Aston Martin has unveiled the Valen, an 850hp V12 supercar capable of 214mph that executives describe as the most powerful front-engined production car in the company's 113-year history.
All 150 models of the special edition have already been pre-sold ahead of their first deliveries in spring 2027. Prices start at £1.5million, but executives expect that figure to approach £2million once buyers add bespoke options from the Q by Aston Martin collection.
The two-seater made its global debut on Friday at The Quail, an exclusive luxury car show held in Carmel, California, as part of Monterey Car Week. The company's Special Vehicle Operations division is building the cars at Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
Powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the Valen accelerates from a standstill to 60mph in 3.0 seconds, and to 62mph in 3.1 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 214mph, and a button allows drivers to select a manual shifting mode.
Executives acknowledged the car is "a bit of a brute", adding that they were happy to celebrate the brand's dark side with a vehicle that has an "edgy" look, "bad boy" credentials, and a "Jekyll and Hyde" character. Its dramatically assertive design and raw performance were likened to a vehicle from the Mad Max films.
Dynamics and engineering
The Valen is based on the underpinnings of the Vanquish, continuing a dynasty of special edition V names that includes the Valour and Valiant. The name derives from the Latin word "valens", meaning strong or powerful.
The vehicle features a carbon fibre body, 21-inch magnesium alloy wheels, and extensive use of motorsport-inspired materials such as aluminium and titanium. These deliver a weight saving of up to 110kg compared to Aston Martin's core V12 platform.
An optional lightweight pack introduces parts machined from solid aluminium and titanium chassis bolts, saving an additional 16.9kg. The car comes standard with Pirelli P Zero R tyres, though P Zero 2 Winter tyres are also available.
Drivers can choose from five driving modes: Wet, Sport, Sports Plus, Track, and Individual, which allows for custom calibration of the steering, chassis, and drivetrain. For road driving in Sport and Sports Plus modes, the throttle pedal uses shorter mapping to deliver power earlier in its travel.
Track mode offers a more progressive delivery when precision on the limit is required, while the gearbox features technology developed for the Vantage GT4 race programme to provide crisper shifts. Hardware and software adjustments to the Electronic Stability Programme, dampers, steering, wheel camber, and carbon ceramic braking systems have delivered a "marked character shift" and increased agility, the manufacturer said.
The steering has been tuned to make the Valen behave like a shorter, lighter car, while the brake booster maintains a firm pedal for exceptional precision.
Simon Newton, the vehicle performance director, 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."
Alex Long, the managing director of the Special Vehicle Operations division, said the car was designed with customisation in mind.
"It's still an Aston, but right at the edge of where we want to be," Long said. "The driving experience is a long way from Vanquish. In the driving seat you feel a lot more through your backside."
He added that many modern supercars have been anaesthetised for motorway driving, but that the Valen offered significantly more power and grip.
Aggressive styling
The exterior design features deeply recessed headlamps beneath a plunging bonnet with a single top vent, an angular radiator opening, a geometric mesh grille, and an acutely angled front splitter.
Sharpened side strakes extend almost the full length of the doors, fully incorporated into large vents that move air from the wheel arches along the rounded flanks, before swollen haunches cover the rear wheels. Saw-tooth vortex generators on the bottom of the sills help to reduce lift and generate downforce.
Instead of a rear window and boot lid, the Valen has a solid tailgate that opens into a 170-litre boot, meaning the driver must rely on cameras for a rear view. An aerodynamic wing sits inside the upper section of the boot, while a full-width light bar underneath the upswept tail helps generate downforce with minimal drag.
The quad exhaust system, featuring four titanium tailpipes split into upper and lower sections, has been tuned to deliver a thunderous "wall of sound" in the cabin. The company noted the design evokes a mid-engine hypercar moulded into a front mid-engined supercar.
Adrian Hallmark, the chief executive, 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."
Marek Reichman, the chief creative officer, described the car as a significant departure from previous models. He said it featured "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."
Bespoke interior and dimensions
The show car was presented in Satin Andromeda Red, a specially developed paint blending deep red, copper, and golden highlights. Buyers can also specify a fully exposed carbon fibre exterior with a herringbone weave down the centre line, available in either satin or gloss finishes.
Inside, a slim centre console takes elements from the Valhalla hypercar, and the central touchscreen reclines towards the driver to create a focused cockpit. Air vents have been redesigned to reduce visual clutter.
Customers can select either lightweight carbon fibre performance seats or Sports Plus seats designed for long-distance comfort. The upholstery choices include full semi-aniline leather or a mix of leather and Alcantara, available in five material combinations: Monotone, Duotone, Light Duotone, Tritone, and Driver Focused.
A new quilting treatment has been developed for the cabin, and drivers can order a bespoke Touring Pack luggage set that includes a tailored cover to protect the paintwork when loading bags into the boot.
The Valen measures 4,830mm long, 2,044mm wide excluding the mirrors, and 1,290mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,885mm and a ground clearance of 120mm. Fuel efficiency has yet to be confirmed, but the company noted it would not exceed 20mpg.
