NEW Aston Martin Valhalla Review | Henry Catchpole - The Driver's Seat

TL;DR

The Aston Martin Valhalla is Aston's most accomplished car ever, blending hypercar aero and hybrid torque vectoring with a surprisingly livable road ride.

Key Points

• 1.The Valhalla's seating position is a defining feature. Aston claims it sits at least 20mm lower than rivals, with heels level with hips, creating a mini-Valkyrie feel that makes it thrilling even at a standstill.
• 2.Pricing puts the Valhalla in an awkward middle ground. At ~$850,000–$1M, it's roughly twice the cost of a Ferrari 296 or Lamborghini Urus but significantly cheaper than an F80 or McLaren W1, making its value hard to read.
• 3.Powertrain combines a heavily reworked AMG V8 with three electric motors for 1,064bhp total. The 4.0L twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 produces 817bhp — nearly 100bhp more than the AMG GT Black Series — while two front radial-flux motors handle torque vectoring and a third drives through the even gears of the new 8-speed DCT.
• 4.Active aero elevates the Valhalla toward hypercar territory. A rear wing moves 255mm in race mode and a large front wing with 45° range of motion adjusts balance, reduces drag, or activates the floor — comparable to a McLaren P1 or Ferrari F80.
• 5.The ride quality is extraordinary for a car with 600kg of downforce potential. Aston deliberately bleeds off downforce above 150mph to avoid overly stiff springs, resulting in a suspension setup that flows over imperfections and could comfortably cover long distances.
• 6.The interior has notable shortcomings relative to the price. While rotary switches and exposed carbon bucket seats impress, the screens look unintegrated, some switchgear feels cheap, and luggage space is limited to a small centre tray and one door pocket.
• 7.Catchpole concludes it is the most accomplished Aston Martin ever made. Hybrid torque vectoring opens a new handling dimension, the carbon ceramic Brembos integrate seamlessly with regen braking, and despite an uninspiring flat-plane V8 soundtrack and 1,655kg dry weight, the end result is intuitive, playful, and thoroughly modern.