Aston Martin Valen Is an 838-HP V12 SupercarAston MartinAston Martin hit the peninsula with a big unveiling, showing off its latest front-engine V12 supercar to the most discerning of car crowds. Called the Valen, this newest limited-production Aston is the most powerful production model of its kind in the company's 113-year history.Revealed during Monterey Car Week, the Valen is the latest special project from Q by Aston Martin and the company's newly formed Special Vehicle Operations division. Production will be limited to 150 cars worldwide, with first deliveries scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.Under its long carbon-fiber hood is Aston Martin's familiar 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12, tuned in this application to turn out 838 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque peaking between 2,500 to 5,000 rpm. Power gets shuttled to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted eight-speed automatic transmission and electronic limited-slip differential. Aston Martin claims a 0-60-mph time of 3.0 seconds and an electronically limited 214-mph top speed.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe transmission sees its own calibration using shift strategies developed through Aston Martin's Vantage GT4 racing program, with Sport, Sport+, and Track driving modes modulating throttle response and other vehicle settings. Aston Martin says Track mode actually uses longer, more progressive throttle mapping to make power easier to feed when the car is being driven at its limits.Aston MartinAston also put the Valen on a substantial diet. Depending on the spec, the Valen weighs up to 243 pounds less than its core V12 platform through, achieved through extensive use of lightweight materials including carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. Standard magnesium wheels reduce unsprung weight, while an optional lightweight package substitutes machined-aluminum suspension arms and knuckles and titanium chassis bolts, saving another 37 pounds.The chassis has been tuned accordingly, with unique springs, a solid-mounted rear subframe, and Bilstein DTX semi-active dampers. Carbon-ceramic brakes up front measure 410 mm, with rears at 360 mm, while specially developed 21-inch Pirelli P Zero R tires at the corners use Pirelli Cyber Tire technology that can feed real-time information to the car's electronic stability, ABS, and traction-control systems.A titanium exhaust provides the soundtrack. Four 3D-printed titanium exhaust tips are arranged in two pairs, with the uppers permanently open and the lower pair controlled by valves. Aston Martin says the exhaust has been deliberately tuned to emphasize higher frequencies as engine speed rises.Aston MartinOutside, the Valen gets a more aggressive spin on Aston's traditional front-engine proportions. The body is entirely carbon fiber, with deeply recessed headlights, a reshaped grille, large functional fender vents, and prominent side sills housing vortex generators. Rather than fitting a tacked on rear wing, Aston designed a pronounced upswept tail as a Gurney flap to generate downforce with less drag.AdvertisementAdvertisementEven with its extreme focus on performance, there is a measure of practicality built into the Valen. The trunklid opens to reveal 6 cubic feet of luggage capacity, and Aston Martin offers a fitted luggage set, natch. Buyers can also specify exposed carbon-fiber bodywork, including colored carbon finishes developed through Q by Aston Martin.Inside, Aston has shaped the cockpit around a slimmer, driver-focused center console incorporating components from the mid-engine Valhalla. Buyers can choose between Sports Plus seats designed for comfort, or lighter carbon-fiber performance seats, along with an extensive selection of leather, Alcantara, colors, and trim combinations.The Valen joins a lineage of low-volume V12 Aston Martins stretching back to the 760-hp One-77 introduced in 2009 through the track-only Vulcan, one-off Victor, manual-transmission Valour and Valiant, and the final V12-powered Vantage.