Aston Martin has been busy with numerous launches but the Valhalla has been a long time coming since it is their entry into the supercar world. Aston Martin is known for its GTs including the svelte Vanquish but the Valhalla is a different kettle of fish. It is a plug-in hybrid supercar that takes aim at the Lamborghini Revuelto with an eye-brow raising 1079PS / 1100Nm. All those horses come courtesy of an 828PS flat plane crank 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with three E-motors delivering a further 251PS. This means performance that is unheard of for an Aston Martin as the numbers include a 350km/h (217mph) top speed and a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of 2.5 seconds. However, it also looks extreme but still has the sensual elements of what an Aston Martin is all about including a wide grille plus a race car-like rear styling.
There are dihedral doors and sculptured surfaces all built to be as aero-efficient as possible. There are Active aerodynamics at play here creating around 600kg of downforce. In Race mode, the rear T-Wing raises by 255mm on powerful hydraulic rams for maximum downforce which looks even more purposeful. The carbon body can also be exposed for a more sinister look. It looks menacing and has the requisite presence to be in this segment. Other exotic elements being ticked off include Magnesium wheels wrapped around Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
Inside, the steering wheel is yoke-like while the cabin is drenched in carbon too while it does not have the leather-lined extravagance of the GT models. It is a more serious place to be with a clear bent towards being a racing car. Back to the supercar appeal laced with this car, the Valhalla has a quad exhaust system which includes a pair of top-exit tailpipes while you get low-mounted tailpipes in the underbody venturi tunnels.
Despite its electrified powertrain, the V8 remains the core of the driving experience while also bringing in the necessary drama. A few years back, Aston Martin had promised to build 500 cars but that figure has now ballooned to 999 units with each car being priced at a cool $1 million plus. For Aston Martin, this is a much more competitive space and something Ferrari or Lamborghini are much more famous for. That said, the Valhalla has the exotic looks and the power to justify its presence amongst this rarified lot.
