Aston Martin has just lifted the veil on the Valiant, an even more radical and high-performance version of its already exceptional Valour. This exceptional car, born from the imagination of Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, promises to push the limits of luxury and sportiness on the road and on the circuit.
A genesis inspired by a champion
The Valiant is the result of a unique collaboration between two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso and the Q by Aston Martin personalisation department. The Spanish driver, currently driving for Aston Martin in F1, expressed a desire for a lighter and more extreme car than the Valiant, capable of excelling on the track while remaining road-legal.
This request gave birth to a project that quickly won over Aston Martin's management. The British brand therefore decided to produce a limited series of this exceptional model, named Valiant in reference to its bold and valiant character.
A very rare exclusive
Aston Martin has announced that production of the Valiant will be limited to just 38 units worldwide. This number, which is reminiscent of Fernando Alonso's racing number, makes the Valiant even rarer than the Valour, of which 110 units were produced to celebrate the brand's 110th anniversary.
The exceptional rarity of this model instantly makes it a highly coveted collector's item. Unsurprisingly, Aston Martin has confirmed that all examples have already found buyers, demonstrating the enthusiasm of collectors and enthusiasts for this unique creation.
A design inspired by competition
The Valiant, like the Valour, draws its design inspiration from Aston Martin’s illustrious racing history. Its retro-futuristic design pays homage to the legendary RHAM/1, a DBS V8-based race car that competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours on several occasions in the 1970s.
The Valiant’s muscular silhouette is enhanced by numerous exposed carbon fibre aerodynamic elements, such as a new front splitter, a redesigned rear wing and an optimised rear diffuser. These additions are not just cosmetic: they help generate substantial downforce, essential for track performance.
A powerful V12 heart
Under the hood of the Valiant beats an exceptional mechanical heart: Aston Martin's 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12. For this ultra-sporty version, the engineers pushed the engine to its limits, increasing its power to 734 horsepower, or 29 more than the Valor.
This impressive power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. The choice of a manual transmission, increasingly rare in this segment, underlines Aston Martin's desire to offer a pure and engaging driving experience, in line with the expectations of purists.
An obsessive quest for lightness
One of the main goals in the development of the Valiant was weight reduction. Each component has been carefully screened to eliminate even the slightest superfluous gram. Among the most notable innovations, we can cite:
These weight-saving efforts, combined with the extensive use of carbon fiber for the body, allow the Valiant to display an exceptional power-to-weight ratio.
A chassis designed for the track
To fully exploit the potential of its high-powered V12, the Valiant benefits from a completely redesigned chassis. The key element of this evolution is the adoption of Multimatic dampers with adaptive coilover valve. This advanced system is able to independently adjust each shock absorber among 32 different profiles in less than 6 milliseconds, ensuring optimum road holding in all conditions.
The brakes have not been forgotten, with the adoption of carbon-ceramic discs for powerful and durable braking, essential for intensive use on the circuit.
A cockpit designed for performance
The interior of the Valiant perfectly reflects its sporting vocation. The original seats have been replaced by Recaro Podium buckets, offering optimal support during sporty driving. A steel half-rollbar has been installed, with anchor points for 4-point harnesses, emphasizing the dual road/circuit vocation of the car.
Carbon fiber is omnipresent in the cabin, visible on the doors and the center console. This aesthetic choice constantly reminds the driver of the exceptional character of their vehicle, while contributing to the overall objective of weight reduction.
A promising future for manual sportswomen
With the Valiant, Aston Martin reaffirms its commitment to automotive purists. Although the brand has removed manual transmissions from its main range, it continues to offer special editions equipped with manual gearboxes to meet enthusiast demand.
This strategy allows Aston Martin to reconcile the demands of the mass market, which increasingly favours automatic transmissions, with the expectations of collectors and lovers of pure sensations. The Valiant perfectly embodies this philosophy, combining cutting-edge technology with a traditional driving experience.
The Aston Martin Valiant represents the pinnacle of British automotive engineering. It embodies the meeting of the brand's traditional know-how and the latest technological advances, all enhanced by the expertise of a Formula 1 champion. The 38 lucky owners of this mechanical gem will have in their hands much more than just a car: a true rolling work of art, capable of providing unique sensations on the road as well as on the circuit.
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