Enthusiasts will tell you that the beating heart of any performance car is its engine. A motor not only defines the get-up-and-go of a vehicle, but also its character. There’s a good reason why people long for Ferrari’s V12 units, or Ford’s torquey V8. Aston Martin will soon introduce a totally new engine for its range of mid-engine supercars in the form of a hybrid V6.
Aston Martin have always been known for their grand touring models with traditional front-engine front-wheel drive layouts, however, the introduction of a new series of mid-engine cars will signify a sea change for the British marque. While the flagship Valkyrie will be powered by a 6.5-litre V12, its other supercars will utilise a new 3.0-litre V6 hybrid engine.
The hybrid power unit serves under the codename TM01, a designation derived from famed Aston engineer Tadek Marek. This engine and its associated hybrid system will be developed by Aston Martin to become the most powerful it currently offers. Its ‘hot-V’ layout positions the turbos within the two banks of cylinders to reduce turbo lag under acceleration and reduces overall weight to under 200kg.
Aston Martin are currently conducting extensive dyno testing of the V6, and today we heard a short clip of it running for the first time. Glowing red hot and appearing to be running somewhere in its mid-range, its smooth engine note will leave petrolheads grinning.
Joerg Ross, Powertrain Chief Engineer said: “This project has been a great challenge from the start. Putting a team together to deliver what is going to be the future power of Aston Martin has been an honour. 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”.
This engine will make its debut in the sleek Aston Martin Valhalla from 2022, but will also likely power the rejuvenated mid-engined Vanquish. The biggest question relates to Aston’s Vantage and if its Mercedes-AMG V8 units will be replaced in the future. It would certainly be a cost-effective way to meet new emissions regulations.
The new V6 represents Aston Martin’s first engine designed in-house since 1968, and early signs appear encouraging.
Keyword: Aston Martin’s new hybrid V6 engine fires into life