Aston Martin introduced a new model in its line of specialty vehicles at Monterey Car Week. The Valen is the most powerful front-engined production car in the world with 838 horsepower. Aston will build 150 cars, all of which will be custom commissions starting at around $2 million. Aston Martin’s front-engined V12s often play the role of hero cars, most notably James Bond’s preferred four-wheeled transport. But seeing the rakish Valen at the Aston Martin Q headquarters in New York for the first time, I thought, “This looks like something a Bond villain would drive.” Maybe it’s the Satin Andromeda Red paint (exclusive to Q) that changes from red to orange to black in the light. Or the way the rear of the Valen is cut off abruptly, exposing the carbon fiber and quad exhausts at the rear. Either way, the vibe is sinister and it absolutely works. Photo by: Aston Martin The most powerful front-engine Aston ever The Aston Martin Valen is the third in a line of bespoke V12 supercars produced by the firm’s ultra-exclusive Q brand. First came the manual-transmission Valor, then the plucky Valiant, both with six-speed manuals. Now, Aston is turning up the heat even more with the Valen, which it claims is the most powerful front-engined production car of all time. With 838 horsepower available from a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 (104 more than the Valiant and 14 more than the Vanquish), it’s certainly no slouch. The Valen will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 214 mph, Aston claims. Unlike the Valor and Valiant, there’s no manual transmission here. The Valen uses a ZF eight-speed transmission with shift logic and programming derived from the brand’s Vantage GT4 race cars. Photos by: Aston Martin Photos by: Aston Martin More interesting than the absolute performance figures, however, is Valen’s staunch commitment to lightweight and rawness. The entire body is made of carbon fiber, with a tapered front end, angular side slats, and an aggressive diffuser at the rear that exposes the car’s 325-section rear tires. The Valen even loses its rear window to save weight. In total, Aston Martin claims a weight saving of up to 110 kg (242 lb) compared to its core V12 platform, which underpins the Vanquish. That figure includes a 37-pound (16.9 kg) weight savings thanks to an optional lightweight suspension package with machined titanium suspension arms, ball joints, and chassis bolts. To reduce unsprung weight, the Valen uses 21-inch magnesium wheels over carbon ceramic brakes. To cut through the crudeness and theatrics, the centerpiece of the Valen could simply be its titanium exhaust system. Designed especially for this car, Aston claims it is 50 percent louder than the Vanquish’s system, when measured from outside the car. Achieving this while meeting strict European vehicle noise regulations was a challenge. Aston says its engineers focused on increasing the sound at low RPM and throttle applications, rather than tuning it to be louder at full throttle. In other words, this car will make a lot of noise when driving around London or Beverly Hills. 26 Source: Aston Martin Limited to 150 To maximize sound inside the cabin, Aston routes the exhaust directly under and behind the driver and passenger seats, and exits out the back of the car, under the bumper and in the middle of the rear, near the taillights. This is unusual for a front-engined car and gives the Valen a raw, unfinished look. Speaking of the Valen’s interior, there is a new, slimmer center console that is angled towards the driver. Customers can choose between Aston’s new adjustable Sport Plus seats or lightweight carbon buckets, and the Q’s countless personalization options ensure they can choose leather tones and trim to their liking. Aston Martin doesn’t give an exact price for the Valen, but estimates the car will cost around $2,000,000 before taking into account custom Q options. He will only build 150 Valens, so if you want one, act fast. Motor1’s Opinion: If you thought the Valor and Valiant were crazy, this looks completely crazy. With 838 horsepower under the hood and a devilish exterior, this might be Aston’s craziest special model yet. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3-minute survey. – The Motor1.com team
