Aston Martin Valiant

Model Overview

The Aston Martin Valiant is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-door supercar from British ultra-luxury marque Aston Martin, meticulously crafted by its bespoke division, Q by Aston Martin. Standing as the brand’s most extreme road-legal track car ever produced, its development was personally spearheaded by Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver Fernando Alonso—who envisioned a more hardcore, race-bred evolution of the Valour. Built upon the Valour coupe, the Valiant delivers higher performance, reduced weight, and more aggressive aerodynamics. Strictly limited to just 38 units worldwide, the entire production run was fully allocated prior to its official debut. Pricing in the UK started at £2 million (approximately RM18,410,000); it was officially launched in China in October 2024 with a base retail price of RM30,525,000 (inclusive of VAT). Initial customer deliveries commenced in the first quarter of 2025.

Design Language

The Valiant’s exterior styling embodies a "brave and resolute" design philosophy, engineered around extreme aerodynamic performance. Styling cues draw direct inspiration from the original 1977 V8 Vantage and the 1980 RHAM/1 "Muncher" Le Mans racer. Clad in full carbon-fibre bodywork, the front fascia features an oversized front splitter and a new full-width carbon-fibre grille to boost engine cooling airflow whilst reducing front-axle mass. The signature "horseshoe" grille contour and retro round headlamps are retained, paying homage to heritage classics alongside the clamshell bonnet. Along the flanks, heavily scalloped side fenders, broad side sills, and vortex generators ahead of the rear wheels efficiently direct lateral airflow. The rear end sports a sharp Kamm tail profile, paired with a 1970s-inspired massive fixed rear wing and a functional carbon-fibre diffuser that generates substantial downforce. The 21-inch magnesium wheels are fitted with carbon-fibre aero discs to further streamline air flow.

Inside, the cabin seamlessly blends motorsport functionality with a lightweight ethos. Standard equipment includes RECARO carbon-fibre sport bucket seats and four-point racing harnesses, with upholstery finished in a choice of Alcantara or leather. The steering wheel is exclusive to the Valiant, featuring a smaller-diameter circular rim. A half roll cage and lightweight carpeting also come fitted as standard.

Powertrain and Performance

Powering the Valiant is an uprated 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine (shared with the Valour). The powerplant pushes out a maximum output of 745 PS (approximately 735 hp) at 6,500 rpm and 753 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm, representing a 30 hp bump over the Valour. Power is sent to the wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox showcasing an exposed gear linkage mechanism. It adopts a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout equipped with a mechanical limited-slip differential. The 0-100 km/h sprint is completed in roughly 3 seconds, with a top speed rated at over 322 km/h (exceeding 200 mph). Drivers can select from three drive modes: Sport, Sport+, and Track.

Chassis and Handling

Underneath, the rear subframe is manufactured using 3D printing technology, shaving 3 kg without compromising structural rigidity. The torque tube is constructed from magnesium alloy, shedding a further 8.6 kg. Comprehensive weight-saving measures trim total vehicle mass by around 23 kg. The suspension setup features Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers—a cutting-edge motorsport technology capable of adjusting each damper across 32 discrete damping curves in under 6 milliseconds, offering exceptional damping control and broad operational bandwidth. Stopping power comes courtesy of standard carbon-ceramic brakes, measuring 410 mm × 38 mm up front and 360 mm × 32 mm at the rear. The 21-inch magnesium wheels are shod with 275/35 front and 325/30 rear tyres, reducing unsprung mass by 14 kg. A motorsport-spec lithium-ion battery sheds an additional 11.5 kg. The lightweight quad-exit titanium exhaust system unleashes the unmistakable acoustic roar of the V12.

Cockpit and Equipment

The driver-focused cockpit features standard RECARO Podium carbon-fibre sport seats with heating and ventilation functions. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather with brushed aluminium accents, complemented by a lightweight titanium gear shift knob. The exposed gear linkage delivers an engaging, mechanical tactile feel. The roll cage is finished in gunmetal paint, complete with a red carbon-fibre plaque and FIA-certified mounting points. Sound deadening has been stripped back, allowing the driver to savour every mechanical nuance and pulse of the V12 engine.

Safety and Driver Assistance

As an uncompromising driver's machine, the Valiant's safety features are fundamentally track-oriented. Passive safety equipment includes a half roll cage, four-point racing harnesses, and RECARO sport bucket seats. The braking setup combines carbon-ceramic discs with high-performance brake callipers, delivering immense stopping power and high resistance to thermal fade. The car is fully road-legal and complies with all road safety regulations. Unlike conventional luxury GTs, the Valiant foregoes Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), intentionally returning total driving control to the driver.

Market Performance and Reception

Since its reveal on 26 June 2024, the Valiant has garnered global acclaim as the brand's most extreme front-engine road car to date. All 38 build allocations were completely sold out before the launch, highlighting its immense market pull. Following the start of deliveries, the Valiant quickly appreciated on the secondary market—with an owner listing a unit for resale at £2.595 million (approximately RM24,700,000) after just 500 miles, representing an increase of nearly USD 500,000 over the original retail price. Industry analysts attribute the Valiant's high collector value to the rarity of a manual V12 supercar in the era of electrification, the championship pedigree of Fernando Alonso, and the bespoke craftsmanship of Q by Aston Martin. Motoring media have hailed the Valiant as "one of Aston Martin's finest hypercars in recent years", drawing comparisons to "Aston Martin's answer to the Porsche 911 GT3 RS". Serving as a swan song for the front-mounted V12, manual gearbox, and pure rear-wheel-drive recipe, the Valiant stands not only as a tribute to the internal combustion engine, but also as the ultimate showcase of Aston Martin's engineering prowess.