In celebration of its 110th anniversary Aston Martin has revealed the special edition Valour – an ultra-exclusive V12-engined, manual transmission sportscar built to honour the marque’s long tradition of superlative front-engined vehicles and, says the company, delight purists who crave undiluted and visceral driving experiences.
Aimed squarely at those who relish a truly involving driving experience, Aston Martin says the Valour’s commitment to era-defining performance and stimulation will prove second to none. The only front-engined V12 sports car available with a manual transmission, its purist approach is unique in 2023 and a thrilling tribute to a golden era of driving.
Motivated by the brand's rich heritage, the Valour has been realised using the very latest technology, methods and materials. As such it is a fusion of the essential qualities that have come to define Aston Martin’s greatest front-engined models. The marque says the Valour represents the best of Aston Martin past and present, and is the antidote to cars that seek to isolate drivers from the process of driving.
Aston Martin says that the Valour’s bloodline is second-to-none. Inspired by the original V8 Vantage and Vantage-based RHAM/1 ‘Muncher’ Le Mans racer from 1980, the special edition boasts the unbridled brawn typical of Aston Martin’s ultimate sports cars. Machines like the 1990s twin supercharged V600 Vantage; for a time the world’s most powerful production car. The new vehicle's immaculate design and flawless execution also echoes that of the One-77 supercar, while its intense driver-centric character connects Valour to the one-off Victor.
With production limited to just 110 cars globally, the Valour’s rarity ensures it will be amongst the most collectable of all Aston Martins. A true end-of-an-era specification, matching the epic 525kW/753Nm twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 with a bespoke six-speed manual transmission for the very first time, guarantees a truly absorbing 'driver's car' experience.
Benefitting from a unique powertrain calibration, the Valour’s immense power and torque outputs are unrestrained, offering the driver full performance and control in every gear. A mechanical limited-slip differential enhances the sense of direct analogue connection between car and driver, with the added support and reassurance of electronic traction and stability control systems. Aston Martin reveals that the Valour’s driving modes – Sport, Sport+ and Track – have also been tuned to offer meticulously judged throttle response, torque management and sound character.
Underlining its dynamic credentials, the Valour has received bespoke suspension with adaptive dampers, springs and anti-roll bars all honed specifically to the car. Wheel alignment geometry has dedicated camber, castor and toe settings. These characteristics ensure the Valour possesses distinct and clearly defined ride and handling qualities. A road car first and foremost, this means it successfully strikes a sporting balance of taut, precise vertical body control and resistance to roll, while offering the compliance to shine on great driving roads.
Further honing its unique dynamic character, the Valour’s custom body structure features front and rear shear panels, a rear suspension tower strut brace and fuel tank bracing. The manufacturer says these elements maximise both torsional and lateral stiffness, providing the suspension with an optimised platform in order to deliver more precise body control and increased refinement.
With standard-fit Carbon Ceramic Brakes, the Valour has ample stopping power courtesy of front discs measuring 410mm x 38mm and gripped by 6-piston calipers. At the rear 360mm x 32mm discs are paired with 4-piston calipers. Offering increased braking performance and a significant 23kg reduction in un-sprung mass versus steel brakes, these CCB discs are engineered to resist brake fade at temperatures up to 800 degrees, enabling the driver to explore the sportscar's full performance potential with maximum confidence and precise control.
These maximised performance capabilities and intense driving characteristics are also expressed in the Valour’s broad stance. Made entirely from carbon fibre, the bodywork marries Aston Martin’s contemporary design language with instantly recognisable cues from the iconic 1970s V8 Vantage. The result is bold and unmistakable from any angle.
The clamshell bonnet features a large ‘horse shoe’ vent and twin NACA ducts to provide ample ventilation for the twin-turbocharged V12 that sits beneath. Aston Martin’s iconic grille shape has been evolved to enhance both form and function. Its central section is defined by aluminium strakes, while large carbon fibre intakes on either side feed the engine and brakes with cool air. They also frame the classically inspired round LED headlights, unique to Valour and which sit beneath rakish eyebrow-like grille with menacing effect.
Modern aerodynamic thinking has been incorporated into the design, with expert management of the airflow optimising stability while achieving a uniquely assertive design. The prominent front splitter and front fender vents incorporated into the Valour’s flanks work in harmony with the rear screen panel’s featuring vortex generating 'exoblades', and elegantly upswept Kamm tail and prominent diffuser to achieve aerodynamic balance.
The rear-end also features a dramatic tail-light graphic, with clusters of LED light blades (six on each side) echoing the ground-breaking Valkyrie hypercar. A full-width aluminium accent – milled from a solid billet and polished to a flawless finish – delineates the rear-end, separating the upper and lower sections to dramatic effect. Positioned between the deep elements of the rear diffuser is the centrepiece of the Valour’s arresting rear design; a triple tailpipe exhaust system fabricated from lightweight stainless steel. With a wall thickness of less than 1mm this special tubing makes a 7kg weight saving versus a traditional system, yet emits a gloriously heavyweight soundtrack.
The new Valour’s celebration of Aston Martin’s heritage continues inside, with a timeless two-seater cockpit showcasing simplicity and tactility. Central to this is the manual transmission gear lever. With a choice of machined aluminium, titanium, carbon fibre or walnut for the gearknob, and an exposed shift mechanism to emphasise the mechanical connection, the Valour majors on delivering the physical and emotional engagement that many would argue has been lost to progress in other sports cars.
Masterful use of materials has long been an Aston Martin hallmark, so it’s no surprise to find the Valour’s interior shines with original and highly effective combinations from which customers can create their own unique specification. For example, traditional woollen tweed inspired by the seat coverings of Aston Martin’s 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1 provide a wonderful contrast against the high-tech weave of carbon fibre used to form the shells of the Valour’s lightweight performance seats, bespoke door cards, fascia air vents, upper centre console and transmission tunnel.
Further personalisation comes in the form of a flexible method of livery customisation. Separating Valour’s body into four areas – front, bonnet, sides and rear – the lucky owners can choose from an extensive array of hand-painted stripes and graphics designs, which can be applied in any one of 21 paint colours.
Should an owner wish to go beyond the standard palette of Valour options then they may engage the services of Q by Aston Martin to create a truly bespoke specification. Examples of this include design of a one-off livery, fully exposed 2x2 twill carbon fibre bodywork with a choice of red, blue or green tint, painted wheels, Mokume carbon fibre interior detailing or a choice of Johnsons of Elgin tweed and cashmere fabrics for the seats and headlining.
Valour production is due to commence at Aston Martin’s in Q3 of 2023, with first deliveries scheduled to begin before the end of the year. Poised to become one of the most coveted cars in Aston Martin’s canon of iconic front-engined special series sports cars, the manufacturer calls the Valour no less than a precious collector’s piece that demands to be driven.
