- Aston Martin has launched its first plug-in hybrid, the Valhalla
- It’s a mid-engine supercar powered by a twin-turbo V-8 and trio of electric motors
- The Valhalla produces a combined 1,064 hp, or enough for 0-62 mph acceleration in 2.5 seconds
- Production will be limited at 999 units, each rumored to cost about $1 million
Aston Martin’s Valhalla supercar is in the final stages of a lengthy development process and is now just months away from entering production, the automaker announced on Tuesday.
A total of 999 units will be built, with deliveries set to begin in the second half of 2025. The striking mid-engine supercar will arrive in the U.S. as a 2026 model, and prices are rumored to start at about $1 million.
The Valhalla was first previewed as the AM-RB 003 concept at the 2019 Geneva auto show, unveiled alongside the Valkyrie hypercar and a second mid-engine supercar concept branded as the Vanquish. While the Vanquish concept was originally planned for production, it was later replaced with a traditional front-engine, V-12 grand tourer design, which debuted earlier this year as the 2025 Vanquish.
The Valhalla itself has evolved significantly since the AM-RB 003 concept. Initially developed in partnership with the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, the project shifted entirely to Aston Martin Performance Technologies—Aston Martin’s engineering and consulting division—after the automaker launched its own F1 team in 2021.
One of the most significant changes is the powertrain. The AM-RB 003 concept featured a plug-in hybrid system with a newly developed V-6 engine, but the Valhalla replaces the canceled V-6 with a Mercedes-Benz AMG-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, similar to the one used in the Vantage and DB12 sports cars, but with a dry-sump lubrication system.
The flat-plane V-8 works in tandem with three electric motors: two driving the front wheels independently and one positioned between the V-8 and an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to help drive the rear wheels. This third motor also charges the battery, supports gear synchronization, and provides torque fill to the engine. Additionally, it serves as the engine’s starter motor.
Aston Martin claims the powertrain delivers a combined output of 1,064 hp, enabling 0-62 mph acceleration in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. The electric motors contribute to regenerative braking, torque vectoring, and an electronic limited-slip differential at the rear. The Valhalla can also operate in electric-only mode via the front motors, at speeds of up to 80 mph, though Aston Martin has not disclosed the range.
All this technology comes with a weight penalty. Aston Martin lists a dry weight of 3,648 pounds when equipped with lightweight options. Efforts to minimize weight include the use of a carbon-fiber central tub built to F1 standards, carbon-fiber body panels, and aluminum subframes attached to the front and rear of the tub.
The Valhalla’s exterior design has also evolved since the AM-RB 003 concept, featuring new headlights, a wider grille, larger side intakes, and an updated rear design likely tailored to the revised powertrain. Aerodynamics play a key role, with active elements generating over 1,322 pounds of downforce from 150 mph to the car’s 217 mph top speed. The extendable rear wing, part of the active aero system, incorporates a drag reduction system (DRS) and air brake function.
Additional F1 inspiration abounds, particularly for the suspension system. The front suspension features F1-style pushrods with inboard-mounted springs and dampers, specifically Bilstein’s DTX dampers, which provide a wide range of settings between comfort and performance. The rear suspension consists of a multi-link setup with coil springs, the same DTX dampers, and an anti-roll bar.
Additional features include carbon-ceramic brake rotors, model-specific Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires mounted on 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear, and a drive mode selector with Pure EV, Sport, Sport+, and Race modes. Drivers can also adjust the electronic stability system, with one mode even switching the system off for track driving.
For the interior, the designers incorporated a square steering wheel backed by large shift paddles, ample forged carbon trim, and a pair of digital screens for the gauge cluster and infotainment system. These screens are positioned atop a carbon brace that spans the width of the cabin. The rest of the cabin is intentionally minimalist, in line with Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman’s goal of creating a “pure” design to keep the focus on driving.
Production of the Valhalla will start in the second quarter of 2025, just as Aston Martin wraps up production of the Valkyrie. The automaker in November said Valkyrie production will be concluded by the end of 2024, after which a total 275 units will have been built, including coupe, convertible, and track-only versions.
Aston Martin plans to add more plug-in hybrids to its lineup in quick succession, the automaker’s chairman, Lawrence Stroll, revealed in February. While the company still intends to launch electric vehicles as well, the debut of the first EV has been delayed to 2026, pushed back from the originally planned 2025 launch.