The automotive world is increasingly sanitised with too much focus on technology, autonomous driving, and a relentless push for electrification. Hence, it is unsurprising that everyone is pining for a manual sports car with an analogue touch. Retro is the new buzzword, and less is indeed more. Aston Martin, for example, has been championing the old-school manual sports car with its limited-edition specials like the Valour. These are uncompromising machines with a manual gearbox and a gigantic V12 upfront. Thanks to their Formula One Team driver, Fernando Alonso, they have truly turned up the wick with the brutal Valiant.
While the name borrows from a defunct Chrysler, the Valiant is a more track-oriented version of the Valour, along with a wicked 80’s themed matte gold paint job. Clearly, Fernando Alonso was not messing around with his spec, and the agenda here was to make a road-going Le Mans racer with an aircon.
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Developed by their in-house bespoke division, the Valiant is an analogue sports car, but it is also the most extreme Aston Martin, much like the Valkyrie. The massive front splitter, along with the huge carbon fibre grille, gets your attention initially, but the Kamm tail and the fixed wing are further signs that this belongs to the track more than anything else. Even the wheel covers are inspired by the 1980 RHAM/1 ‘Muncher’ Le Mans racer.
Valour was a spectacular celebration of Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary, and it stirred me to create a more extreme, race car-inspired version that was track-focused while also delivering a thrilling drive on-road,” said Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver. “Valiant is born from my passion for driving at the limit. I have enjoyed working closely with the Q by Aston Martin team on both the design and technical specification and believe we have created a masterpiece.”
While it is fully homologated for road use, the Valiant has been prepped for the track in terms of its rigorous weight shredding regime and a tuned chassis for serious drivers. Aside from the melodic twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine – which now develops 745PS and 753Nm of torque – and six-speed manual transmission, Valiant also features standard-fit Carbon Ceramic brakes plus a 3D-printed rear subframe that saves 3kg with no reduction in stiffness. The lightweight 21-inch magnesium wheels also reduce unsprung mass by 14kg, while they have gone to extreme lengths with a motorsport-spec lithium-ion battery, which saves another 11.5kg.
The other big change in dynamics is the addition of the Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers, which adjust each damper to one of thirty-two discreet damper curves in less than six milliseconds. Elsewhere, each of Valiant’s pre-set Driving Modes—Sport, Sport+, and Track—has also been updated to match its more aggressive demeanour.
Simon Newton, Aston Martin’s Director of Vehicle Performance, said: “With Valiant, we’ve shifted the emphasis towards much-increased track capability while retaining enough useability to remain enjoyable on the road. We’ve moved the dial in every key area to extract greater performance and deliver more excitement; increased power delivery from the V12 to develop 745PS; perfecting the chassis set-up with Multimatic ASV dampers; re-sculpting the body to produce more downforce; and employing lightweight materials and processes to reduce mass.
Above all, we have put the driver right at the heart of the action, honing control weights for maximum satisfaction, perfecting the shift action of the manual transmission, and ensuring the increased handling limits remain accessible and rewarding. It all combines to create an amazing experience Valiant owners won’t find in any other car”.
Like the exterior, the interior dictates the same lightweight philosophy, with exposed satin carbon fibre, thin seats, and a steering wheel devoid of buttons—just as it should be. A lovely detail lavished on this otherwise sparse cabin is the transmission tunnel’s exposed gear linkage.
With only 38 examples being made and all being spoken for, the Valiant is a no-nonsense machine that a Formula One driver would want to drive on their day off. It is proudly analogue more than anything else. The brand has not disclosed how much the Valiant costs, but some have reported that it’s worth around USD$2.56 million, according to PlanetF1.
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