The recently unveiled Aston Martin Valhalla represents a seismic change for its manufacturer. When it goes into production in 2023, it will give the Gaydon firm a direct rival to the Ferrari SF90, with 937bhp from a plug-in hybrid V8 – but the end product has come a long way from the initial concept teased at the Salon. Geneva Motor Show 2019.
We caught up with the man responsible for implementing many of the changes that took Valhalla from concept to reality, the company’s new CEO, Tobias Moers, when the car was unveiled.
You’ve made some big changes to the new Astons since you arrived less than a year ago. What did you do in Valhalla?
“We kept the spirit of the 2019 concept but changed everything under the skin. The engine is now a V8, and this change required us to modify the mechanical setup accordingly. We chose the AMG V8 – an engine that I am quite familiar with [Moers was AMG’s CEO before his move to Aston] – because it’s versatile, and a known quantity. We prefer to invest in electrification rather than a brand new ICE engine. “
At first we were told the Valhalla would cost £ 1million. Now you say it’s less. What happened?
“We think there is a good market in the market – where the supercar meets the hypercar, if you will – for a car priced between £ 600,000 and £ 700,000. At that price, we think that we can make around 1,000 cars over two years, starting in the fourth quarter of 2023. “
The Valhalla is extremely fast. That 6:30 min. Goal at the Nürburgring Nordschleife that you have set for yourself seems difficult. Are you trying to start a new power race with supercar competitors like McLaren?
“Sure, it’s very fast and powerful, but I’ve never been interested in pure power racing. Nowadays, the brand of a good car is how it deploys its performance. the mark of excellence was lowest drag or maximum torque. Now the task is to make really fast cars as predictable and maneuverable as possible. I have come to appreciate that. It is part of my journey.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-15 15:37:46
