The Aston Martin V12 Vantage has always been the pinnacle of performance for the Vantage coupe, a fire-breathing demon in a sea of V8-powered imps. The last two generations of V12 Vantage pushed the envelope of performance despite being hobbled by the limitations of an aging platform and a laughably bad semi-automated manual transmission in the case of the Vantage S. Aston Martin knows that the days of the V12 are numbered and has revealed the third generation V12 Vantage which will be the end of the line for the legendary twelve-cylinder.
V12 Vantage Is Leaner, Meaner, And Better Than Ever
When Aston martin initially claimed that a V12 was not coming to the Vantage, we rightfully scoffed at this thinly veiled denial and theorized that the engine could indeed fit. Aston Martin engineers managed to do that, thanks in part to a heavily revised design. This model is 1.6 inches wider than a standard model, and that extra width allows the V12 Vantage to be equipped with fatter tires front and rear and a wider track to match. More cylinders mean more cooling, and the front grille is now 25 percent larger to encourage higher amounts of airflow, with the scalloped hood achieving the same effect.
The rest of the styling makes the Vantage look like a racecar with the more prominent rear spoiler, front splitter, side skirt, rear diffuser, and other pieces enhance the downforce and reduce weight thanks to copious use of carbon fiber. The rear wing can be deleted if a buyer wishes to be more discrete with their purchase, but Aston warns that the extra amounts of downforce (450 lbs) will be deleted along with it. A model exclusive center-mounted exhaust sheds 14 lbs of excess flab and enhances the soundtrack.
Interior Is Sprinkled With Upgrades
Slip inside the V12 Vantage, and you’ll see that alot of the core equipment is very similar to a standard model. But the seats have been replaced with standard Sport Plus seating that adds more bolstering and splashes of quilted and perforated semi-aniline leather. Semi-carbon fiber thrones are also available, and a prominent V12 badge is mounted in the center stack. Aston’s Q Division promises plenty of custom options for the model, and like w have seen with other Q creations, the only limits are your imagination and your pocketbook.
The only other change seen in the interior is the steering wheel, which has been adorned with carbon fiber on the top and bottom parts of the rim and the shift paddles.
V12 Vantage Performance Comes From Familiar Source
As the first part of the name implies, performance for the V12 Vantage comes from a familiar friend with the car being powered by the same 5.2 liter V12 that also saw duty in the Vantage Speedster, DB11, and the spicier DBS. The engine carries over the same tuning as we saw in the Vantage Speedster, with the model making 690 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic (no manual here), with Aston claiming that the combination can make the V12 Vantage rocket its way to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a 200 mph top speed.
Aston Martin engineers also upgraded the chassis and suspension with the car promising to deliver flatter cornering behavior and more playful behavior thanks to stiffer springs, a softer rear anti-roll bar, bracing at crucial parts of the vehicle, and sheer panels. Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard on all models, and the front rotors will have six calipers to provide plenty of stopping power (the rear brakes have four calipers.)
When Can I Buy One?
Unlike some of the other models that we have covered here on this site, the time to buy a V12 Vantage has passed, with Aston Martin revealing that all 333 copies (the entire allotment for the whole world) have been spoken for. As a result, Aston didn’t release any formal pricing info but look for the figure to be a noticeable bump over a V8-powered model.
Production is slated to begin this year, and the first round of deliveries is expected to start in the second half of 2023.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.