Aston Martin confirms force-fed V6 hybrid setup

ASTON Martin has today confirmed that the power plant destined for its mid-engined Valhalla sportscar will be a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol unit featuring plug-in hybridisation, codenamed the TM01.

Named in honour of legendary brand engineer Tadek Marek, Aston says the new engine will be the most powerful unit in its model line-up when the Valhalla hits showrooms sometime in 2022, though an exact power output has not yet been revealed.

For clarity’s sake, the British marque’s most powerful engine currently on sale is the twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 in service under the bonnet of the DBS Superleggera, which produces a considerable 533kW of power and 900Nm.

With half the number of cylinders, one turbo instead of two and 2.2-litres less displacement than the monstrous V12, the TM01’s almost astronomical power goals will be achieved in part by an advanced plug-in hybrid system, something Aston says was a priority from day dot.

Also clear from day one was the idea to develop the engine with a ‘hot V’ structure to not only allow for more efficient electrification and higher engine speeds, but also to keep the weight down with engineers claiming the TM01 will weigh less than 200kg.

“From the very beginning, we have had the freedom to explore and innovate in a way that we have not been able to do so in a very long time,” powertrain chief engineer Joerg Ross said.

“Most importantly, we wanted to create something that is befitting of the TM01 nameplate and create something that would have impressed our predecessor and pioneering engineer, Tadek Marek.”

While the low weight of the engine will no doubt help with vehicle dynamics, a dry sump has also been fitted to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible.

Despite the free-revving nature and promised “range-topping power” outputs, the TM01 is being developed to be Euro 7 compliant, thereby ensuring it can be utilised for years to come.

According to Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer, the new powerplant “will be integral” to a lot of the brand’s future prospects, with plans already in place to offer the unit in different guises suited to a range of different applications.

“Investing in your own powertrains is a tall order, but our team have risen to the challenge,” he said.

“The first signs of what this engine will achieve are incredibly promising.”

Naturally, differing states of tuning will underpin the different guises, as will a new range of hybrid systems currently being developed in tandem with the one slated for the Valhalla, tipped to roll off the production line in 2022.

“The final power and torque figures for each application of this powertrain will be determined by the desired characteristics of each product it serves and confirmed at the time of launch,” a spokesperson said.

Aston Martin has managed to sell 18 vehicles so far this year ending February, a 38.3 per cent improvement on the same period last year (13).