Aston Martin has announced the Valiant, an ultra-exclusive track-focused, road-legal special edition of extraordinary rarity, presence and potency and is the latest in a long line of extraordinary projects expertly handled by in-house bespoke division, Q by Aston Martin. Powered by a 745 PS Twin Turbo 5.2-litre V12 mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the Valiant embodies Aston Martin’s commitment to building pure driver’s cars. Production is strictly limited to just 38 cars globally with all fully allocated.
The Valiant was originally conceived
from a personal commission from Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team driver,
Fernando Alonso for a lightweight, more extreme, race car inspired
version of the spectacular, Aston Martin Valour. Following the
commission and taking inspiration from Fernando’s 23-year career in F1
and his passion for driving at the limit, the Valiant was born, as a
strictly limited-edition special that has been carefully designed and
crafted by the experts in Aston Martin’s bespoke division: Q by Aston
Martin. Aspiring to offer the ultimate in bespoke personalisation
services, Q by Aston Martin delivers both carefully curated special
editions such as Valiant and Valour, as well as the opportunity for
individual owners to embark on the creation of utterly individual sports
cars like Victor.
The Valiant continues a strong lineage of
Aston Martins that deliver true driving intensity both on-road and
on-track with the ultimate hypercar, Valkyrie, the brand’s most focused
sports car, Vantage and its brother in speed, the Vantage GT3 race car
and of course the upcoming mid-engine supercar, Valhalla. While both
Valour and Valiant take inspiration from the brands iconic heritage in
their design, they sit firmly in Aston Martin’s modern performance
future delivering class leading power, driving dynamics and cutting-edge
technology, ensuring Aston Martins appeal to true driving connoisseurs.
Combining
the brutal style and blistering performance of a bygone evocative era
of brutal V12 performance with state-of-the-art contemporary
engineering, lightweight materials and spectacular design, the Valiant
pushes the boundaries of performance and engagement to evolve, intensify
and reimagine the ultimate Aston Martin driver’s car. One born to
thrive on the racetrack and thrill on the road.
As the new
pinnacle of ferocious front-engined Aston Martin limited edition
specials, the Valiant has been developed to deliver its best on-track,
while remaining fully homologated for road use. It boasts an exotic
specification to delight the purist and excite the most demanding
driver. Crowned by the combination of Aston Martin’s incredible
twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine - which now develops 745 PS and
753 Nm of torque - and six-speed manual transmission, the Valiant also
features standard-fit Carbon Ceramic brakes measuring 410mm x 38mm front
and 360mm x 32mm rear for immense fade-free stopping power.
The
Valiant features a number of unique engineering highlights to reduce
weight and dial-in the chassis for serious track use. The adoption of a
3D-printed rear subframe saves 3kg with no reduction in stiffness, while
a magnesium torque tube reduces mass at the centre point of the car by
8.6kg. Lightweight 21-inch magnesium wheels - with 275/35 front and
325/30 rear tyres - improve steering response and wheel control,
reducing unsprung mass by 14kg. A motorsport-spec lithium-ion battery
has been fitted to save a further 11.5kg.
The most influential change in the character of the Valiant comes from the fitment of Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers, capable of simultaneously adjusting each damper to one of thirty-two discreet damper curves in less than six milliseconds, the ASV system is truly state-of-the-art suspension technology that provides Aston Martin’s engineers with almost limitless scope for tuning ride and handling characteristics. The dampers offer motorsport-level damping control and an operating control bandwidth previously exclusive to the highest echelons of motorsport. The Multimatic ASV dampers are only found fitted to the most dynamic, most exclusive vehicles available and are not available in the aftermarket.
To exploit the increased limits of the new suspension set-up and greater aerodynamic downforce, each of Valiant’s pre-set Driving Modes - Sport, Sport+ and Track - have been recalibrated to aid the driver in progressively exploring the car’s full performance. Connection, consistency and confidence are key attributes, the driver developing an intimate bond with the machine which allows them to take control of the Valiant’s abundant performance and enjoy exploring its elevated capabilities to the full.
