Time is almost up for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, at least as we know it. To help say goodbye, Aston Martin is planning a final special edition for the car. The limited-edition widebody car will be the only V12 Vantage for the second generation. And it will be the most powerful Vantage the company has ever built.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage: The Coveted Variant
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage first arrived 15 years ago. Aston followed a time-honored hot-rodding technique in its design — cram the largest engine (in this case, a 5.9L V12) you have into the smallest and most driver-focused vehicle in your lineup (the Vantage chassis). Do it right, like Aston has, and you can end up with a long-lasting and sales-winning special.
The V12 variant didn’t come with the arrival of the second-generation Vantage in 2017, though. Buyers waiting for the bigger powerplant only saw an extremely limited V12 Speedster model produced in 2020. However, that handful of cars showed fitting the engine into the second-gen Vantage chassis was possible.
DBS Powerplant in Vantage Chassis Means Serious Shove
It’s taken until 2022 for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage to arrive, but arrive it does. And Aston Martin has packed a 5.2L twin-turbo V12 that delivers 690 hp and 555 lb.-ft. of torque under the hood. Compare that to the standard V8 Vantage making just 503 hp and 505 lb.-ft. and it’s easy to see the V12 version should be seriously quicker.
Aston also widened the V12 Vantage, giving it bulging fenders that can fit massive tires to help contain that power. Measuring 315/30R21 at the rear and only slightly narrower in the front, the Michelin Pilot 4S high-performance tires help the V12 Vantage hit 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds.
Carbon Fiber Parts Trim Weight
Thanks to plentiful use of lightweight carbon fiber components, Aston was also able to trim pounds from the curb weight giving the V12 Vantage even more agility.
This Vantage gets a new carbon fiber front bumper as well as clamshell hood, while the rear bumper and trunk are made using composite materials. Aston has fitted a stainless exhaust system some 14 pounds lighter than the standard Vantage and even installed a lightweight battery.
The 8-speed automatic in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage is engineered using the lessons learned from the Vantage F1. Aston says this has resulted in new levels of shift refinement as well as improvements to make sure the car is always in the gear the driver wants.
Stiffer Suspension For Better Handling
For the suspension, Aston stiffened the spring rates 50% in the front and 40% in the rear. Combined with stiffer upper mounts, a thicker front roll bar, and a softer rear roll bar, Aston says engagement, handling, and even ride comfort should be improved over the V8 Vantage. Upgrades to accommodate the stiffer suspension include extra bracing front and rear as well as a strut tower and a fuel tank brace.
Stopping is handled by standard carbon-ceramic composite pads and rotors. The lightweight brakes are meant to maintain performance and resist fade, even in racetrack conditions. The material also helps cut 50 pounds of unsprung weight compared with steel brakes.
Sleek, Customizable Interior
Aston will outfit the cabin with an optional new performance seat that shows off its exposed carbon fiber weave. The standard seat will be trimmed with semi-aniline leather and wear a wing logo quilt and perforation pattern. Aston and its Q commissioning service will let customers pick from a stunning array of color and material choices for an added personalized touch.
Sold Out Before Even Going On Sale
Just 333 units of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage will be built starting this quarter. But even before Aston officially announced it, the order books were already closed. Every single one of the cars has been snapped up, with more buyers on the register of interest than cars built, ensuring it will stay that way. Deliveries are set to start in the summer.
