[Auto/Moto] First Drive: The Valour Is Proof Aston Martin Can Still Make a Perfect Car

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When the Aston Martin Valour broke cover in 2023, it split opinion. Those on one side of the fence were upset at the Valour’s very existence. It’s a limited-edition car that only 110 people can buy and few can afford. The other, correct side of the fence saw the Aston for what it truly is: awesome. Aston’s going to lean harder into these limited-run specials with time, as is everyone else. Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, and even Morgan have skin in the ultra-exclusive game. This gravy train is only gaining momentum.The Valour is a special edition that’s pretty special to look at. Its curves derive from the one-of-one Victor released a few years ago, which itself was inspired by old Aston V-8 Vantages and a race car rather wonderfully called 'The Muncher.'Valour’s gaping maw is a (mildly) mass-market take on that. There’s a huge integrated spoiler at the back and its grille surround not only doubles as a bumper for low-speed ‘oops’ moments, but also channels air to Valour’s truly massive engine. The rear light clusters are a neat touch too. First mooted on the 2014 DP-100 Gran Turismo Vision concept, it’s taken a while to get these lights into production, but they made their debut on the Valkyrie hypercar and have found their way into a more, erm, sensible car. The Valour is such a striking car covered in tiny, retro-inspired details that it'll keep your eyes entertained for hours.Since it's based on the ‘old’ Vantage, the interior has little flashes of what came before. The shape of the HVAC vents, the infotainment screen, and the steering wheel have all just been banished in the new Vantage, and it feels at odds to see these anachronistic touches in a ‘new’ car. Still, an open gear mechanism and a massive starter button are more than enough to draw your attention away from the old stuff. Under the Valour’s skin lies the heavily modified bones of the last-generation V-12 Vantage, which means a 5.2-liter turbocharged V-12 kicking out 705 horsepower and 555 pound-feet. A truly colossal lump of power in a car that’s not big at all. It’ll breach 200 miles per hour if you’ve got the space, and on the topic of 0-62 mph times, the Valour is quicker than the old V-12 Vantage. But the soft squishy human bit behind the Valour’s wheel means it’s not quite as quick as it could be, and for one very wonderful reason: It’s got a stick.

https://www.motor1.com/reviews/725131/aston-martin-valour-first-drive-review/