At the beating heart of Valhalla is its all-new PHEV powertrain , which features three motors ; foremost of these is a rear-midmounted 4.0 litre twin-turbo bespoke V8 engine . The most advanced , responsive and highest performing V8 engine ever fitted to an Aston Martin , it features a flat-plane crankshaft for increased responsiveness . Revving to 7200rpm and developing 750PS , it sends drive exclusively to the rear axle . Exhaling through a lightweight exhaust system with active flaps for an adjustable and authentic Aston Martin sound character it also features top-exit tailpipes to maximise visual and aural drama .
Supplementing this new V8 engine is a 150kW / 400V battery hybrid system utilising a pair of E-Motors ; one mounted on the front axle and the other on the rear axle . The electric system contributes a further 204PS for a headline combined power output of 950PS . When driven in EV mode battery power is directed exclusively to the front axle . In other driving modes battery power is split between front and rear axles , the percentage sent to each axle constantly varies according to driving demands . In certain situations , 100 % of battery power can be sent to the rear axle , supplementing the full force of the ICE V8 for maximum performance .
Completing the powertrain is an all-new 8-speed DCT transmission . Exclusively designed and built for Aston Martin , this new paddle-shift gearbox has been developed specifically for the hybrid era . Featuring e-reverse ( which utilises the PHEV ’ s electric motors and thereby saves weight by negating the need for a conventional reverse gear ) the transmission also features an Electronic Limited-Slip Differential ( E-Diff ) on the rear axle for maximum traction and handling agility .
Electrical power is also used to enhance low speed control and response as well as provide reversing capability . And , thanks to the instantaneous torque from the E-Motors , the hybrid system augments the V8 engine to deliver sensational standing start acceleration and in-gear response . Outright performance is further aided by the E-Motor and V8 ICE being able to run different gears in the DCT simultaneously , which enables a maximum torque delivery of 1000Nm .
Running in EV-only mode , Valhalla will be capable of a maximum 80mph / 130km / h and has a zero-emission range of 15km . Predicted CO2 ( WLTP ) is less than 200g / km . Unleashing all 950PS the Valhalla will reach a top speed of 217mph / 330km / h and will complete the sprint from 0-62mph in just 2.5 seconds . In terms of outright track capability , a stunning 6:30 Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time is being targeted .
Ralph Illenberger , Head of Powertrain Engineering said : “ Valhalla is our first opportunity to really show what we are capable of in a true production sense . We have created our own bespoke air-to-air charge-cooled , flat-plane crank V8 engine and have combined it with a powerful hybrid system . And , of course , we also have our own bespoke Dual Clutch Transmission - a first for Aston Martin and an essential component both for Valhalla and future Aston Martin models . The result is a truly world-class powertrain for an efficient , ultra-performing supercar .”
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