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Fernando Alonso Drives Ultra-Rare Aston Martin Valiant Through Monaco

Fernando Alonso has access to some of the most desirable cars in the world, but even for a two-time Formula 1 world champion, the Aston Martin Valiant is something special. The Spanish driver was recently photographed behind the wheel of the ultra-limited supercar outside the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, giving enthusiasts another rare glimpse of one of Aston Martin’s most extreme road-legal machines.

Finished in black, Alonso’s Aston Martin Valiant looks every bit as serious as its name suggests. Its round LED daytime running lights, aggressive bodywork, distinctive rear lighting and enormous rear spoiler give it a visual character that separates it dramatically from the Aston Martin Valour on which it is based.

A video shared by TheSupercarBlog on Instagram shows Alonso slowly driving the Valiant away from the famous Monte Carlo casino at night. While Monaco is hardly short of exotic machinery, the sight of a Valiant on public roads remains unusual. Aston Martin is producing only a very limited number of examples, and the entire production run has already been allocated to customers.

Fernando Alonso Has Been Seen Driving the Aston Martin Valiant and Valkyrie

The Valiant isn’t the only Aston Martin attracting attention around Monaco with Alonso behind the wheel. The Formula 1 star has also recently been spotted driving an Aston Martin Valkyrie through the principality.

The two cars, however, represent very different interpretations of Aston Martin performance.

The Valkyrie is an uncompromising hypercar developed with Formula 1-inspired engineering and an extremely low-slung design. The Valiant takes a different approach, combining Aston Martin’s traditional front-engined V12 architecture with an unusually focused chassis, aggressive aerodynamics and one of the rarest features in a modern supercar: a manual transmission.

For driving enthusiasts, that combination may make the Valiant even more interesting than its spectacular appearance suggests.

Aston Martin Valiant Has a 5.2-Liter Twin-Turbo V12

At the heart of the Aston Martin Valiant is a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 745 horsepower and 753 Nm of torque.

Unlike many modern high-performance cars, the Valiant sends its power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. There are no paddle shifters and no dual-clutch gearbox to make the process faster or easier.

Instead, Aston Martin deliberately chose a traditional manual transmission to make the driver an integral part of the experience.

That decision is particularly significant in an era when even many of the world’s most exclusive supercars are moving toward electrification, automated gearboxes and increasingly complex hybrid powertrains. The Valiant goes in the opposite direction, embracing mechanical involvement and driver input.

For Alonso, a driver whose career has been defined by controlling some of the most sophisticated racing machines ever built, that philosophy is particularly appropriate.

Fernando Alonso Helped Shape the Aston Martin Valiant

Aston Martin’s relationship with Fernando Alonso goes beyond the conventional role of a Formula 1 driver serving as a brand ambassador.

Alonso was reportedly closely involved in the development of the Valiant, providing feedback that helped influence the car’s character. His Formula 1 experience contributed to decisions surrounding weight reduction, increased performance and the car’s more aggressive track-focused setup.

The result is intended to be considerably more than a cosmetic special edition.

Aston Martin developed the Valiant as one of its most driver-focused road cars, with a philosophy that moves it closer to the company’s track-oriented special projects while retaining the ability to be driven legally on public roads.

That makes Alonso’s appearance in Monaco particularly fitting. Few people are better qualified to demonstrate the character of a car created with such an emphasis on driver involvement.

Aston Martin Valiant vs. Aston Martin Valour

The Aston Martin Valiant is closely related to the Aston Martin Valour, but the two cars have distinctly different personalities.

The Valour was designed as a dramatic celebration of Aston Martin’s heritage, combining retro-inspired styling with modern performance and a manual transmission. The Valiant pushes the same basic formula further toward outright performance.

Its more aggressive aerodynamic package includes a large rear wing, distinctive alloy wheels and unique lighting elements. The bodywork gives the car a much more purposeful appearance, suggesting that it was designed with track driving in mind rather than simply cruising between luxury destinations.

The Valiant therefore occupies an unusual position in Aston Martin’s lineup. It retains the front-mounted V12 layout associated with the brand’s traditional grand tourers, but its character is far more focused.

Valiant Takes a Different Path From the Aston Martin Valhalla

The contrast becomes even more interesting when the Valiant is compared with the Aston Martin Valhalla.

The Valhalla represents Aston Martin’s move toward the next generation of high-performance vehicles, using a mid-mounted hybrid powertrain and technology developed around modern performance requirements.

The Valiant, by comparison, is almost deliberately nostalgic.

It uses a large twin-turbo V12, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox at a time when the industry is rapidly moving toward electrification. Rather than attempting to hide its mechanical complexity behind software, the Valiant makes the driver responsible for shifting gears and managing the connection between the engine and rear wheels.

That makes it something of a modern automotive time capsule.

One of the Rarest Aston Martins You Can Buy

The rarity of the Aston Martin Valiant is an important part of its appeal.

