Ultra-exclusive Aston Martin Valour celebrates 110 years of company history
Victor, is that you?
Never shy of celebrating an anniversary with a limited-edition model, Aston Martin has revealed the Valour, a new supercar that’s been designed to commemorate the company’s 110th anniversary. For this model, Aston Martin has taken inspiration from the V8 Vantage of the late 1970s and early 1980s, especially ‘The Muncher’, a race-prepped V8 Vantage that competed at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1980. It also bears more than a passing resemblance to the one-off Aston Victor of 2021.
The new car’s bodywork is made from carbon fibre and features a clamshell bonnet, while the familiar Aston grille has aluminium strakes and carbon air intakes located on either side.
Round LED headlights take inspiration from the V8 Vantage, while the front splitter and vents in the front wings deliver modern aerodynamics.
At the back, aerodynamic blades channel airflow to the rear end, where a shortened Kamm tail creates downforce.
There are six LED rear lights on either side that are inspired by those of the Valkyrie hypercar, while the rear diffuser features triple tailpipes for the lightweight stainless-steel exhaust.
Carbon fibre and woollen tweed inside
Buyers of the two-seat Valour can specify a gear knob made from aluminium, titanium, carbon fibre or walnut, while the manual transmission’s shift mechanism has been left exposed to increase the sense of occasion, according to Aston.
Other interior touches include carbon fibre trim for the shells of the seats, the door cards, air vents and centre console. This is in contrast to the seat coverings, which are finished in a woollen tweed inspired by Aston Martin’s 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1.
As far as we’re aware, there’s no velour option for the Valour. However, as ever with such a limited production run, buyers will be able to tailor their cars to a unique specification both inside and out.
Options will include hand-painted exterior stripes in one of 21 colours, although the bespoke Q by Aston Martin department will be able to offer an even more personalised service.
Up to 705bhp through the rear wheels
Under the skin, the Valour is equipped with a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 that has been tuned to make 705bhp and 555lb ft of torque.
This is mated to a bespoke six-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels via a mechanical limited-slip differential.
The car’s electronics — including Sport, Sport+ and Track driving modes — are claimed to have been tuned to deliver the most engaging driving experience possible. No performance figures have been quoted though.
Bespoke suspension should help the Aston Martin Valour to deliver a thrilling drive, with standard-fit adaptive dampers, plus spring and anti-roll bar rates designed specifically for the car.
There is additional bracing for the rear suspension, new front and rear suspension shear panels and more bracing for the fuel tank to improve overall torsional stiffness.
However, Aston Martin has aimed for a road-biased set-up, so while it should come with sharp handling, there will likely be a level of compliance claimed to help the Valour to deliver long-distance driving comfort.
Carbon brakes, Michelin tyres
There are carbon ceramic brakes at each corner, with 410mm discs up front gripped by six-piston calipers, and this set-up is said to reduce unsprung mass by 23kg when compared with traditional steel brakes.
The carbon brakes are mounted behind 21in forged alloy wheels that are wrapped in the latest Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tyres.
Aston Martin’s Director of Vehicle Performance, Simon Newton, said: “Inspired by the iconic muscle cars from our past, we have endowed Valour with an abundance of power and torque, while using modern technology and engineering to make that performance more exploitable and enjoyable.
“A big part of honouring that driver-pleasing character was mating our fabulous V12 engine to a manual transmission. It was a unique part of the brief, and the end result is something truly unforgettable; a state-of-the-art driver’s car that thrives on being pushed to its limits and has the true heart and soul of a timeless analogue classic.”
Prices for the Aston Martin Valour haven’t been revealed, but the limited run of 110 cars shouldn’t take long to sell out before production starts in Q3 of 2023.
Related articles
- After reading about the new Aston Martin Valour, you might want to read Will Dron’s review of the Aston Martin DB12
- You might also be interested in our Aston Martin DBX707 on-track video review
- Also check out Peter Sellers’s Aston Martin DB4GT, which could sell for £2.6m at the Goodwood Bonhams auction 2023
Latest articles
- New Renault Symbioz adds to French carmaker’s fresh crossover SUV assault
- Red Bull confirms Adrian Newey’s departure, but where next for the F1 designer?
- Lotus shows off its work on British Cycling’s Paris Olympics bicycle
- New Aston Martin Vanquish to get V12 engine with 824bhp
- Cupra updates Leon and Formentor with sharp styling and longer-range hybrids
- Extended test: 2023 Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer GS PHEV
- Omoda 5 prototype review: Bargain family SUV is solid first effort for new Chinese brand
- Dacia Duster 2024 review: Rugged, affordable SUV modernised with electrification and quite the glow up
- Audi A3 Sportback 2024 review: Softly, softly, catchy premium hatchback buyer
