Aston Martin has introduced the Valen, the world’s most powerful front engined production car.
The latest V12 special from bespoke service, Q by Aston Martin, Valen is limited to just 150 examples worldwide. The most powerful front-engined vehicle in the company’s 113-year history, it boasts a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine now delivering 850PS/1000Nm and a 0-100km/h time of just over three seconds. Motorsport-inspired materials and lightweight options have enabled a weight saving of up to 110kg on the company’s existing V12 platform, allowing the Valen to deliver a top speed of around 344km/h.
ENGINEERING
Reinforcing Valen’s position, is a sharper-shifting, eight-speed ZF transmission, which uses race-proven shift strategies developed for Aston Martin’s Vantage GT4 race programme.
To bring out the best from the V12 powertrain, Valen adopts a performance drive mode philosophy with Sport, Sport+ and Track modes, creating a true feeling of urgency and focus.
New lightweight magnesium wheels are fitted as standard to further improve steering response and bring added polish to Valen’s wheel control and ride refinement.
Focussed front and rear lateral stiffness delivers precise response and confident direction changes. Reduced roll and pitch motions to driver inputs increase agility over the core V12 platform while preserving a playful handling balance for maximum enjoyment.
Through its new lightweight titanium exhaust system, Valen has a soundtrack to match its performance. The system has been developed specifically for Valen and features new micro mufflers enhancing the sound quality that’s such an essential part of enjoying a V12-engined car to the full.
DESIGN
Valen’s dramatic frontal treatment is characterised by deeply recessed slimline headlamp units hooded beneath the sharp leading edge of the plunging bonnet line. Together with the more angular treatment of the radiator aperture, bold geometric mesh grille and acutely angled front splitter, they create a distinctive character.
The bonnet itself features a single top vent with perforations at the trailing edge. On each side, the traditional side strake has been sharpened and elongated and is now fully incorporated into a large functional vent. The strake feature extends almost the full length of the door before the swollen rear haunches widen to cover the rear wheels.
The lower section of each side is dominated by a stepped sill, creating a tightly cinched waistline that emphasises the muscular front and rear fender sections. Sharp saw-tooth vortex generators positioned on the trailing edge of the sills pull high-speed airflow from beneath the car to reduce lift and generate downforce. New side-glass quarter windows add to Valen’s profile and unique identity.
The rear-design treatment is equally bold. Instead of a fixed rear window and trunk lid, both features have been replaced by a solid tailgate. Featuring an aerodynamic wing in its upper section, the tailgate opens onto a sizeable boot.
A bespoke full-width light bar sits beneath the large upswept tail. Below the vivid strip of light is a perforated panel to extract hot air from around the exhaust, which features a pair of high-set tailpipes mounted above the top of the rising rear diffuser.
The show car is specified in a Q Ultra-developed paint colour, Satin Andromeda Red, which blends deep red, copper and rich golden highlights, shifting dynamically to intense undertones of blue.
The interior of Valen has been developed around a clear principle of visual lightness, reflecting the significant mass reduction engineered throughout the car. Central to this is a slim centre console. Angled towards the driver, the inclined console creates a more focussed and controlled cockpit environment, reinforcing the connection between driver and machine.
Valen’s cabin offers a choice of newly developed Sports Plus seats, designed to combine support with long-distance comfort, or lightweight carbon fibre performance seats for a more focussed driving experience. ✤
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