Aston Martin creates ultra-exclusive Valiant

MANILA: Aston Martin has unveiled its latest ultra exclusive named Valiant.

The latest project handled by the brand’s bespoke division Q by Aston Martin is a track-focused, road-legal car that will only have 38 cars worldwide — with all fully allocated already.

Per the Gaydon-headquartered marque, the Valiant was conceived from a personal commission from Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver Fernando Alonso for a lightweight, more extreme, race car inspired version of the Valour.

“Valour was a spectacular celebration of Aston Martin's 110th anniversary, and stirred me to create a more extreme, race car inspired version that was track focused, while also delivering a thrilling drive on-road. Valiant is born from my passion for driving at the limit and 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,” Alonso explained.

Aston Martin Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer noted that the Valiant embodies the brand’s “determined commitment to build rare and extraordinary cars for true drivers.”

 

Exterior

Though beefy in proportions, the extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber and chiseled lines on its bodywork serves aesthetic and aerodynamic functions.

Its front splitter, multi-layer end planes, carbon fiber grille, side fenders and sills, as well as the vortex generators assure reduced drag and lift.

The Aston Martin Valiant’s rear-end design is fitted with the sharp Kamm tail, upswept deck lid topped by a prominent fixed wing, and functional rear diffuser.

Providing a good soundtrack to the vehicle’s mill is the quad-exit titanium exhaust system.

Interior

Meanwhile, the Aston Martin Valiant comes with the finely-tailored, lightweight upholstery.

Its two-seater cockpit comes with unique steering wheel design (slimmer-diameter rim and spokes devoid of switches), a cutaway in the transmission tunnel (showing the gear linkage running rearward to the six-speed transaxle), bespoke spherical gear knob and H-pattern shifting, Recaro Podium with four-point harness.

Its cabin trim can be had in Alcantara or semi-aniline leather and the door panels feature a sculpted design with mesh insert panels to reduce weight, along with lightweight fabric door release pulls.

Powertrain

Propelling the ultra-rare vehicle is a twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 engine (which can provide a peak output of 735 horses and 753 Newton-meters of torque) mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It also comes with pre-set driving modes namely Sport, Sport+ and Track to help the driver enjoy the car’s full performance.

Its stopping power comes from carbon ceramic brakes measuring 410 x 38 millimeters (mm) for the front and 360 x 32mm for the rear.

The Aston Martin Valiant has been incorporated with weight-reducing features such as the three-dimensional-printed rear subframe, magnesium torque tube, 21-inch magnesium wheels, and a motorsport-spec lithium-ion battery.

Guaranteeing superb handling are the multimatic adaptive spool valve (ASV) dampers, that are capable of simultaneously adjusting each damper to one of thirty-two discreet damper curves in less than six milliseconds. The said part offers motorsport-level damping control and an operating control bandwidth and are not available in the aftermarket.

“With [the> 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; 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,” Aston Martin Director of Vehicle Performance Simon Newton said.

To be formally revealed at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 11-14, initial deliveries of the Aston Martin Valiant examples shall commence in the final quarter of 2024.

Photos from Aston Martin Facebook page

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