Aston Martin Valour: mighty V12 and a manual gearbox!

Enthusiasm gushes into the smallest capillaries at Aston Martin. Saying goodbye to its impressive twelve-cylinder power plant is therefore not something the brand does just like that. Last year it hung its largest engine in its smallest model once more by giving both the Vantage and Vantage Roadster a V12, but the twelve-cylinder does not seem to have a long life anymore. The successor to the DB11, called the DB12, has to do without a V12 for the time being, but Aston Martin has nevertheless been tempted to hang its 5.2 V12, enriched with two turbos, in a new model. This is the Aston Martin Valour, the last of its kind. Do you know another supercar with a front-mounted V12 and a manual gearbox?

Aston Martin Valour

Aston Martin celebrates its 110th anniversary with the Valour. The English have a huge history and so it has a lot of models from which to draw inspiration for the Valour. The Valour includes design references to the V8 Vantage (1977-1989) and the V600 Vantage (1998-2000) – once the most powerful car in the world. Aston Martin also says it has taken a good look at the 1980 RHAM1 Le Mans racer based on the primal Vantage. Does the car look familiar to you? You can do that very well. In 2020, Aston Martin came up with the one-off Victor, which is partly based on the technique of the One-77 and Vulcan. That car was also inspired by the most intense that the brand had to offer a few decades ago. Aston Martin also applies a piece of history in the interior. For example, the wool upholstery is inspired by that of the DBR1 that won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Aston Martin Valour

And that V12? It is of course strong. The twin-turbo 5.2 generates 715 hp and 753 Nm and sends its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox specially developed for the model and a limited-slip differential. According to Aston Martin, the Valour offers the purest driving experience the brand can offer. Although the Valour is probably partly based on the Vantage, given the windows, the English speak of a specially made one body structure, unique wheel geometry and the presence of a bespoke suspension complete with adaptive dampers. The steering system is also completely unique. Carbon ceramic brakes, which consist of 41-centimeter discs at the front and 36-centimetre discs at the rear, bring the colossus together with a set of fierce claws that count six and four pistons at the front again. The rear tires are in size 325/30, measure 21 inches and must undoubtedly bring the power to the asphalt accompanied by loud groans. The body of the Valour is made entirely of carbon fiber.

Aston Martin will ramp up production of the Valour in the third quarter of this year. The first of a total of 110 units to be built will be delivered in the last quarter. “A collector’s item that deserves to be driven,” said Aston Martin. It may well have hit the nail on the head mercilessly with that.