New Aston Martin Valour brings 705bhp V12 and manual gearbox

Aston Martin has unveiled a new supercar heavily inspired by the jaw-dropping, one-off Victor – and equipped with a thunderous 705bhp V12 and a six-speed manual gearbox.

With design cues taken from the original V8 Vantage and Aston Martin’s snarling 1970s RHAM/1 prototype racer – known as ‘The Muncher’ – the new Valour is the firm’s 110th birthday present to itself and a celebration of its hallowed 12-cylinder engine.

Just 110 examples of the Valour will be sold at a price understood to range from £1 million to £1.5 million. Each buyer is invited to customise their car through Aston Martin’s Q bespoke service, offering one-off liveries, an exposed carbonfibre body finish and a raft of interior personalisation options.

Whereas the Victor was based on a surplus One-77 prototype chassis, the Valour is built around a bespoke body structure – thought to be derived from the V12 Vantage.

The 5.2-litre V12, based on that of the DBS, sends 705bhp and 555lb ft to the rear wheels through a specially designed six-speed manual gearbox and a mechanical limited-slip differential. Mating the V12 to a manual gearbox (the DBS, DB11 and Vantage all use ZF-supplied automatic gearboxes) was “a big part of honouring that driver-pleasing character”, said Aston Martin engineering boss Simon Newton.

The dynamic brief for the Valour, said Newton, was to provide a “state-of-the-art driver’s car” with “the true heart and soul of a timeless analogue classic” – a point emphasised by the manual gearbox’s visible shift linkage. Modifications include the fitment of front and rear shear panels, a rear suspension tower strut brace and fuel tank bracing, boosting rigidity.

The car also receives adjustable dampers and a new power steering set-up intended to provide more granular feedback through the wheel. Stopping power is provided by standard-fit carbonceramic discs measuring 410mm by 38mm with six-pot calipers up front and 360mm by 32mm discs with four-pot calipers at the rear.

A source told MarkMeets that Aston Martin also offers so many paint choices that it groups them into Blacks & Greys, Purples & Blues, Greens, Reds, Bronzes & Oranges, and Silvers & Whites. The colors vary from dark and understated to bright and flashy. We selected Digital Violet because it was so eye-catching.

In addition to the body color, there are several exterior trim choices. Customers can decide whether the roof is the same color as the paint, black, or exposed carbon fiber. There are similar options for the side stills and front fender vents. The grille is available in all black or with metallic crossbars. There’s only one wheel design but with three finish options.

Aston Martin hasn’t released any pricing info for the Valour. Production starts in the third quarter of 2023, and the company expects to deliver the first one before the end of the year. Let’s see if any buyers are brave enough to specify one in the available vibrant body colors.