You can save this article by registering here. Or log in if you have an account.
These are lofty ambitions, so the new Valiant features all sorts of functionality improvements, the least of which is: the twin-turbo V12 delivers up to 734 horsepower; And the chassis is covered in lightweight carbon fiber, titanium, and even some ultra-exotic magnesium.
There’s more downforce to keep you glued to the road; ultra-high-tech Multimatic ASV shock absorbers to keep the tires firmly in contact with the asphalt; And damn, there’s rarely a six-speed manual transmission blessing its interior, and with a Pagani-like exposed linkage system, I’m not sure that makes the Valiant any more track-worthy.
Join our thriving social network and connect with researchers and car enthusiasts.
As for the functionality of the new Valiant, Aston isn’t saying yet. He also does not specify how much weight he has managed to lose from his exotic steel food. But we do know that a subframe published in 3-D stored 3 kilograms (six and one parts of pounds); a magnesium torque tube trimmed an additional 8. 6 kilograms (19 pounds); and its lithium-ion battery weighs approximately 11. 5 kg (25. 3 lb) less than AGM chemistry.
Add to that the 14 kilograms (30. 8 pounds) stored in the 21-inch all-magnesium wheels and you’ve got significant weight savings. These wheels probably have the highest rpm of all, since the 31-pound wheels are all unsprung weights, the loss of which not only benefits acceleration but especially improves suspension performance.
This ability to keep the rubber (275/35R21 at the front and 325/30R21 at the rear, the logo not yet specified) firmly glued to the road is greatly enhanced by the addition of Multimatic’s aforementioned ASV shocks. Multimatics can “choose one of 32 discrete damping curves in less than six milliseconds,” which is just technical communication because they “can replace their damping characteristics faster than any other damper on the planet. “One expert described Multimatic’s spool valve generation as “witchcraft” suspension.
Styling-wise, the Valiant, like the Valor that preceded it, has more than a trace of the iconic ’80s Vantage in its bulldog-shaped flares. Oh, it’s all very trendy aerodynamically and it’s a lot cleaner than the old blocky Vantage. Still, the Valiant isn’t a wedge-shaped Ferrari wannabe; It cannot be confused with anything more than a brute with a front engine and rear-wheel drive.
How brutal it is, we don’t know. Unusually, Aston doesn’t release any acceleration figures or claim a more sensible and far-fetched speed figure. There is not even any mention of the Nürburgring lap time, the existing lap time with which all track-centric sports cars are judged.
I guess we’ll have to wait for Fernando Alonso to get behind the wheel to see how fast the Valiant really is. Which deserves to be quite soon since, according to Aston Martin, he is expected to compete at the famous Goodwood Hill. Go up with him in mid-July. I’m pretty sure he’ll give her some serious “rubber boots” because he’s the number one customer.
It is not clear that Fernando will pay the full £2 million (more than $3. 5 million Canadian) for the privilege.
Sign up for our Blind-Spot Monitor newsletter and follow our social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and X to stay up to date with the latest news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle buying tips.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a civilized discussion forum. Please keep your comments applicable and respectful. It can take up to an hour for comments to appear on the site. You’ll receive an email if there’s a response to your comment, an update to a thread you’re following, or if a user you follow comments. See our community guidelines for more information.
365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3L4
© 2024 Driving, a department of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution or transmission is strictly prohibited.
This uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads) and allows us to analyze our traffic. Learn more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Change your possible options for deleting cars if you need to charge others.
You can load a maximum of five cars to your selection.
You can manage your parts stored in your account by clicking the X on the back right of the item.
You can manage your parts stored in your account by clicking the X on the back right of the item.