“Redesigned” Aston Martin Valhalla swaps out bespoke V6 for Mercedes-AMG hybrid V8, CEO reveals

The Aston Martin Valhalla will ditch its promised V6 bespoke powertrain in favour of a hybrid V8 from Mercedes-AMG, CEO Tobias Moers revealed to Australian journalists in an exclusive interview last month.

When asked if the production variant of the upcoming carbon-fibre monocoque mid-engine supercar would effectively be an “all-new vehicle started from scratch [compared to the concept unveiled in 2019],” Moers said: “Yes ... we had to redesign almost everything … there was a need to do the car a bit different.”

"It doesn’t have the V6 anymore, because what I found at this company was not a mature engine, but a concept engine," Moers added. "If everyone is investing in electric drive, you should not invest in a [new] internal combustion engine, [especially considering] we had the opportunity to use the V8 platform out of AMG."

However, Moers said the engine would not be identical to that used by the German outfit: "You have to create a bespoke V8 for a mid engine program, and this is what we have the opportunity for now … You cannot just take it one-to-one. You have to change it and apply different things.”

The CEO – who himself headed Mercedes-AMG between 2013 and 2020 – confirmed the Valhalla was still on track to fulfil its initial promise of a combined power output of 1000hp (745kW). He suggested it would achieve this through the use of an electrified turbocharger (a technology borrowed from Mercedes-AMG) and electrically-powered front axle (thus making the car all-wheel drive).

The Aston Martin Valhalla is now slated for launch in the second half of 2023, after several high-profile delays. The first deliveries of its more powerful track-only sibling – the Aston Martin Valkarie – are reportedly set to commence in the coming months.

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