Race proven methodologies, expertise and technologies used by the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One team (AMF1) are being adopted by Aston Martin to intensify the development of future models.
Marco Mattiacci, global chief brand and commercial officer of Aston Martin said: “Aston Martin’s vision is to build a range of exceptional, class-leading driver focused cars, crucial in the expansion of our core product line-up. As such our first series production mid-engine supercar will be transformational for this ultra-luxury performance brand as well as for the mid-engine segment. Valhalla represents Aston Martin’s first joint development integration between our road car engineers and Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One team’s F1 engineering capabilities through Aston Martin Performance Technologies and demonstrates Aston Martin’s breadth of capabilities with the technical support and expertise of Formula 1.”
The technical crossover between Aston Martin and its eponymous Formula 1 team, which currently sits in fourth place in the FIA Formula One World Constructors’ Championship, is facilitated by the consulting arm of the team, Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT).
AMPT is directly assisting Aston Martin’s performance engineering team in three key areas of development - dynamics, aerodynamics and materials.
Much has been learned within the engine management group to optimise performance and maximise efficiencies of Valhalla’s bespoke twin-turbo flat-plane V8 engine, which is the most advanced, responsive and highest-performing V8 engine ever fitted to an Aston Martin and, when mated with three e-motors, creates a 1,012 PS hybrid all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain.
Twin electric motors on the front axle enables Valhalla to not only feature four-wheel drive, but also allow the engineers full independent control of the torque applied at the each of the front wheels – a technique known as torque vectoring.
Torque Vectoring enables a more positive steering response at turn-in, stronger grip through the corner and improved traction on corner exit.
The front e-motors also provide the reverse function, enabling a weight saving on the rear transmission. A third e-motor is integrated into the transmission, providing additional power to the rear wheels as well as acting as the starter/generator for the ICE engine.
Limited to 999 models, Valhalla is on course to enter production in 2024.
F1 design relies heavily on simulation tools and the methods used to ensure that every moment spent in the simulator brings progress has been put in place for Valhalla. In fact, 90% of the dynamic characteristics and vehicle set-up has been completed in the simulator, with the final development phase completed in the real world, on the road and track.
Valuable input from the AMF1 drivers add a new intensity to the calibration of Valhalla. The elite level skills and knowledge of drivers like Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso can take vehicle dynamics to a new level as they continue to push the car to the extreme edge of its performance capabilities.
The cockpit ergonomics of Valhalla has also benefited by taking direct cues from Formula 1, in that the driving position has been optimised with support from AMPT to provide the driver with race car level control in order to maximise the pleasure of driving.
The aerodynamic approach to Valhalla starts in a similar way to an F1 car, by using all elements of the body shape to generate downforce and minimise drag.
However, Valhalla is not restricted by F1 regulations so it can benefit from fully active aerodynamic systems at both the front and rear of the car which will generate over 600kg of downforce at 240km/h.
Inspired by F1 vortex generators and aero features, small slotted louvers on the sill, just ahead of the rear wheel, act as mini diffusers to pull airflow out and upwards from under the car, increasing downforce.
The AMPT carbon technologies team works on developing ideas that evolved in F1 and applying the same approach to Valhalla.
A complex and exquisite blend of carbon fibre materials, Valhalla’s carbon structure has been created using a novel and proprietary technology developed for Aston Martin.
The upper and lower sections of the structure are moulded from carbon fibre using a combination of Resin-Transfer-Moulding process (RTM) and F1 derived autoclave technology.
