Appealing to the engagement-oriented driver, Aston Martin this summer unveiled a new limited-production model with a manual transmission: the Valour.

Picking up where 2020’s singular Victor left off, the Valour’s design language shows the expected degree of equipoise between nostalgic evocation and contemporary style. The lines are feminine and chiseled by turns; the DB-inspired body looks exquisitely crafted, not that such an effect is anything new in the Aston pantheon. There’s a great deal of exposed carbon fiber covering the aluminum frame, and the wheels have a honeycomb pattern, a contemporary riff on the natural kingdom that’s been used by other exotic car makers.

Having been inspired by the exterior design of the car, the driver with a penchant for true engagement should be overcome with enthusiasm upon settling behind the wheel. The Valour’s heart is Aston’s 5.2L V12 monster, which in this case delivers 705 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, while the transition point between the engine and the wheels is a six-speed stick. There’s no torque-shaping to disrupt the connection between driver, car and road, Aston says, making the Valour a truly traditional driving experience.

Aston plans to build 110 examples of the Valour before the run is completed. Each, the company informs, will be customized to its owner.