Aston Martin Valiant Is A Track-Focused Weapon With A Six-Speed Manual

This is the Aston Martin Valiant, an extreme take on the Valour that will be capped at just 38 units worldwide and was originally conceived as a personal commission from Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso. The road-legal weapon will debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and customer deliveries will start in the fourth quarter of this year.

The exclusive model has been brought to life through the Q by Aston Martin bespoke division and rocks a twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 pumping out 735 hp and 555 lb-ft (753 Nm) of torque, meaning it has 30 hp more than the Valour and the same peak torque figure. Like the Valour, the Valiant will be sold exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission sending power through the rear wheels.

Read: Aston Martin Valour Pairs A Manual Gearbox With A 705 HP V12

Numerous weight-saving measures have been made. For example, the car has a 3D-printed rear subframe that cuts 3 kg (6.6 lbs) of weight while also sporting a magnesium torque tube that saves 8.6 kg (18.9 lbs). The unsprung mass has been reduced by 14 kg (31 lbs) thanks to the use of new lightweight 21-inch magnesium wheels, while a lithium-ion battery saves an additional 11.5 kg (25.3 lbs).

As the Valiant is a track-focused weapon, it comes as little surprise that Aston Martin has worked extensively on its handling. All units will be featured as standard with Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve dampers that can adjust to one of 32 damper curves in less than six milliseconds. The carmaker has also recalibrated the Sport, Sport+, and Track driving modes, and fitted carbon ceramic discs as standard, complete with massive 410 mm (16.1-inch) front discs and 360 mm (14.1-inch) rear discs.

Visually, the Valiant is much more aggressive than the Valour. It’s been adorned with loads of new carbon fiber parts, including a new splitter and multi-layer planes near the front wheels. Aston Martin has also crafted a new full-width carbon fiber grille, new side fenders, and attached aero discs to the 21-inch wheels. It also rocks intricate Formula 1-inspired side skirts, a towering fixed rear wing, and a new carbon fiber diffuser. There’s no word on downforce, but it obviously sticks to the pavement better than the Valour.

Aston Martin could have called it a day with the mechanical upgrades and aero changes, but it hasn’t. The interior of the Valiant has also been modified and a cutaway in the transmission tunnel now showcases the stunning shifting linkage. Plenty of new carbon fiber parts, such as a half-cage, Recaro Podium seats, four-point racing harnesses, and a timeless three-spoke steering wheel, are also found.

“Valiant is a modern masterpiece,” Aston Martin global brand chief and commercial officer Marco Mattiacci said of the car. “A creation of Q by Aston Martin, inspired by a racing legend and conceived using the latest F1 inspired technology, exotic materials and obsessive weight reduction. It focusses on placing the driver in a truly unique, intense and emotional driving experience. The ultimate blend of performance, track-focused dynamics and hypercar intensity, Valiant embodies Aston Martin’s determined commitment to build rare and extraordinary cars for true drivers.”