Aston Martin presents the final chord of the V12 Vantage. With 700 hp, the new and last model is the power crowning achievement of the series.
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage is coming in the second quarter of 2022 and it will not only be a Limited Edition, it will also be a Final Edition. The British sports car manufacturer announces this and pushes directly afterwards: prospective buyers have to look elsewhere. All 333 copies have already been sold before the release. Find out in this article whether you need to be annoyed about it.
Corresponding Erlkönig sightings had already shown that a Vantage was coming with a V12 under the hood. The massive grille at the front, the additional air inlets, a distinctive double-pipe exhaust and the curved bonnet make it clear: There is more at work here than the well-known 4.0-liter V8 from the current Vantage. And even ear witnesses at the ring heard a twelve-cylinder sound loud and clear - but hear the sound for yourself in our video.
Aston Martin Vantage V12 with 700 hp
V12, Vantage - wasn't there something? Yes, in 2009 the British launched a corresponding model with 517 hp. In 2013, the 573 hp 5.9-liter 12-ender V12 Vantage S followed. And then there's the V12 Speedster, which Aston Martin launched in early 2021 as a new extreme roadster without a windshield with a 5.2-liter V12 biturbo has brought the start - in a limited version, 700 hp strong.
And so in 2022 the circle closes to the new V12 Vantage with the same performance. At the top speed of 322 km/h, the aerodynamics package generates 204 kilos of downforce on the car. After just 3.4 seconds it's three digits on the speedometer. Aston Martin is proud of the overall concept. "Since the first concept car in 2007, fans have been enthusiastic about the idea of packing the largest engine in our most compact sports car," sums up CEO Tobias Moers. Understandable, after all, the V12 model has 20 percent more power per ton of vehicle weight than the version with the AMG V8. This is also due to various lightweight construction measures such as the carbon fiber bumpers or the more than seven kilogram lighter exhaust system.
An eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF sorts the propulsion, on the rear axle a mechanical differential distributes the power as needed. Thanks to a sharper calibration of the transmission control electronics, the switching performance should be far above anything you are used to from double clutches, Aston Martin reports confidently. To illustrate the dynamic spectacle, the spring rates on the front axle have been increased by 50 percent and at the rear by 40 percent. Additional struts all around also make the V12 Vantage stiffer overall. So that the comfort is not completely lost, Aston installs additional springs on the rear axle at a lower rate.The journey is slowed down by a carbon-ceramic system with large 410 mm discs at the front and 360 mm discs at the rear. which is supplemented by the aerodynamics package mentioned above. Under the radiator grille, which has been enlarged by 25 percent, a splitter runs across the entire width of the vehicle, and a diffuser at the rear ensures balance. Should there be anyone among the 333 customers who, despite being interested in buying a limited V12 widebody carbon sports car, has a hand in understatement, Aston Martin offers the option of doing without the rear wing.
In the cockpit, the familiar Vantage layout remains, wrapped in leather and peppered with carbon decor. The optional six-way adjustable carbon performance seats are new. Anyone looking for individualization is encouraged to contact the special department "Q by Aston Martin" for a personal design draft. It doesn't matter whether it's about the finish, materials or colours. In view of the fact that twelve-cylinder engines probably have no future at Aston Martin, some buyers will probably make use of this opportunity to get a real collector's item in their garage. The V12 Vantage is also a final edition because the Euro 7 emissions standard is just around the corner. From 2025, the Aston Martin Vantage will be replaced by a fully electric sports coupé.
Conclusion
Despite Euro 7, CO2 fleet consumption, electric mobility hype - Aston Martin is sticking with the V12 to the end. The British are installing the 12 ender in the Vantage, just like they did with the previous generation and are currently presenting in the Speedster . However, the clientele that enjoys the model is few and far between. And as early as 2025, a fully electric sports coupé is on the program – then probably only with an electronically generated V12 sound.
