What's all this about?

This is Aston Martin’s 110th birthday present to itself. A reimagining of some of the brand’s greatest hits – namely the V8 Vantage of the 1970s and 1980s and the ‘Muncher’ Le Mans car – it’s more than just a concept or a design study. It’s a limited-edition special you can actually go out and buy. If you’re quick.

Tell me more...

Aston describes the Valour as “a thrilling tribute to a golden era of driving,” and the vital stats certainly make for impressive reading. The Valour will have a huge 5.2-litre V12 under the bonnet, driving the rear wheels through (praise be) a six-speed manual gearbox. In total, you’ll get 715hp and 753Nm of torque. And though Aston hasn’t told us exactly how fast the Valour will be, pace is hardly likely to be glacial.

Not that any of that matters, because the British company says the Valour is not a track weapon, but a front-engined sports car “aimed squarely at those who relish a truly involving driving experience.” To that end, there’s a mechanical limited-slip differential and tuned driving modes of Sport, Sport+ and Track with distinct throttle maps, torque management and sound profiles.

Surely there's a decent chassis under there, too?

Aston says so, but then it was hardly likely to say anything else, was it? We do, however, know the Valour has bespoke suspension with adaptive dampers and specifically tuned springs and anti-roll bars. And Aston says it’s set up to be a road car, with “compliance” to the ride, as well as “resolute resistance to roll.”

That said, the Valour still comes with a rear suspension tower strut brace and fuel tank bracing for added stiffness, and there’s a new steering system designed for greater feel and immediacy. Carbon-ceramic brakes have also been included as standard, cutting the unsprung mass by 23kg compared with steel brakes and offering added resistance to brake ‘fade’. driving.”

Now I'm salivating...

Quelle surprise. Just look at it. It isn’t classically beautiful, but there’s something really handsome and muscular about the proportions. It’s a good-looking beast, and a fitting homage to the now really quite cool V8 Vantage of the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn’t a golden age of Aston design at the time, but it’s aging really well.

Of course, the body is an ultra-modern interpretation of that design language, as evidenced by the fact it’s made from carbon fibre. There’s aerodynamic consideration, too, with a clamshell bonnet with NACA ducts to cool the engine and intakes to feed cooling air to the brakes. The whole body is designed for aerodynamic stability, too, with a Kamm tail and a prominent diffuser, as well as a big front splitter. And Aston appears to have pinched Honda’s three-outlet exhaust idea.

What about the inside?

The Valour is a two-seater, so space isn’t plentiful, but Aston Martin says there’s ample luxury in there. A simple cabin design includes a gear selector with an exposed shift mechanism, while the materials are all typical of the brand. With plenty of customisation options, there are choices aplenty, including traditional woolen tweed upholstery. It’s an interesting combination with all the exposed carbon fibre, but each to their own.

Go on... How much?

Ah, Aston Martin hasn’t really said, but we get the distinct impression it’s a case of ‘if you have to ask…’ Just 110 of these cars will ever be delivered, and that’s a global figure, not just in the UK. If you want one, we suggest getting in touch with your local dealer immediately. Production is due to commence later this year, with the first customer cars arriving before Christmas.

James Fossdyke - 11 Jul 2023