Get ready, car enthusiasts, because Aston Martin has unleashed a new road-legal beast on the world. Meet the Valiant, an aerodynamic supercar based on the already stunning Valour coupe. True to Aston's philosophy that big engines mean satisfaction, it was equipped with a twin-turbine V-12 engine that produces more than 730 horsepower. And yes, of course, they also added a six-speed manual transmission. Yes, you read that right.
Think of the Valiant as Aston Martin's version of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. It's a sportier, bolder version of the Valour, designed for performance rather than comfort. According to the company, the idea came from none other than Aston's Formula 1 driver, Fernando Alonso, who wanted such a beast for personal use.
And what did they do at Aston? The Valiant has been fitted with a range of aerodynamic accessories, including a redesigned front end with a substantial air deflector, a fixed rear wing and a seriously large diffuser. The bodywork, redesigned to improve airflow, is made entirely of carbon fiber. The 21-inch magnesium wheels are covered with aerodynamic covers inspired by Aston's RHAM/1 that competed at Le Mans in the late 1970s. Carbon-ceramic brakes with a diameter of 41 cm at the front and 36 cm at the rear are hidden under the covers.
For those who like to brag about interior improvements, there's more good news. The Valiant uses a 3D-printed rear frame, a titanium torsion tube and a lightweight lithium-ion battery, all of which reduce weight by 23kg. Valour suspensions have been swapped for a set of Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers, capable of adjusting each damper to one of 32 curves in less than six milliseconds. It's the high-tech marvel you find in the Ford Mustang GTD, Ferrari Purosangue, and modern IndyCar racing.
And now to the heart of the beast. The 5.2-liter twin-turbo V-12 engine produces 735 horsepower, 30 more than the Valour. Torque remains unchanged at 750Nm, due to the limitations of the gearbox, says an Aston spokesperson. The six-speed gearbox is transaxially mounted at the rear for better weight distribution. As with the Valour, the limited slip differential is completely mechanical.
The Valiant's cabin is equipped with race-ready equipment, including a half roll cage, Recaro Podium bucket seats and four-point harnesses. The interior is adorned with carbon fiber and Alcantara, and the shift mechanism is also exposed. Aston says they've improved shift feel with a new Valiant-specific weighted knob.
Aston Martin will only build 38 Valiants and they are all already sold out. The price of each vehicle will vary depending on the options, but the average selling price will be around £2 million (about $2.5 million at current exchange rates). The first deliveries are scheduled for the last quarter of 2024, and Alonso will receive the first example.
The vehicle will make its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. Get ready for a spectacle!
