Presented in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Valhalla — derived from the radical Valkyrie — was going to be the first Aston Martin model to use the new hybrid V6 from the Gaydon brand in the UK. But now, everything indicates that this British supercar will equip a Mercedes-AMG V8 before.
The TM01, as this hybrid V6 engine was known internally, was eagerly awaited as it was the first engine fully developed by Aston Martin since 1968.
According to the British brand, it was being designed in preparation for the future and more demanding anti-pollution standards — the so-called Euro 7 — and was going to be the most powerful engine in its range (around 1000 hp). But everything seems to have fallen to the ground...
At least that's what Autocar writes, which guarantees that the rapprochement between Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG has put the development of this V6 hybrid engine on hold.
To this must be added the fact that Tobias Moers — Mercedes-AMG's “boss” until last year — is the new general manager of Aston Martin, so the relationship between both companies has never been so close.
The aforementioned British publication reveals that Valhalla, in this way, will undergo a refurbishment before its launch, in 2023, and that in the coming months it will show itself in its new form.
AMG V8
At the moment it is only known that Valhalla will continue to be a “super-hybrid”, which makes the candidate — read “engine” — more likely to “excite” it to be the electrified twin-turbo V8 than the brand. Affalterbach will debut in the Mercedes-AMG GT 73.
However, Valhalla is a two-seater supercar with the engine in a central rear position, which could not be more different from the system recently presented by Mercedes-AMG, designed for a layout where the combustion engine is in a longitudinal front position and the axle rear is electrified. It remains to be seen whether it will be possible to “fit in” the AMG hybrid system.
Even so, the “barrier” of 1000 hp of power should be guaranteed, bringing this Aston Martin closer to rivals such as the also hybrid Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
Aston Martin V6 engine on the test bench.
It is recalled that as early as last year Tobias Moers had stated that, although the British brand continued to develop the hybrid V6 engine, it had several alternatives available. Now this seems to make even more sense.
Aston Martin has not yet revealed how many orders it has received from Valhalla, but confirmed that by the end of 2020, “a large part” of the deposits it had “in portfolio” came from customers of this “super-hybrid”.
Source: Autocar