The Aston Martin Valhalla Has No Reverse Gear. Here’s How That Works

Sometimes, a hybrid system can seem like the worst of both worlds. That goes double for plug-in hybrids, which not only take on electric motors and inverters, but heavier batteries designed to store enough energy to propel a car on electric power alone. A PHEV is essentially two redundant drivetrains mated together in parallel—a potential efficiency nightmare. But clever engineers can find ways to exploit or eliminate those redundancies to the benefit of both the manufacturer and the end customer.

Take the new 2026 Aston Martin Valhalla. Its 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crank …