The car was created in extremely limited numbers, and the production allocation has already been reserved. That means sightings such as Alonso’s appearance in Monaco are likely to remain exceptionally uncommon.

Unlike mainstream performance models, the Valiant is not a car enthusiasts are likely to encounter regularly at automotive events or even at major motor shows. Its limited production ensures that most people will experience it through photographs and videos rather than seeing one in person.

That exclusivity also places the Valiant firmly within Aston Martin’s growing portfolio of bespoke and limited-production performance cars.

Fernando Alonso’s Valiant Is a Snapshot of a Changing Automotive World

There is something particularly fitting about seeing Fernando Alonso manually shifting a V12-powered Aston Martin through the streets of Monaco.

The setting itself is synonymous with Formula 1, luxury and exotic cars. Yet the Valiant represents something that is increasingly disappearing from the performance-car landscape.

A front-mounted V12, rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox are becoming increasingly difficult to find, particularly in a car capable of producing 745 horsepower.

As supercar manufacturers continue to embrace hybrid technology and full electrification, the Aston Martin Valiant offers a very different interpretation of what an ultra-high-performance road car can be.

It is loud, mechanical, visually dramatic and deliberately demanding to drive.

And with Fernando Alonso behind the wheel, the connection between the car’s racing-inspired character and its real-world purpose becomes even more obvious.

The Aston Martin Valiant may not represent the future of the supercar, but that could be precisely why it is so fascinating. In a rapidly changing automotive industry, cars like this preserve a combination of engine, gearbox and driver interaction that enthusiasts fear may soon become a thing of the past.

For now, at least, Alonso can still be seen enjoying it on the streets of Monaco—one manual V12 gear change at a time.

Source: monaco luxurystyle via Instagram

NEW CARS

2027 Aston Martin Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps Revealed with 680 HP

Some cars are built to conquer legendary racetracks. Others are built to celebrate them. Aston Martin’s latest special edition somehow manages to do both.

Timed perfectly for the eve of the 79th running of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Aston Martin has unveiled the Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps, a highly exclusive tribute to one of motorsport’s most revered circuits. It’s a fitting nod to a track where the British marque has carved out countless victories over decades of endurance racing. The catch? Only 12 examples will be built, and every single one is reserved for customers in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The project comes courtesy of Aston Martin’s Q division, the bespoke arm responsible for transforming already desirable sports cars into collector-grade rarities. Unlike previous Q creations that often lean heavily on extravagant personalization, the Spa-Francorchamps edition keeps its message focused: honoring one of the world’s greatest racing venues without overcomplicating the formula.

Its exterior wears an understated dark gray finish accented by light gray racing stripes stretching across the hood, roof, and decklid. Closer inspection reveals the details enthusiasts will appreciate most. The iconic Spa circuit layout is proudly displayed on the front fenders, while the colors of the Belgian flag find their way onto the seatbacks. Special illuminated door sill plates remind occupants that this is one of just a dozen examples ever to leave Gaydon.

Fortunately, Aston Martin resisted the temptation to tinker with an already exceptional mechanical package.

Beneath the Vantage’s impossibly long hood remains the familiar AMG-derived 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, producing a formidable 680 horsepower and 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission channels every bit of that muscle exclusively to the rear wheels, delivering the sort of numbers that remain deeply impressive even in today’s supercar arms race.

The sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) takes just 3.3 seconds, while flat out, the Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps reaches 202 mph (325 km/h). Those figures aren’t unique to this special edition, but they hardly need to be. Spa itself has always rewarded bravery over gimmicks, and the Vantage remains one of the most engaging front-engine performance cars on sale.

Buyers also receive a pair of carbon-fiber Bell racing helmets and matching driving gloves, a thoughtful addition that practically dares owners to book a track day rather than simply admire the car under showroom lights.

Of course, exclusivity rarely comes cheap. Aston Martin is asking roughly €335,000 for the privilege of owning one of these twelve commemorative machines—a substantial premium over a standard Vantage S, but one that collectors are unlikely to question.

For everyone else, the Vantage S Spa-Francorchamps serves as another reminder that some of the world’s greatest roads—and racetracks—don’t just inspire fast cars. Sometimes, they become part of the car’s identity.

Source: Aston Martin

Story

Ringbrothers Just Redefined What a British Muscle Car Could Be

Ringbrothers has always operated in that sweet spot between genius and mild lunacy—the place where creativity flourishes because nobody stops to ask whether something is sensible. The Wisconsin-based brothers, Jim and Mike Ring, built their reputation turning American muscle cars into carbon-fiber fever dreams that somehow still drive like cars rather than science projects. They started with an autobody shop. They stayed with an autobody shop. And then, almost accidentally, they became the most interesting restomod builders on the planet.

So when one half of the duo showed up at The Quail during Monterey Car Week standing next to a radically reimagined Aston Martin DBS, it felt less like a left turn and more like destiny finally catching up.

