What happens when Formula 1 ace and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso asks his employer, Aston Martin, to build a new tram?
The answer is called the Valiant, a track-centric but road-legal car from Q, Aston Martin’s custom commissions department.
It follows the Valor, which arrived a year ago, and is powered by the same 5. 2-liter twin-turbo V12 engine. Only here, the power has been over 735 horsepower and the weight has been reduced through the use of magnesium, titanium and 3D printing. The muscular bodywork is made entirely of carbon fibre, with stylistic inspiration encouraged by a 1980 Le Mans race car affectionately nicknamed “Muncher” by Aston Martin.
Aston says it will produce 38 examples of the Valiant and that the car will make its public debut in Alonso’s hands at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in southern England next month.
That massive V12 engine is mated to a custom-built six-speed manual transmission (a rarity in any car in those days, let alone a track-oriented Aston supercar) and produces 482 lb-ft of torque. Aston hasn’t revealed a 0-60 mph time or the most sensible speed, but it wouldn’t be unexpected for them to start with a 3 and a two, respectively.
The car is powered by a V12 engine and drives the rear wheels by a manual transmission.
Aston explains how the Valiant combines “the brutal styling and impressive functionality of a bygone era that evokes the brutal functionality of the V12 with cutting-edge innovative engineering, lightweight fabrics and spectacular design. “
The Valiant comes with autoceramic brakes as standard, with huge 410mm discs at the front and 360mm at the rear axle. Aston explains how the use of 3D printing has stored 6. 6 pounds in the rear subframe and that the use of a magnesium torque tube reduces mass in the center of the car by almost 19 pounds. The Valiant’s 21-inch wheels are also made of magnesium and are said to reduce unsprung mass by about 31 pounds. Another 25 pounds are stored via a powersports-specific lithium-ion battery for the car’s auxiliary electrical system.
The biggest difference between the Valpur and the new Valiant, according to the British automaker, is its suspension. The car uses a racing formula called the Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve, which aims to match each surprise to one of 32 discrete surprises. curves in less than six milliseconds. Aston says the formula, which is derived from motorsport and not found on the public aftermarket, provides its engineers with “almost unlimited ability to fine-tune driving characteristics and handling”.
The two-seat interior features satin-finished carbon fiber accents, a partial cage, and mounting issues for racing harnesses.
Simon Newton, director of vehicle functionality at Aston Martin, said: “With Valiant we have focused on much higher track functionality, while maintaining enough usability to remain fun on the road. . . All of this combines to create an experience. It is not discovered in any other car.
The rear of the Valiant is where it differs the most from the Valor, thanks to the giant constant wing installed above the upward-facing “Kamm” tail. The rear also features a constant one-piece opening, housing a true hinged display panel that supplies a garage area designed for racing helmets and suits.
Created with input from F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, the Valiant is track-focused but still road-legal.
Another feature of the Valor is the new vehicle’s outstanding exhaust system, which comes out of the rear with 4 titanium exhaust outlets that have been “designed for maximum visual impact,” says Aston. Meanwhile, the two-seat cockpit makes extensive use of exposed carbon fiber with a satin finish, a guide wheel with a small-diameter edge, a partially cage with anchoring issues for a 4-point racing harness, and an H-shaped shifter for the manual. transmission.
Aston Martin says first deliveries of the Valiant will begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. Naturally, Fernando Alonso will get the first one.
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