AM-RB 003 to be called Aston Martin Valhalla
Aston Martin has announced that the AM-RB 003, a hybrid supercar unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, will carry the nameplate ‘Valhalla’.
Named “after the warrior’s paradise in Norse mythology”, the Valhalla is essentially the Valkyrie’s little brother, a project of a collaboration between Aston Martin, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Adrian Newey.
Where the Valkyrie has a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 with 1,000bhp, the Valhalla will be driven by Aston’s own “high-efficiency, high-output turbocharged V6 petrol engine” and a battery-electric hybrid system. Think of it as a rival to the recently announced Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
Although not as aerodynamically extreme as the Valkyrie, built instead to be a more useable, more approachable mid-engined supercar, it will still produce a huge amount of downforce. It’ll be made entirely out of carbon fibre, too, and use the same active suspension as the Valkyrie, so expect it to be light and incredibly capable.
“Aston Martin model names always attract a lot of attention,” said Andy Palmer, Aston Martin’s CEO. “They do so because they invariably capture an emotion or tell a story. In following the Valkyrie we knew the Aston Martin Valhalla needed to make a strong statement of its own, yet also offer continuity and a clear connection.
“Norse mythology contains such powerful language and rich storytelling it felt only right that the AM-RB 003 should follow the Valkyrie’s theme. For those fortunate enough to own one I’m sure they will recognise and appreciate the name’s connotations of glory and happiness, for there can be few more hallowed places than the driver’s seat of an Aston Martin Valhalla.”
Just 500 Valhallas will be built, the first of which should arrive by 2022. By that point it’ll be joined by the new Aston Martin Vanquish Vision Concept, a more approachable mid-engined supercar that will compete in a market “traditionally defined by Italian supercar makers”, with cars like the Ferrari F8 Tributo and Lamborghini Huracan.
Interested? You’d better get your order in fast…
Aston Martin
Valhalla
