Seeing an Aston Martin is usually enough to stop you in your tracks. The Valen, however, looks like it was designed to make sure you stay there and listen.
Limited to just 150 examples, the Valen is Aston Martin’s latest front-engined special. The supercar takes the brand’s familiar front-engined formula and turns everything up: more power, less weight, sharper handling and, most importantly, a soundtrack that refuses to be ignored.
At its heart is Aston Martin’s 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12, producing 838hp and 1,000 Nm of torque from just 2,500rpm. That makes it the world’s most powerful front-engined production car, while 0 to 100kph takes just 3.0 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 344kph.
The numbers are impressive, but the real story is how Aston Martin has gone about making the Valen feel faster. The eight-speed ZF automatic transmission uses shift strategies developed for the Vantage GT4 race car, bringing quicker, crisper gear changes. Three driving modes—Sport, Sport+ and Track—also alter the car’s throttle response, allowing it to feel urgent on the road or more progressive when precision matters on a circuit.
Then there is the weight. Aston Martin has managed to shed up to 110kg compared with its core V12 platform, using carbon fibre, aluminium, titanium and magnesium throughout. The steering, suspension, brakes and chassis have also been reworked to give the car a more agile, connected character.
Then comes the noise. Because what would a supercar be without a soundtrack to match? The Aston Martin Valen gets a bespoke titanium exhaust system with four tailpipes, giving its V12 a sharper, more dramatic sound. In other words, this is not a car that plans to arrive quietly.
The design follows the same philosophy. The Aston Martin Valen takes the brand’s classic long-bonnet, front-engined proportions and gives them a much more aggressive interpretation. Slim, deeply recessed headlights sit beneath the plunging bonnet, while an angular grille, sharp splitter and enlarged side vents give the front end a more purposeful stance.
The rear is perhaps the most dramatic part. A solid tailgate replaces the traditional rear window and boot lid, with an integrated aerodynamic wing and full-width light bar.
