Aston Martin drops a supercar for the rest of us - kind of

James Bond would indeed be pleased. While the superspy would not likely chase Spectre villains in an Aston Martin Valkyrie (an extreme F1-derived, track-focused $3 million-and-up hypercar), he would no doubt take up the task in the new Valhalla.

Call it Aston’s supercar for the rest of us, sort of. Priced at around $800,000 and slated for a run of 999 (vs. the Valkyrie’s 275), the Valhalla promises similar specs and decidedly outrageous looks at a fraction of that arresting flagship.

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The Valhalla's performance figures keep up with the Valkyrie's

Where the Valkyrie gets its 1,140-hp and 2.2 second 0 to 60 time from a 6.5-liter V12 engine, the Valhalla uses its 1,064-hp to reach 60 in 2.5 seconds thanks to Aston Martin’s first mid-engine plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a flat-plane crank 4-liter twin-turbo V8 with three electric motors, two up front and one in the rear. Top speed is 217 mph. Those are hardly little brother figures.

Four years in the conjuring, the Valhalla once again finds the storied Warwickshire-based company leveraging its Formula 1 experience and tech to fuel a model that is aimed squarely at buyers poking around at McLarens, Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

“On paper and on track, the Valhalla delivers the most driver-focused, technologically advanced supercar with true hypercar performance, and yet on the road it is as usable and enjoyable as any Aston Martin,” CEO Adrian Hallmark says in a statement that accompanied the release of tech specs on the Valhalla. “(This car) is a unique proposition, designed to be the most elegant and exciting product in the market.”

Aston Martin designed the Valhalla to be as wild as its performance

Let’s drill down on those Valhalla details, and start with its looks. For anyone fortunate enough to have spotted a Valkyrie in the wild as I did during last summer’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the fraternal similarities with the Valhalla are unmistakable.

While the doors on the Valhalla may open differently (they are forward-hinged dihedral vs. the Valkyrie’s gullwings), the wildly undulating surfaces of the car are echoes of its big brother, whose design’s sensuousness is rooted in aerodynamic necessity. In fact, the Valhalla's sculpted body shape coupled with its various active aero features produces a hefty 1,300 pounds of downforce at around 150 mph. That’s serious road glue.

“The challenge for the engineering and vehicle dynamics teams has been to harness, for the first time, the immense power of Valhalla’s hybrid powertrain through a combination of active aerodynamics and integrated dynamic control systems,” says Aston director of vehicle performance Simon Newton. “The challenge is achieving next-level speed, precision, and exhilaration on track while retaining the characteristics of an enjoyable and highly emotional supercar.”

The Valhalla's hybrid heart works in tandem with its aerodynamic prowess

That all starts with the aforementioned hybrid powertrain, whose power is transferred into action through a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The trio of battery-powered e-motors, which contribute about a quarter of the Valhalla’s horsepower, also come into play to help with the car’s front vehicle torque vectoring feature that sharpens corner turn-in.

The Valhalla’s curvaceous body is, not surprisingly, largely a carbon fiber affair. That carbon monocoque helps the sports car keep its dry weight down to 3,600 pounds, not exactly lightweight but decidedly so when compared to vehicles such as the Bugatti Chiron.

Aston Martin also called upon its F1 expertise in creating the custom carbon tech, which it combined with aluminum subframes front and rear. By the front wheels, the F1-style push rod suspension features inboard-mounted springs and dampers, which improve airflow within the wheel arch and reduce drag. The rear is built around Bilstein dampers that offer varying degrees of rebound depending on which Valhalla driving mode is chosen.

Three driving modes keep the Valhalla ready for any high-speed situation 

Speaking of driver modes, lift-off begins in pure EV mode. Although the range is minimal – after all, everyone will want to hear that V8 – the Valhalla gets under power using those front electric motors. As the car gets underway, the options include Sport, Sport+, and Race. In Sport, the V8 is summoned and the car is in full hybrid mode, with all the instant torque associated with that mode of propulsion.

In Sport+ and Race, the emphasis is on maximizing the car’s performance first and foremost, while allowing for regenerative braking to replenish those batteries. In Race mode, the Valhalla’s rear T-wing rises by 255 millimeters, or about 10 inches, for maximum downforce. The car also features a concealed active front wing, which can bleed downforce when necessary.

Aston Martin employed the biggest brakes in their inventory to stop this beast

Bringing the Valhalla to heel are carbon ceramic disc brakes, whose six- and four-piston calipers (front and rear, respectively) amount to the largest assemblies ever used on an Aston sports car. The goal was to provide a consistent pedal feel across a range of driving situations.

While the Valhalla could play all day at the track, its looks are meant to appeal to those who want racing-inspired drama without perhaps engaging in any wheel-to-wheel competition.

The race-inspired looks carry throughout

The Valhalla’s curb appeal is certainly rooted in the arresting looks of big bro Valkyrie, but the slightly softened lines make it more of an appealing, dare we say it, daily driver – if million-dollar daily drivers are your thing.

Inside, again, more racing-derived touches abound, from the raised pedal box to the one-piece carbon fiber seats. But buyers can of course specify a full range of bespoke specs for their Valhalla.

The company’s cheekily-named division catering to such whims, Q by Aston Martin (paging 007), stands at the ready to satisfy demands that range from simple color choices to fully unique carbon-and-leather interiors.

There are certain limitations to owning a Valhalla, especially in the US

If after all this you’re still someone who can afford and want a Valkyrie, we get it. That car is the ultimate expression of Aston's vehicular insanity.

But consider one last thing. Beyond the lofty price tag, which after customizations likely will hit the $4 million mark, there’s the fact that the car at present requires importation under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Show and Display” categorization. This limits your annual mileage to essentially track days and more significantly prevents you from flexing your daily commute.

So for those truly wanting to show off and display their latest Aston toy, the Valhalla is for you.