Aston Martin unveils the 2025 Valhalla after five years of development and uncertainty that dogged the model since its debut in 2019.
The Aston Martin Valhalla is a supercar that has become a modern symbol of the company’s rollercoaster of circumstances The supercar first appeared back in 2019 when it was known as the AM-RB 003 concept. The slick show car promised to be the ultimate expression of performance and it appeared Aston was going to be on a new path forward.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic a year later caused the world to shut down and Aston Martin had to navigate a new reality. As a result, the Valhalla was repeatedly delayed as the company focused on the art of existing and other issues. However, Aston engineers kept up the development of the Valhalla during that time and continued to put the pieces in place to make sure that the Valhalla could live up to its ambitious claims.
Valhalla makes up for lost time
It remains to be seen if the Valhalla will be worth the wait, but Aston says performance will be front and center. The Valhalla makes 1,064 combined horsepower with 817 of them coming from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. The engine is a highly modified version of the one used in the DBX707 SUV. A flat-plane crank is added along with new pistons, a dry sump lubrication system, bespoke camshafts, and an improved ignition system. Meanwhile, the turbochargers were beefed up to cope with the extra performance.
The rest of the muscle comes from three electric motors with one being mounted in the eight-speed transmission where it serves as the starter and generator. The other two are up front to give the Valhalla standard all-wheel drive with the bespoke motors sending the right amount of grip to each wheel. The triple motor arrangement also allows the Valhalla to have torque vectoring and an all-electric driving mode that can be used at speeds up to 80 mph but at the cost of range. The Valhalla has no reverse gear so the front motors are responsible for moving the car backward when it needs to be put in reverse. Aston says the setup allows the Valhalla to make the sprint to 60 mph in an estimated 2.7 seconds before topping out at 217 mph. This top speed is partially due to the active aero system with the spoiler and the front lip spoiler having the ability to be adjusted depending on the speed of the vehicle. Handling is covered by a five-link rear suspension and an F1-style pushrod front suspension for maximum prowess.
A key feature here is Aston’s Integrated Vehicle Control System (IVC) which is the figurative hub of the Valhalla’s track-ready demeanor and is responsible for managing the core aspects of the Valhalla’s performance hardware
Purpose-built interior and exterior mixes comfort with performance
The interior is simple when compared to some of the more bespoke cabins that the company has done over the years. However, the Valhalla’s stylish butterfly doors open up to reveal a sea of carbon fiber trim with a stubby F1-inspired steering wheel greeting the driver’s hands. The dashboard is a functional carbon fiber brace with two digital screens being mounted to the piece. The floor is elevated and the seats are reclined on a single-piece carbon fiber frame to create a racing feel with the aggressively bolstered seats providing plenty of support and comfort.
“With the next generation of sports cars launched to critical acclaim, we are now adding the first ever mid-engine series production Aston Martin to our portfolio, the ultimate driver’s supercar,” said Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark. “On paper and on-track Valhalla delivers the most driver-focused, technologically advanced supercar, with true hypercar performance and yet on the road it is as useable and enjoyable as any Aston Martin. A unique proposition, designed to be the most elegant and exciting product in the market.”
The exterior of the Valhalla is purpose-built with the big grille and headlights inviting the eye to gaze over its sculpted bodywork with the side profile getting functional vents and a prominent design line that goes towards the large wheels with the rear getting slender taillights and a large rear bumper with a prominent rear splitter.
More Aston Martin Stories
- Aston Martin Unveils 2025 Vanquish, The V12 is Back
- First Drive: 2024 Aston Martin DB12
- Honda Wants To Build Its Own Hypercar According to Report, New Partnership With Aston Martin Might Help
When can I buy one?
Buyers that endured the five-year wait to see it will be pleased to hear that the wait is almost over for the Valhalla with production slated to begin in the second half of 2025. Pricing wasn’t revealed but look for it to reflect the sheer amount of performance on hand as well as its rarity with Aston Martin only planning to build 999 examples of the supercar.
Ho hum, another toy for the super, super rich who can’t even drive. Future headline showing one totalled on the drive from the dealer’s lot.