LONDON: Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc will begin making its first plug-in hybrid supercar in 2025 - four years later than originally planned - as the luxury carmaker tries to revive its fortunes.
Production of the Valhalla will start in the second quarter of next year, the British company said today, having first confirmed plans for a mid-engine supercar back in September 2018 ahead of its stock market listing.
The manufacturer aims to begin deliveries in the second half of 2025, with production limited to 999 vehicles.
Known for its association with the James Bond movies, Aston Martin has struggled since a 2020 rescue by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.
It has required several capital raises, most recently last month when it issued its second profit warning in as many months, and shares have more than halved this year.
Stroll is betting he can revive the company by releasing more models and by cashing in on the the hype around Formula One racing.
Both the Valkyrie hypercar and the Valhalla - so-called "specials” - were designed with the help of star F1 engineer Adrian Newey, who is joining the namesake racing team controlled separately by Stroll next year.
The 1,064-horsepower Valhalla can be driven both on the road and on the track and has a top speed of 349kph.
The price was not disclosed although it’s expected to cost more than £600,000 (RM3.4mil).
Back in 2018, Aston Martin’s idea was to use the Valhalla - then codenamed "Project 003” - to challenge existing mid-engine supercars such as the Ferrari LaFerrari and the McLaren Senna, according to its IPO prospectus.
The plan at the time was to begin producing the special edition model in 2021. In February, the company said that it would start making the Valhalla by the end of 2024.
Aston Martin’s special models such as the Valkyrie have been a rare bright spot for the company in 2024, helping to offset a drop in deliveries of its more affordable luxury cars.
In September, Aston Martin revived the Vanquish nameplate with a new two-seat coupe.
Although the Valhalla features a plug, the electric component is more about driving performance than environmental credentials.
