- See more This is Money on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
If Mad Max were looking for a powerful off-duty supercar in which to enjoy his leisure time, then Aston Martin has just unleashed a thrilling new £2million contender.
The wild-looking 214mph Valen is hailed as the world’s most powerful front-engined production car and the most powerful front-engined Aston Martin in the company’s 113-year history.
Only 150 of the outrageously styled special-edition Valens will be built – though all have already been pre-sold ahead of first deliveries from Spring next year (2027).
Each comes with a starting price of £1.5million (including VAT) – though that is expected to quickly spiral to nearer £2million once bespoke customer extras are added, say Aston bosses.
With its dramatically assertive design, sharp lines and promised ‘raw performance’, Valen looks – and we are told drives – like something out of the ‘Mad Max’ movies starring Mel Gibson as the high-octane muscle-car-driving former police officer in a dystopian future.
Riding on 21-inch magnesium alloy wheels and powered by an awesome 850hp 5.2 litre twin-turbo V12 engine linked to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the new two-seater Valen accelerates from rest to 60mph in just 3.0 seconds (0-62mph in 3.1 seconds) up to an electronically limited top speed of 214mph. There’s a button for ‘manual’ mode.
Aston Martin's new 214mph Valen is hailed as the world’s most powerful front-engined production car and the most powerful front-engined car in the company’s 113-year history
The titanium quad exhaust system has been specially tuned to produce an intense ‘roar’.
And there’s no rear windscreen – so the rear view is via cameras.
Aston Martin bosses admit Valen is ‘a bit of a brute’ but are happy to celebrate the brand’s dark-side with the supercar’s ‘bad boy’ credentials, ‘edgy’ look and feel, and ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ character.
The new Valen receives its global unveiling (Friday) at the exclusive The Quail luxury car show held annually in Carmel, California, as part of the US’s annual Monterey Car Week.
But the Mail was given an early sneak peek at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, where it is being produced by the company’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) arm.
Valen has five driving modes: Wet; Sport; Sports Plus; Track and Individual, which allows the driver to tailor the car’s drivetrain, steering and chassis calibration.
Such great acceleration requires equally powerful stopping ability provided by a carbon ceramic brake system front and rear.
The dramatic new design features a full carbon fibre body, bespoke lights and a new interior architecture.
Extensive use of motorsport-inspired materials and lightweight options means the new Valen enjoys a ‘significant’ weight saving of up to 110kg compared to the existing core V12 platform, said Aston Martin.
The powertrain has been calibrated and the chassis tuned to boost dynamic capability and driver engagement.
This includes extensive software calibration to steering, suspension and braking systems.
Valen is the latest in a ‘bloodline’ of limited production special series models from Aston Martin.
Its name derives from the Latin word ‘valens’ meaning ‘strong’ or ‘powerful’.
The company said: ‘Valen was the perfect name for Aston Martin’s most powerful front engined V12, continuing the long-standing dynasty of ‘V’ names’. These include Vanquish – on whose underpinnings the Valens is based – and special edition Valour and Valiant models.
The dramatic new design features a full carbon fibre body, bespoke lights, and a new interior architecture
Valen is the latest in a ‘bloodline’ of limited production special series models from Aston Martin
‘Valen is the world’s most powerful front-engined car from a manufacturer and the most powerful front-engined V12 supercar in the company’s 113-year history.’
Aston Martin said Valen is ‘pushing the limits of design and engineering to achieve a supercar of unique drama and capability’.
Alex Long, managing director of Aston Martin’s SVO division, told the Mail that the new Valen was pushing the boundaries of Aston Martin style and performance:
‘It’s still an Aston, but right at the edge of where we want to be.
‘The car has been designed with bespoke in mind.’
‘The driving experience is a long way from Vanquish. In the driving seat you feel a lot more through your backside.
He said a lot of modern supercars have been ‘anaesthetised’ for motorway driving. Not Valen: ‘It has a lot more power and grip.’
Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark said: ‘Valen’s world-beating performance required a design to capture the raw motion and unmatched output of our V12 powertrain.
‘With more power, less weight, and a spectacular soundtrack, the dramatic design is backed up by equally dramatic performance.’
Chief creative officer Marek Reichman said: ‘Valen is a significant departure from what has gone before; sharply sculpted lines to reflect the aggressive dynamics, an attacking stance that emphasises the front-engine rear-drive layout and a bespoke interior design that creates a more sporting cockpit environment.’
Vehicle performance director Simon Newton said: ‘When your basis for a project is the world’s most powerful front-engined production car you know you’re going to have fun.’