Meet “Octavia.” No, not a Škoda—though apparently the name caused a mild tightening of legal neckties somewhere in Europe. This is Ringbrothers’ vision of what Aston Martin’s early-1970s DBS might have been if it were raised on cheeseburgers, superchargers, and a steady diet of American V-8 thunder.

“We’ve combined the ferocity of American muscle with the stiff upper lip of English sophistication,” Mike Ring says, deadpan but clearly delighted. “Octavia is beyond anything we’ve built before.”

That’s not marketing fluff. This thing is unhinged in the most deliberate way.

Googling Their Way to James Bond

The origin story is peak Ringbrothers. A local client—described as “super cool,” which in Ring-speak usually means extremely patient and financially brave—asked a simple question: What do you guys want to build?

The answer, apparently, came from a Google search.

“We literally Googled ‘European muscle car,’” Mike admits. “A DBS was at the top, and we’re like, yeah dude, we want to do James Bond.”

Within a week, the owner bought a non-running 1971 DBS off Bring a Trailer. Ringbrothers had never seen one in person. That didn’t slow them down. If anything, it emboldened them.

“They’re so flat-sided,” Mike says. “Straight away we knew we had to put some booty on the back.”

Carbon Fiber, Not Rivets

“Some booty” turned into ten inches of added width. The finished car measures a staggering 82 inches wide at the rear and 78 inches up front—roughly modern supercar territory and not far off a Lamborghini Revuelto for sheer presence.

The difference is execution. This isn’t a bolt-on widebody with exposed fasteners and wishful thinking. Every panel was designed in CAD and formed entirely in carbon fiber. The proportions stay intact, the surfacing flows, and the car somehow looks more Aston than the original while being dramatically more aggressive.

“It still looks balanced,” Mike says—and annoyingly, he’s right.

From CAD screen to finished car took roughly two and a half years, with about a year of actual assembly once parts began arriving. The original DBS shell didn’t survive in any recognizable sense. Ringbrothers stripped it down, bonded the body together, and turned what remained into—yes—a martini bar.

“It’s a James Bond thing,” Mike shrugs. “We got to serve martinis.”

Forget the Straight-Six

Purists, look away now.

Octavia does not run an Aston engine. Not even close. Early conversations with Aston Martin didn’t go anywhere—Ringbrothers is refreshingly candid about that—so they pivoted to what they know best.

Enter Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote V-8, topped with a 2.65-liter supercharger and good for 805 horsepower. It’s bolted to a six-speed manual gearbox and sends power exclusively to the rear wheels, because of course it does.

“The last thing we want to do is build something we can’t make run,” Mike says. “We’re not engineers.”

That statement becomes increasingly hilarious the longer you look at the rest of the car.

The drivetrain lives in a bespoke chassis with the wheelbase stretched by 76 millimeters. A full structural roll cage is integrated into the body. There’s independent rear suspension, C7 Corvette sway bars, Fox Racing dampers, and Brembo brakes. This is not a hot rod pretending to be a grand tourer—it’s a genuinely serious piece of hardware wearing a Savile Row suit.

Coke-Bottle Bond Villain Energy

The design work was led by Gary Ragle, with what Ringbrothers describes as “echoes” of William Towns’ original DBS shape buried in the final form. The goal was “Coke-bottle curvature,” and they nailed it. The car looks taut, muscular, and vaguely menacing, like a Bond villain’s personal transport after an intense off-screen gym montage.

Inside, the madness continues—tastefully. Carbon fiber, stainless steel, and leather dominate, with subtle (and not-so-subtle) nods to 007 lore. The standout? A dipstick handle shaped like a martini glass. Shaken, presumably, not stirred.

The Cost of Doing It Because You Want To

As for the price, Mike won’t give a number. Not because he’s being coy—but because he genuinely doesn’t seem to know.

“We’re trying to sell another one so we can spread the cost a bit,” he says. “It was quite expensive.”

That might be the understatement of the week. The raw stainless steel for the exhaust tips alone cost $1,000. A first quote for four pieces of glass came in at $92,000. That’s not a typo.

Still, Ringbrothers isn’t interested in efficiency, scalability, or anything else you’d find in a business-school case study.

“If I had to build the same car over and over, I wouldn’t be doing it,” Mike says. “I’d lose interest. If it was all about money, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.”

Why Ringbrothers Matters

That’s the secret sauce. Ringbrothers doesn’t chase trends or algorithms or easy wins. They chase curiosity. Every project is an extension of their taste, their humor, and their willingness to learn by doing—sometimes publicly, sometimes expensively.

Mike doesn’t see himself as an artist. He sees himself as lucky. Lucky to work with his wife. Lucky that his son is now involved in the machining side. Lucky to keep building cars simply because he wants to.

“I don’t want to retire,” he says. “This is what I’d do if I was retired.”

Octavia isn’t just a spectacular Aston Martin restomod. It’s a manifesto—proof that the best automotive creations still come from people who care more about having fun than getting rich.

They’re not curing cancer, as Mike puts it. They’re just building ridiculously cool cars.

And honestly? The world needs more of that.

Source: TopGear