief technical designer, and renowned Formula 1 aerodynamicist – Adrian Newey.
Newey is believed to be one of the greatest aerodynamicists in F1 history alongside Colin Chapman, Gordon Murray, and Ross Brawn. Working with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing, Newey's cars have accumulated a total of 10 constructors' world titles and helped seven different drivers win championships. Among which, two drivers were multiple titleholders - Mika Hakkinen (1998, 99) and Sebastian Vettel (2010, 11, 12, 13). His latest victory was with Max Verstappen taking the 2021 F1 Drivers' Championship crown.
Newey designed and engineered the Valkyrie. He also assisted with the development of the V12 powertrain with Cosworth for Aston Martin with ridiculous targets and unrestricted access. After the Valkyrie, the Valhalla was the second project they took on.
Valhalla: The Path To Aston Martin's Future
The Valhalla would be a less extreme version of the Valkyrie. Following the reveal of the concept in 2019, Aston Martin revised the Valhalla with some design changes, which would be the final production model. The expensive development costs of the hybrid V6 were scrapped once the new owners took over the company and the brand has since been on an upward trajectory. The brand is now largely owned by Canadian entrepreneur - Lawrence Stroll and they also have their own Formula 1 team - Aston Martin F1.
The Aston Martin Valhalla Is Coming
The Aston Martin Valhalla is scheduled to go into production in 2023. Aston Martin was planning to build 500 examples of the mid-engined supercar. However, the brand then corrected itself in August 2021, by stating they will make 999 examples.
A racecar for the road, but ready to take on the race track if you must. The Valhalla will understandably not be cheap. Estimates suggest that customers will be shelling out around $800,000 for one.