Aston Martin’s Valhalla is it’s upcoming supercar to compete with supercars from manufacturers like the Ferrari, McLaren or even the Lamborghini. The Valhalla is a step down from the Valkyrie but you can expect it to match the performance of today's hypercars. However, the Valhalla's 2022 launch date means we will have a new flagship supercar from each of those manufacturers as well. It was common knowledge that the Valhalla will have a smaller engine than their full-fledged Valkyrie hypercar, and we now know that it will be a 3-litre turbocharged and electrified V6 unit. The power unit is named TM01, as a tribute to one of Aston Martin’s engineers during the 50s and 60s Tadek Marek. The TM01 has been developed wholly in-house by the British marquee.
The TM01 was engineered from the get-go to have electrification, the company says that this engine will be the most powerful in their range when it goes on sale. Judging by the company’s statement, this engine will not just do service in the Valhalla but multiple models in their lineup and will have varying outputs depending on the application. The TM01 will have a hot-V configuration which allows it to be more compact and will weigh less than 200kg. The electrification will add to a higher engine speed, meaning it will not only rev like a naturally aspirated car but also have low lag. The engine even in its various applications will be placed behind the passenger cabin and will have a dry sump system to aid centre of gravity and also provide better lubrication during cornering. The company has already started dyno tests of the new power unit.
Joerg Ross, Powertrain Chief Engineer said, “This project has been a great challenge from the start. Putting a team together to deliver what is going to be the future power of Aston Martin has been an honour. From the very beginning, we have had the freedom to explore and innovate in a way that we have not been able to do so in a very long time. Most importantly, we wanted to create something that is befitting of the TM01 nameplate and create something that would have impressed our predecessor and pioneering engineer, Tadek Marek”.
The Valhalla is expected to hit the roads sometime in the next two years, following in the footsteps of the Valkyrie, the first mid-engined hypercar from Aston Martin. This is a brave new direction for the company, famed for their grand tourers, we are excited to see this new chapter in Aston Martin’s future!