Aston Martin this month unveiled its highly anticipated V12 Vantage and we’ve been transfixed by it ever since.
The V12 Vantage has been an Aston Martin staple for the past fifteen years but this latest edition will be the final one in the Aston Martin bloodline.
To celebrate reaching the end of this particular road, Aston Martin is only building 333 units of the latest edition.
The final model has already proved so popular that since the V12 Vantage was confirmed in December last year, Aston Martin has seen unprecedented demand.
All examples were sold ahead of release and there’s an oversubscribed register of interest eagerly waiting in the wings.
Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers described the car as “a celebration of its forebears”.
“(It’s) an embodiment of Aston Martin’s intensifying focus on driving dynamics, it ensures the V12 Vantage goes out on the highest of highs,” he said.
What’s under the hood?
The V12 Vantage is the fastest and most powerful ever built.
Developing 700PS at 6500 rpm and 753Nm of torque from just 1800rpm to 6000rpm, the quad-cam 60-deg 5.2-litre V12 carries a lot of refined power beneath its bonnet.
With a top speed of 200mph, V12 Vantage goes 0-60 in just 3.4 seconds.
Thanks to the propulsive efforts of this brilliant power unit, the V12 Vantage has a power-to-weight ratio of 390PS-per-ton; an increase of more than 20% compared to the V8 powered Vantage.
To save weight, Aston Martin have taken measure which include having a carbon fibre front bumper, clamshell bonnet, front fenders and side sills, composite rear bumper and deck lid, lightweight battery and a special centre-mounted twin-exit exhaust system. *Takes a deep breath*
Suspension spring rates have been increased by 50% at the front and 40% at the rear, combined with top mount stiffness increasing by 13%. It also has new anti-roll bars that are 5% stiffer at the front and 41% softer at the rear.
Moreover, to maintain comfort for the driver as all Aston Martins must, a secondary tender spring has been introduced to the rear of the car.
The tender spring provides a lower spring rate than the main spring, enhancing the ride comfort without affecting dynamic performance. It’s as smooth as a tiger in a tuxedo.
Finally, the V12 Vantage features a Carbon Ceramic Braking (CCB) system as standard. At the front, there are 410mm x 38mm discs with 6-piston calipers.
While at the rear, there are 360mm x 32mm discs, paired with 4-piston calipers.
What about the interior?
The V12 Vantage retains the instantly recognisable layout of the current Vantage. However, a lot of effort has also gone into highlighting the halo positioning with a Sports Plus Seat trimmed in full semi-aniline leather featuring ‘Wings’ quilt and perforation pattern as standard.
There is also a new carbon fibre performance seat with exposed twill carbon fibre shell and manual 6-way adjustment available as an option. This offers a supportive seat design for those enhanced driving dynamics. This is an Aston Martin patented design inspired by motorsport, optimised to save 7.3kg without compromising comfort.
Every V12 Vantage can be individually tailored. This can be done through the marque’s bespoke personalisation service, Q by Aston Martin. No not THAT Q, but we can see what you’re thinking.
Offering a variety of unique options, customers can create a true one-of-a-kind specification. This will be sure to please Aston Martin lovers all over the world. So even if you won’t be able to get your hands on one yourself, you can probably find a configuration model to have some fun with.
We don’t know about you but we definitely think it’s one of the best looking and most exciting Aston Martins to date.
While you’re here, check out Supercar Blondie’s review of the first ever Aston Martin SUV, the DBX:
