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Aston Martin Valhalla is ready to Ragnarok with 937 plug-in horsepower

The Aston Martin Valhalla is here. The company's first series-production, mid-engine monster packs 937 plug-in hybrid horsepower in a lightweight carbon fiber chassis. This 217-mph hypercar is expected to run a 6:30 lap around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Originally, the hopeful Ferrari killer was referred to as Project 003. It was later renamed Valhalla and was on track to make its debut with an in-house, 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 – the first engine Aston developed in-house since a 5.3-liter V8 entered production in 1969. After Daimler increased its stake in the British luxury builder in 2020, those plans went out the window.  Rather than an in-house V6, the Valhalla will now be powered by a customized AMG Black series V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain. The twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter flat-plane-ocrank V8 makes a respectable 740 horsepower all on its own. Two electric motors combine for an additional 201. That should add up to 941, not 937; we're assuming a few stray horses drowned crossing the Great Sea of Unit Conversion.  The engine and motors are paired to a unique eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that has no physical reverse gear. Instead, the electric motors are run the opposite direction to simulate a backward gear, saving both weight and complexity in the gearbox. This is mated to an advanced torque vectoring all-wheel drive system can send 100% of available electric power to either the front or rear axles. Aston Martin says it will do 0-60 in just 2.5 seconds on the way to a 217 mph top speed. Around town, it can also cruise in electric-only mode for up to 9 miles up to a speed of 80 mph, but we suspect you'll deplete the battery much more quickly than that if you floor it up to its top EV speed.  "Preserving the essence of an exceptional concept car is vital when meeting the challenge of bringing it into production," said CEO Tobias Moers. "With Valhalla not only have we stayed true to our commitment to build a world-beating supercar, but we have exceeded our original aims. The result is a pure driving machine — one which exists right at the cutting edge of performance and technology yet allows the driver to feel the emotion and thrill of complete connection and control." Its carbon fiber body construction makes it ultra-light (just 3,417 pounds, which is nothing for a PHEV) and super rigid.

Weekly Recap For 5.20.16 | Autoblog Minute

Senior Editor Greg Migliore recaps the week in automotive news, including a look at the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato, two Volvo concepts, and the FCA Jeep airbag recall.

Gold-plated Aston Martin DB5 model sells for $90k

Classic Aston Martins sell for big bucks at auction. So this news of a DB5 selling for a princely sum hardly comes as a surprise. But the model in question wasn't an actual DB5. It was a scale model. Created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary James Bond film Goldfinger, this 1:3 scale replica of the DB5 that Sean Connery drove in the movie was plated in 24-karat gold and signed by Sir Ken Adam, who designed the modified movie prop. Created by Propshop at Pinewood Studios, the model comes complete with radio-controlled machine guns, bulletproof shield and rotating license plate – just like the one in the movie. After registering interest from some 19,000 viewers from 129 countries, the model sold online for GBP55,000 ($90k) to one Mr. Robert Tyrrell, an English farmer and Bond fan. Proceeds benefit the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Aston Martin DB5 Model Sells for GBP55,000 in Online Charity Auction 17 September 2014 - Tonight, on the 50th anniversary of the World Premiere of Goldfinger, a unique 24k gold-plated third scale replica of James Bond's iconic Aston Martin DB5 was sold in a special online sale to benefit the NSPCC by Christie's and EON Productions for GBP55,000. It was bought by a farmer from Abingdon in Oxfordshire and was among the highlights of the five lots which made a total of GBP136,800 for the charity. The model was created by Propshop at Pinewood Studios and signed by legendary Bond Production Designer Sir Ken Adam. Bidding closed online this evening during an event in London's West End attended by Bond girl Shirley Eaton. Complete with radio controlled machine guns, bullet proof shield and revolving number plate, interest in the sale came from Bond fans around the world with more than 19,000 visitors from 129 countries to the special www.christies.com/goldfinger site. The buyer, Mr. Robert Tyrrell from Steventon, near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, an arable farmer with a collection of classic cars, said after his winning bid tonight: "I saw it at Goodwood this weekend and said 'I'll be having that!'. I am a Bond man, the first movie I saw was Thunderball and I was more than happy to support this worthy cause." A unique Goldfinger Seamaster 'Aqua Terra' wristwatch created by Omega to celebrate the anniversary of the film surpassed the pre-sale estimate ten times when it sold for GBP70,000.