Have you ever had that funny feeling like you’ve seen a brand new car before? This is the Aston Martin Valour and it’s conceptually nigh-on identical to the Victor from 2020, but different in execution. While the Victor was a One-77-based naturally-aspirated wailer, the Valour is a three-pedal throwback with a force-fed V12. Intrigued?
Yes, the Aston martin Valour uses the same 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine as the outgoing V12 Vantage, only with the wick turned up to 705 horsepower and 755 lb.-ft. of torque. Pretty nuts, right. Best of all, the entire fury of the V12 is harnessed by a six-speed manual gearbox.
As expected for a supercar, the Valour gets carbon ceramic brakes, although the front discs are properly enormous. Aston Martin claims sizing of 410 mm by 38 mm, and if we convert that to freedom units, we end up with 16.1 inches in diameter by 1.5 inches thick. Chunky. Mind you, as with any braking system, the real limit in the real world will be tires, so Aston Martin shod this thing with uniquely formulated Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires. Expect them to be everywhere in the aftermarket soon.
Although Aston Martin has tried damn hard to impose a ’70s physique on the Valour, its modern roots shine through. From the kick of the greenhouse to the silhouette of the slotted rear window, it’s hard to escape the Vantage hiding within. Valour, Vantage, Victor, when will Aston run out of V-names? On a long enough timeline, will we eventually see the introduction of the Aston Martin Vestibule?
While the old-school ‘70s-inspired form of the Valour isn’t anything new, the production volume is. Unlike the one-off Victor, the Valour will find 110 lucky homes, such is the expected production run. Tiny volume, but you have to be a particular sort of person to plunk down some dosh on this sort of nostalgia trip.
Oh, and coming in hot after the nostalgia is a distinct sense of excess. Exhaust tips? Three of them, made from ultra-thin stainless steel. Gear knob? Will that be aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, or walnut? Bored of leather? How about tweed? This low-volume supercar couldn’t be more British if it was personally endorsed by King Charles.
Of course, Aston Martin isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel here, but that’s okay. A heritage play is exactly what 2023 calls for. Mind you, not every heritage-evoking part of this special feels so brilliant. Despite the new DB12 coming with a slick in-house infotainment system with all-new buttons, the Valour still uses ancient Mercedes stuff that you can probably upgrade through AliExpress. I get that classic British performance cars often used a hodgepodge of switchgear, but it feels like we’re beyond that in 2023.
Still, do you really need infotainment when you have three pedals and six gears that you shift yourself? I don’t care about the monstrous horsepower, the throwback looks, or the wild interior choices as much as I care about how Aston Martin seems to be focusing on engagement. In a world where everything’s ballistic, numbers don’t really matter. As long as your performance car won’t end up as a grille badge for a Toyota Highlander, how a performance car makes you feel matters more than anything. Best of all, it should start arriving in customers’ garages really soon. Production is scheduled for the third quarter, with deliveries in the fourth. How’s that for a Christmas gift?
(Photo credits: Aston Martin)
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Just skimmed the C&D article the other day, but i thought they stated there wasn’t any glass under that louver, just a rear-facing camera? Is that legal here?
The press photos are channeling black light poster energy, and the name is a bit too close to Velour, but it’s a looker.
Those wheels! K’nex to the maximum! Very nice, Aston will always be a pure emotion marque for me: about as useful as brass shoes, but equally good at kicking ass.
The Valour is one letter away from being Velour.
They should have a Velour option.
I would definitely want Velour in my Valour…
The Aston Martin Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure?
110 worldwide means acquisition outside of serial buyers will be difficult. These will almost all be invite only. They’re also rare enough that they won’t materially depreciate.
Interesting was the 2017 Vantage V12 S 7-speed. There were 100 in the US (75 coupes, 25 roadsters), not sure about worldwide — I’d put 300-350 as my guess. These were apparently purchase-able by nobodies, as there were enough where some weren’t immediately spoken for. They apparently trade at 80-90% of original transaction cost.
Neat, but not like I can get one. I’d like to eventually get a ’13-’17 V12 Vantage S with the AMR pack, and properly convert it to the 7-speed dogleg Graziano gearbox. Ends up a bit cheaper than an original 7-speed, and WAY easier to get the colors you want.
Velour? Vantage?
What’s our Vector, Victor?
Tower’s radio clearance, over!
That’s Clarence Oveur. Over.
Johnny, what do you make of this?
This? Why, I can make a hat or a brooch or a pterodactyl…
When I first heard of this I misread the name as “velour” and if I’m paying that much for one, I’m ordering it with the most 70s of pea-green velour seat cushions.
Might want to double-check the torque number. Top Gear has it at 555, not 755.
I’m waiting for the Vestal. Available only in white and men aren’t allowed near them.
Simply excellent
Once again, Aston Martin goes to the Mustang well. The 70s Vantage V8 design screamed ‘69 Shelby GT 500 and the Valour V12 borrows heavily from that car. Not a bad role model, all things considered.
BTW: V is for Vendetta.
does it have velour interior? 😛
I know I would want Velour in my Valour… either in Vermillion or Verdigris…