Aggressive, extreme and unambiguous, the Valiant’s dramatic bodywork makes an explicit statement of intent. Through use of extensive lightweight carbon fibre, the evocative profile speaks of a truly heavyweight punch. Broad and muscular with sharply chiseled features shaped to generate stability enhancing downforce and minimize speed-sapping drag. Every inch of the Valiant’s immaculately sculpted form serves an aesthetic and aerodynamic function.
Slicing through the air with maximum effectiveness, the Valiant’s deep front splitter helps pin the nose to the tarmac, while distinctive multi-layer end planes guide and smooth airflow around the front wheels. Directly above the splitter a new full-width carbon fibre grille increases the flow of cooling air to the engine and reduces mass ahead of the front axle to help centralise weight distribution and improve handling.
Amongst the Valiant’s most distinctive functional features are its heavily scalloped side fenders and carbon fibre aero discs fitted to the 21-inch Magnesium wheels. Working in harmony with the front splitter end planes, the broad side sills and upswept vortex generators located ahead of the rear wheels smooth airflow along the flanks, reducing turbulence, drag and lift.
Inspired by wheel covers fitted to the legendary 1980 RHAM/1 ‘Muncher’ Le Mans racer and attached directly to the lightweight forged magnesium wheels, the aero discs reduce turbulence and drag created by the rotating wheels. In addition, six strategically placed inlets draw cooling air onto the carbon ceramic brakes to maintain optimum braking performance during track use, with apertures around the circumference of the wheel allowing the extreme heat generated by the carbon ceramic discs to vent.
The Valiant’s rear-end design is equally effective and dramatic, with the sharp Kamm tail and boldly upswept deck lid topped by a prominent fixed wing. Shaped to balance downforce gains made by the front splitter and styled to leave no doubt as to Valiant’s performance capabilities, it is one of many unmistakable design signatures. A fixed, one-piece clamshell rear, features a hinged rear screen panel, allowing access to a load space perfect for the storage of race helmets and race clothing.
Completing the aerodynamic package is the functional rear diffuser. Designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics to make positive reductions in drag and lift, the carbon fibre construction provides the added benefit of reducing mass at the rear. The diffuser also serves to perfectly frame the Valiant’s spectacular quad exit, titanium exhaust system, which has been styled for maximum visual impact and tuned to celebrate the 745 PS V12 engine’s incredible soundtrack.
Like its exterior, the Valiant’s interior is a brilliant combination of race-bred functionality and the immaculate design flourishes and mastery of materials for which Aston Martin is renowned. The strictly two-seat cockpit is packed with drama and purpose. Extensive use of exposed satin-finish carbon fibre underpin the Valiant’s focus on lightweight materials, while strategic placement of seat padding and finely-tailored, lightweight upholstery add targeted comfort, luxury and tactility.
Particular attention is paid to points of contact between driver and machine. This begins with a new steering wheel. Unique to the Valiant and designed to reflect the purity and connection found throughout the car, it is perfectly round with a slimmer-diameter rim and spokes devoid of switches for intuitive feel and zero distractions.
To highlight the mechanical nature of the manual gearbox, a cutaway in the transmission tunnel exposes the gear linkage running rearward to the six-speed transaxle. Development has focused on perfecting the weight and feel of the gearshift, with a new bespoke spherical gear knob and H-pattern shifting maximizing gearshift effort and precision.
With the Valiant being designed with focused track-use in mind, driver comfort and safety are paramount. To this end Valiant features a built-in half-cage as-standard together with bespoke trimmed Recaro Podium seats. The steel half-cage provides the anchor point to allow 4-point race harnesses to be fitted to the car. Recaro Podium seats provide exceptional lateral and shoulder support, with innovative pads featuring passive thorax ventilation for increased comfort during extreme driving.
Available with a choice of Alcantara or semi-aniline leather cabin trim, the Valiant continues its focused approach with lightweight materials, ‘debossed’ Alcantara seat quilting and tactile Alcantara steering wheel for maximum control. The bespoke door panels feature a sculpted design with mesh insert panels to reduce weight, along with lightweight fabric door release pulls.
While first deliveries are due to commence in Q4 2024, the Valiant will make its public debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 11-14) with dynamic demonstrations on the famous Hill Climb course. One of the demonstration runs will be in the hands of the Valiant’s first customer; two-time F1 World Champion and Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team driver, Fernando Alonso.
