2024 Aston Martin Valour

Aston Martin's promise of revealing eight new cars over a two-year period was no joke. Already we've been treated to the DB12 Super Tourer, and now the British automaker has taken the covers off the even more special Valour.

How is it more special, you may ask? Well, the Valour comes with a 705-horsepower twin-turbocharged V12 instead of the DB12's V8. And, while both continue Aston's glittering lineage of sports cars with large engines in the front, the Valour deviates from the DB12 by having a bespoke manual gearbox. It's so special that Aston Martin describes the car as having an "end-of-era" specification, no doubt a reference to the looming takeover of electrified vehicles.

Designed for the purist and to provide a more analog driving experience, the visceral Valour is limited to just 110 examples: a fitting number as this car coincides with the company's 110th anniversary.

The release date for the new Aston Martin Valour coupe is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023, which is when deliveries will begin. This likely pertains to the British market, and we expect limited examples of the Valour to be coming to the USA. The manufacturer says that this guaranteed collector's item will go into production in the third quarter of 2023.

No price has been given for the 2024 Aston Martin Valour, but with extremely limited production numbers, that big V12, and bodywork fashioned from carbon fiber, its MSRP will probably exceed that of the top DBS. That means it could cost somewhere between $400k and $500k.

As far as rivals go, there are no direct ones that spring to mind since front-engined V12 sports cars with manuals are unheard of in 2023. Ferrari's 812 Competizione has a dual-clutch automatic, and you won't find a manual or a front-engined sports car over at Lamborghini. Gordon Murray Automotive does have the sensational T.33 with a V12 and a manual, but it has a different rear-mid-engine layout and an eye-watering price tag of around $1.5 million. As things stand, the 2024 Valour is a unique proposition.

The dramatic, wedge-like appearance of the Aston Martin Valour's exterior initially comes as a shock, especially so soon after the DB12 debuted with its curvaceous lines. Unlike that car, the Valour is not immediately beautiful, but it is certainly more impactful. This isn't surprising when one hears what Miles Nurnberger, the company's Director of Design, had to say about the car, using terms like "gloriously unapologetic" and an "old-school brute" to describe the looks.

The chiseled shape draws much inspiration from classic Aston Martin models like the V8 Vantage from the 1970s, while the clamshell hood and small rounded LED headlights are not dissimilar to those of the Victor. A 'horse-shoe' vent and twin NACA ducts on the hood help to funnel air to the mighty V12 lump that rests below, while the grille has a center section with aluminum strakes.

At the back, there are two clusters with six LED light blades per side that recall the Valkyrie hypercar, plus a full-width aluminum accent. From this angle, one can also appreciate the upswept Kamm tail, the bold diffuser, and a trio of center-mounted exhaust outlets. The exhaust system itself saves a bit over 15 lbs of weight compared to a traditional setup.

Lightweight forged wheels measure 21 inches in size and have a Honeycomb design that is familiar to those on the DBS 770 Ultimate. These are shod in AML-specific Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires.

Colorful brake calipers are visible behind those wheels, but the full range of colors that will be offered on the 2024 Aston Martin Valour is unknown. Aston only says that there will be a choice of 21 paints along with various hand-painted stripes and graphics. Customers can also turn to the Q by Aston Martin bespoke division for an even more unique configuration, with the company giving the example of a model with fully exposed 2x2 twill carbon fiber bodywork in a choice of colors.

The dimensions of the Aston Martin Valour were not published so we don't know what its length, width, and height will be. We presume that its size won't be drastically different from that of the BD12, a car that measures 186 inches in length, is 84.4 inches wide, and which is just under 51 inches tall.

Although it has a large V12 engine, the carbon fiber body of the Valour should help to keep its weight down. The lightweight stainless steel exhaust system has a wall thickness of under 1mm, saving over 15 pounds alone, and the standard carbon ceramic brakes lower unsprung mass by around 50 lbs. We assume that the Valour will have a dry weight of below 4,000 lbs.

Aston Martin seems to be struggling to say goodbye to the V12, and we're here for it. The DBS 770 Ultimate revealed earlier this year was thought to be the company's last one, but the engine in the Aston Martin Valour has extended the big mill's life once again.

A 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged lump, the engine in the Aston Martin Valour produces 705 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque. For the first time, this engine is paired with a bespoke six-speed manual transmission which the company promises provides an absorbing experience behind the wheel. All of that grunt is directed to the rear wheels exclusively.

The company has not provided any 0-60 or top speed claims, but the Valour should be capable of completing the benchmark sprint in under four seconds if it has the traction to do so. Sport, Sport+, and Track driving modes are provided, and the car comes with a mechanical limited-slip differential.

Complementing the engine is a bespoke suspension with anti-roll bars, springs, and adaptive dampers that have all been configured uniquely for the Valour. Despite having a Track mode, Aston says this is a road car first, so we can expect both precise handling and a compliant ride. A new steering system has been tuned to deliver more feel and immediacy, while the structure features measures like a rear suspension tower strut brace to boost torsional and lateral stiffness.

As mentioned, the car has standard carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers. These discs can resist fade at up to 800 degrees.

The gas mileage specs of the Aston Martin Valour will be of little concern to those 110 customers, but for what it's worth, the official numbers probably won't be far off the 14/22/17 mpg city/highway/combined of the DBS. This car also has a 5.2-liter turbocharged V12, but no manual.

The range will depend on the tank size but this is another detail that is unknown for now.

The two-seater interior of the Aston Martin Valour is awash in high-end materials, some of which also draw inspiration from past models. That includes the woolen tweed that was inspired by the seats in the DBR1 that won the 1959 edition of Le Mans. But perhaps the single element inside the Valour that will draw the most adoration is the large gear shift lever for the manual transmission.

This gear lever can be finished in a choice of four materials: walnut, carbon fiber, titanium, or machined aluminum. The shift mechanism has been purposefully left exposed, too.

Carbon fiber has been implemented for the shells used for the Aston Martin Valour's lightweight seats, and the same material can be found on the door cards, air vents, transmission tunnel, and upper center console. Just behind the gear lever are a couple of physical dials for the climate control system as well as the engine start/stop button.

The cabin can be extensively customized, be it with Mokume carbon fiber for the seats and the headlining or Johnsons of Elgin tweed and cashmere fabric. Instead of a traditional door handle, the Valour has what appears to be a leather loop.

No cargo space figures for the Aston Martin Valour have been shared, but it will probably have just enough room for two people's luggage.