The new Aston Martin Speedster is the perfect V12 send-off
Published on Jul 13, 2022 at 12:43 PM (UTC+4)
by Patrick Jackson
Last updated on Jul 13, 2022 at 2:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Aston Martin is making its final ever V12 engine, but it’s sending it off in a special way in the new Speedster.
The ‘living show car’ is limited to just 88 examples each worth more than $940,000.
Supercar Blondie’s Sergi Galiano got an exclusive look at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
He even got to ride along for the hillclimb run in it, too.
Watch the Aston Martin V12 Speedster in action:
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The Aston Martin V12 Speedster is inspired by the classic DBR1 racing car which won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans.
There are plenty of visual cues tying the two, including the green and white paint scheme, and the brown leather highlights inside.
The leather straps are used for everything from the fancy glovebox to the door handles.
Another clear nod to its racing inspiration are the helmets mounted in the trunk of the car.
You can see them tucked away there through two transparent covers in the big haunches behind each seat.
These helmets are important as the V12 Speedster has no windshield or roof at all.
They’re the only protection you’ll have, except a small optional wind deflector.
The seats are fitted with weatherproof materials to make sure they can tolerate being out in the open.
Its interior is highlighted by a big structural brace running down the middle between both seats.
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Aside from being part of the structure, it’s also the only place the rear-view mirror can be mounted.
In terms of the other controls, it’s all standard Aston Martin inside.
There are buttons to put it in gear instead of a traditional shifter.
Unusually, the mirror adjusters are located in the middle of this shifter button arrangement.
But the most important button of all is right on the steering wheel – the one to put it in Sport Plus mode.
This opens up the exhaust so you can hear its 700hp 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 in all its glory.
“Those pops sound beautiful… it’s addictive,” Sergi said.
He was relegated to the passenger seat as the Aston Martin V12 Speedster hit the Goodwood hillclimb, however.
Aston Martin driving instructor Stephen Tomkins was behind the wheel for the hillclimb run.
But he showed off his skills first by doing an almighty burnout before the run.
The V12 Speedster and V12 Vantage models will sadly be the last of their kind.
But at least it’s clear the V12 is going out with a bang for Aston Martin.
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A car zealot from a young age, Patrick has put his childhood spent obsessing over motoring magazines and TV shows to good use over the past six years as a journalist. Fuelled by premium octane coffee, he’s contributed to Finder, DriveTribe, WhichCar, Vehicle History and Drive Section.
