ROME – Aston Martin launches the Valiant, a new special created for the track and approved for the road desired by Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, who also purchased the first of 38 examples made by the legendary Q division of the British company. The Valiant is a lighter, more extreme and sporty version of the Valor and is equipped with a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine with 745 HP of power and 753 Nm of torque combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The muscular and aggressive line reinterprets the iconic and legendary Le Mans “Muncher” using cutting-edge materials and technologies, and is characterized by a wide front with a hollowed-out bonnet, with numerous elements to improve aerodynamics and ground grip of the car, from the wavy front fenders, from the large air intakes to cool the engine and large carbon-ceramic brakes and from an effective and impactful rear with the tapered Kamm tail, a robust fixed wing and the large diffuser to optimize the air flows. The four central titanium exhaust pipes, the large round headlights at the front and the three-piece square headlights at the rear are beautiful. The effort to reduce weight as much as possible is notable.
The body is made of carbon fiber and the adoption of a 3D printed rear subframe has allowed a weight reduction of 3 kg without compromising rigidity, while a magnesium torque tube reduces the mass at the center of the car by 8.6 kg. Lightweight 21″ magnesium wheels with 275/35 front and 325/30 rear tires optimize steering response and wheel control while reducing unsprung mass by 14kg. motorsport type was chosen to save another 11.5 kg.
Among the cutting-edge solutions of the Valiant, which continues Aston Martin’s long tradition in the development of special collector’s editions, are the Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) shock absorbers and the recalibration of the electronics, aimed at driving on the track, with three modes (Sport, Sport+ and Track).
The passenger compartment, strictly two-seater, is full of charm and functionality, with extensive use of satin carbon fiber and Alcantara or semi-aniline leather. The steering wheel, perfectly circular and with a small diameter, was designed specifically for the Valiant, the pedals are obviously sporty and the H-shaped manual gearbox is beautiful, with a spherical knob, with an opening that shows the mechanism and the gear insertion . To underline the prevalence of track use, the Valiant’s interior features an integrated safety half-cage, while the seats are Recaro Podium with custom trim and racing seat belt.
Fernando Alonso, driver of the Aston Martin team in Formula 1, and main inspirer of the Valiant project, explained that the idea came to him while driving the Valour, which “was a spectacular celebration of the 110th anniversary of Aston Martin and pushed me to imagine a more extreme version, inspired by race cars, that focused on the track, while still offering an exciting drive on the road. Valiant was born from my passion for driving at the limit and I enjoyed working closely with the Q by Aston Martin team on both the design and technical specifications and I believe we have created a masterpiece.”
For Marco Mattiacci, Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of Aston Martin, “Valiant is a modern masterpiece. A Q creation by Aston Martin, which is inspired by a racing legend and is produced using characteristic elements of F1, such as technological innovation, the use of unconventional materials and a continuous search for weight reduction. The aim is to give the driver a truly unique, intense and exciting driving experience. With its mix of performance, track dynamics and hypercar intensity, Valiant embodies Aston Martin’s commitment to building unique and extraordinary cars for real drivers.”
The special Valiant will be presented to the public at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of speed scheduled from 11 to 14 July. And it will be driven by its first customer and inspiration, Fernando Alonso, who with his class will be able to show on the track all the qualities of this racing car which is also approved for road use. A dream, however, that will remain for a few: the 38 units planned, in fact, have already all been sold at an average price of around 2 million pounds and the first deliveries to wealthy customers will begin in the fourth quarter of the year.
