Every one of the 333 Aston Martin V12 Vantage cars earmarked for production have been sold, with the new flagship model in the sports coupe range commanding a £265,000 asking price.
This particular car is significant as it will be the third – and final – V12-engined Vantage to be built. Naturally, the performance is impressive: the 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged motor is the same as that found under the bonnet of its larger brothers – the DB11 and the DBS.
However, in the V12 Vantage, it has been fettled to produce 690bhp and 555lb ft of torque which is good enough to send the uprated car from 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 200mph.
The V12 Vantage utilises the regular car’s 8-speed automatic gearbox, although on this occasion engineers have applied their magic to reduce the time required for gear changes to take effect.
Weight saving measures play their part, too. The front bumper is constructed from carbon fibre and the same applies to the clamshell bonnet, the front wings and side sills, rear bumper and wing.
A fresh exhaust system manufactured from 1mm stainless-steel saves 7.2kg compared to less extreme models and gives it “a voice to match its looks and performance”.
Under the sculpted bodywork, the suspension’s spring rates have been increased by 50% at the front and 40% at the rear, while the front axle’s new anti-roll bars have been firmed up by 5% stiffer.
Stopping power is provided by carbon ceramic brakes that comprise 410mm x 38mm discs with 6-piston calipers at the front and 360mm x 32mm discs with 4-piston calipers at the rear.
The brakes can resist fade “at temperatures up to 800 degrees”, helping the V12 Vantage “unleash its full performance potential while giving the driver maximum confidence and precise control”, the firm says. Over the steel brakes, the carbon ceramic set-up shaves a further 23kg off the car’s total mass.
Completing the makeover are a choice of two new designs of 21-inch alloy wheels, plus an optional lightweight satin black rim that trims unsprung mass by a further 8kg. Exterior graphics and liveries, coloured brake callipers and painted wheels will also be available.
The single biggest change to the interior is carbon fibre seats that save 7.3kg “without compromising comfort”. And as part of the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ service, customers can again choose from a catalogue of options to “create a true one-of-a-kind specification”.
The British company believes that “with so many design combinations available, it would not be a surprise to see no two cars the same”.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Moers, said: “Every great sportscar brand has a hero car. For Aston Martin in more recent years that car has been the V12 Vantage.
“Right from the moment the first V12 Vantage RS Concept was shown back in 2007 our customers and fans around the world fell in love with the idea of fitting our biggest engine into our smallest and most sporting model.
“The recipe has been refined over the years with great success, but the essence has remained the same. Now it is time to bring this bloodline to a close, fittingly with the most spectacular example yet – the fastest, most powerful and most dynamically capable V12 Vantage ever.
“A celebration of its forebears and an embodiment of Aston Martin’s intensifying focus on driving dynamics, it ensures the V12 Vantage goes out on the highest of highs,” he added.
