This V12-Powered Manually Geared Aston Martin Valour Marks The End Of An Era

• V12-powered Aston Martin Valour revealed.

• Bleeds retro and modern cues for a striking design.

• Manually geared twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V-12 engine belts out 715PS/753Nm.

• Round wooden knob with an open gate looks futuristically retro.

• Sits on 21-inch forged alloys with carbon ceramic brakes as standard.

• Limited to just 110 units worldwide.

The Aston Martin Valour is a celebration of the carmaker's storied history, harking back to 70s/80s’ Vantage and other special/one-offs cars closer to the modern day, while being equally modern with an eye and leg in the future. It is one of the handful of front-engined, V12-equipped, manually geared supercars to come out in recent times and further upping its exclusivity is the fact that it is a limited-production car.

Equal parts retro and modern

The whole body is made up of carbon fibre, which has allowed Aston to be really intricate with some of the styling cues. The signature grille has been retained and tweaked for function and form, while you get aluminium strakes in the central section. The round LED headlights represent another callback to the Vantage of the 70s. You also get a prominent front splitter which protrudes from the lower section of the front bumper.

The side profile follows clean and smooth flowing lines that flow into a rounded surface around the rear fender. Ofcourse, the 21-inch ‘Honeycomb’ alloys look striking. Beneath those lightweight alloys are standard carbon ceramic brakes, which along with the Michelin tyre compound, offer great braking performance. Also worth a mention are the aggressive side sills outlining the body of the Valour.

The six rectangular minimalist blades are the LED tailights, which mark a distinction between the two parts of the rear. The upper section is upright but curved at the top, while the lower section is the exact opposite of it. The bumper is effectively a single unit of a massive diffuser with vents and blades. The same also houses the in-line tri-exhaust tips. And yes it spits flames.

The interior styling of the Velar has been trickled down and into the Valour. It isn’t quite keep your bum cooled- or heated-level luxurious, but god, is it beautiful to look at! The fanboys will be quick to point out that the dashboard layout is similar to the Vantage and they won’t be wrong. Similarities are evident in the angled air vents flanking the smooth dashboard, but the central console is where the magic is. 

The focal point has to be the beautifully sculpted wooden gear knob, which stands out (literally), from within the central console. And the best part is, it has a sort of an open gate through which you can see the mechanicals of the transmission. Moreover, you can actually feel the heat of the gearbox coming through the open gate when operating the vehicle. Talk about an engaging drive experience!

Front-engined V12 with a manual

No, we aren’t kidding. Aston has really equipped the Valour with a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 paired to a six-speed manual transmission. Headlining numbers are 715PS/753Nm, delivered to the rear wheels. To make it competent around corners, Aston has sprinkled its learning from its hypercar projects.

Also Read: 2300PS! That’s How Much Horsepower The Koenigsegg Gemera HV8 Belts Out

Adaptive dampers, springs and anti-roll bars, along with equipment like a limited slip differential promise great handling and dynamic control of the vehicle. You also get bracing on multiple points, which improve the Valour’s torsional and lateral stiffness.

With just 110 units announced for production worldwide, the Valour is so much more than a fitting way to celebrate the brand’s 110th anniversary. It marks a moment in time for the British brand which won’t be re-lived ever again. And what a moment it is, blending its heritage with modern-day technology. 

Also Read: Lamborghini Hits A Century And A Half For Huracan Deliveries In India

‘Special’ is a term that can get thrown around loosely, taking away the significance of the thing associated with it. But we reckon it's safe to say Aston Martin is one of those niche brands that knows how to come up with something truly special and the Valour is just that.