A new lightweight titanium quad exhaust system developed specifically for Valen gives it a ’roar’ and ‘a soundtrack to match its performance’
Aston Martin Valen in detail
Moving up a gear
Valen’s sharper-shifting 8-speed gearbox uses engineering developed for Aston Martin’s Vantage GT4 race programme. Crisper and more engaging shifts have reduced Valen’s 0-62mph time to just 3.1 seconds.
The Sport, Sport+ and Track modes ‘create a true feeling of urgency and focus befitting supercar levels of performance.’
For spirited road driving in Sport and Sport+ modes the throttle pedal uses shorter mapping to deliver more throttle earlier in its travel.
Track mode trades that urgency for a longer and more progressive delivery when on-limit precision is the priority.
Keeping it light
Lightweight motorsport-inspired materials include carbon fibre, aluminium, titanium and magnesium.
An optional lightweight pack features parts machined from solid aluminium and titanium chassis bolts which alone make a 16.9kg weight saving.
New lightweight magnesium wheels come as standard and shod with Pirelli P Zero R (or P Zero 2 Winter tyres) developed and tuned specifically for Valen to boost performance.
Hard- and Software tweaks
Significant hardware and software adjustments to Valen’s Electronic Stability Programme, dampers, steering, the camber of the wheels, and to braking systems deliver ’a marked character shift’ and dynamism, says Aston.
Reduced roll and pitch increases agility while preserving a ‘playful’ handling balance for maximum enjoyment.
Steering
Steering has been tuned to increase the feeling of connectivity, allowing Valen ‘to behave like a shorter and lighter car’.
Valen’s brake booster maintains a firm pedal for exceptional precision and ccomplete driver confidence.
‘Roar’ of the V12 quad exhaust
A new lightweight titanium quad exhaust system developed specifically for Valen gives it a ’roar’ and ‘a soundtrack to match its performance’
With four tailpipes – split between two upper and two lower sections – Valen’s bold quad exhaust system ‘evokes the design language of a mid-engine hypercar, moulded into the form of a front mid-engined supercar.’
Aston said: ‘Valen’s roar has been carefully tuned to deliver a more performance focused audible experience.’
The resonance through the cabin creates a a ‘wall of sound’ and a thunderous noise.
Design
Valen’s aggressive face is dominated by deeply recessed slimline headlamps hooded beneath the sharp leading edge of the plunging bonnet with a single top vent, an angular radiator opening, a bold geometric mesh grille, and an acutely angled front splitter.
Side strakes on each side have been sharpened, elongated and fully incorporated into large functional vents which move air from the wheel arch and along the rounded flanks.
The strake feature extends almost the full length of the door before the swollen rear haunches widen to cover the rear wheels.
Instead of a fixed rear window and boot lid both features have been replaced by a solid tailgate which opens into a 170-litre boot
Distinctively sharp saw-tooth ‘vortex generators’ on the bottom of the sills help to reduce lift and generate downforce.
No rear window
Valen’s design at the rear is equally bold.
Instead of a fixed rear window and boot lid both features have been replaced by a solid tailgate which opens into a 170-litre boot.
The boot has an aerodynamic wing in its upper section.
A vivid full-width light bar sits underneath the large upswept tail and helps generate downforce with minimal drag and avoids the need for motorsport-style wings.
Colour and carbon
The car unveiled in California is in a specially-developed paint colour called Satin Andromeda Red which blends deep red, copper and rich golden highlights.
Valen is also available with the option of a fully exposed carbon fibre exterior, including a herringbone carbon weave running down the centre of the car.
This can be tinted in both Satin and Gloss finish and in a variety of colours from the Bespoke Q by Aston Martin collection.
Valen’s sleek pared-back interior includes a slim new centre console that takes elements from the Valhalla hypercar
Customers first choose between a combination of semi-aniline leather and Alcantara OR full semi-aniline leather
Dramatic interior
Valen’s sleek pared-back interior includes a slim new centre console that takes elements from the Valhalla hypercar.
The central touchscreen reclines at an angle towards the driver to create a more focused cockpit uniting driver and machine. Air vents have been designed to reduce visual clutter.
The cabin offers a choice of new Sports Plus seats, designed to combine support with long-distance comfort, or lightweight carbon fibre performance seats.
A new ‘hierarchy’ of interior trim levels helps simplify selection without reducing choice.
Customers first choose between a combination of semi-aniline leather and Alcantara OR full semi-aniline leather.
Then they choose from five material combinations: Monotone, Duotone, Light Duotone, Tritone and Driver Focused.
A new upholstery quilting treatment has also been developed for Valen’s interior trim.
Luggage customers can order an optional bespoke ‘Touring Pack’ luggage set to maximise available space.
Drivers can unfold a soft, tailored cover to protect paintwork when lifting cases in and out of the boot.