Aston Martin Valour revealed: V12 special bids farewell to the manual gearbox
The limited-run Valour has been unveiled to celebrate Aston’s 110th year as a manufacturer
To celebrate its 110th anniversary, Aston Martin has revealed the Valour: a driver-focused V12 special following in the footsteps of the one-off Victor. Unlike the CC100 concept built to mark the brand’s 100th year, the Valour will be put into production as a road-legal special, limited to 110 units worldwide. It'll also be the last Aston equipped with a manual transmission.
Pairing a front-mounted 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 with a bespoke six-speed manual and a mechanical limited-slip differential, the Valour was designed as a true driver’s car from the outset. While not quite as powerful as the 836bhp, 7.3-litre V12 in the Victor, the Valour’s 705bhp output puts it ahead of the likes of the V12 Speedster and V12 Vantage. Torque stands at 555lb ft.
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The design takes inspiration from Aston Martin models of the ‘70s and ‘80s, reimagining the original V8 Vantage and RHAM/1 ‘Muncher’ Le Mans car with modern day production techniques. The Valours clamshell bonnet features twin NACA ducts and the same ‘horse shoe’ vent as seen on the Victor, with Aston’s trademark grille flanked by carbonfibre intakes. At the rear, bespoke LED taillights reference the Valkyrie hypercar, with a solid, polished aluminium piece separating upper and lower sections.
Its designers have also paid close attention to aerodynamics, with a substantial front splitter, rear vortex generators, rear diffuser and a Kamm tail designed to achieve optimum aerodynamic balance. Within that aggressive new diffuser is a triple-exit tailpipe, manufactured from thin, 1mm stainless steel tubing in order to save 7kg over an ordinary stainless system.
Under its skin, Aston Martin has worked to create a finely honed chassis with bespoke suspension featuring adaptive dampers, unique springs and anti-roll bars tuned specifically for the Valour. Front and rear shear panels are also incorporated into its design, with fuel tank bracing and a rear suspension tower strut brace ensuring maximum structural rigidity. Geometry has been fine tuned for the Valour too, with camber, caster and toe settings designed to offer the best on-road performance. The steering system has also been honed to remove any undesirable slack, improving feedback as a result.
Behind Victor-esque, 21-inch lightweight diamond cut wheels are a set of 410mm front, 360mm rear carbon ceramic discs, reducing unsprung mass by 26kg over steel items – calipers are 6-piston front, 4-piston rear. Unusually, Aston Martin hasn’t opted for hardcore semi-slick tyres like the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R, but instead the new road-centric Pilot Sport S 5 with an AML-specific compound – the front tyres are 275 in section, with rears at 325.
Inside the two-seater cockpit, buyers can choose from a choice of a machined aluminium, titanium, carbonfibre or walnut gear knobs, with an exposed linkage standard. As you’d expect with such a car, each example will be fully customised inside and out, with the launch car coming with woollen tweed seat fabric inspired by the seat coverings from the 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1.
Production of the Aston Martin Valour will begin in Q3 this year, before first deliveries commence in Q4. Just 110 examples will be produced, with pricing yet to be confirmed.
