Though the clock on substantial internal-combustion engines could be shut to midnight, we know that the 2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage is not heading to be the closing new product introduced with a dozen cylinders. The Lamborghini Aventador’s alternative will also adhere with a V-12, albeit with hybrid help, and Ferrari’s forthcoming Purosangue SUV will have a person too. Others may possibly also sneak beneath the bar.
But we do know that the new V12 Vantage will be the previous of its line, the final twinning of the firm’s premier motor with its smallest sporting activities auto. A limited version of 333 autos will be created for all markets, and the operate sold out within just days of staying announced past 12 months. And even though Aston hasn’t launched an formal value tag for the car, we are advised that it really is all-around the $300,000 mark—very approximately as considerably as the even larger, grander, and more rapidly DBS Superleggera, which uses fundamentally the exact same 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged motor. So, can less definitely be a lot more?
Substantially of the V12 Vantage’s structure is shared with the minimalist V12 Speedster the organization released final yr, which was itself based mostly on a seriously modified Vantage Roadster platform. In spite of that, there will only be a coupe edition of the new V12 Vantage, with its motor in the exact same point out of tune as the Speedster with 690 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, the Vantage’s output isn’t really far too significantly off that of the DBS. Output is shipped completely to the rear axle by means of an 8-pace automated gearbox, and although the regular Vantage uses an electronically managed active differential able of biasing torque facet to facet, the V12 has a standard plate-form restricted-slip diff.
Our 1st generate took place in Wales, where we employed some of the country’s best roads—high on the record of the best in the world—and the limited, technical Anglesey race circuit, which sits up coming to the Irish Sea. When the V12 Vantage’s efficiency impressed through, it was soon clear that, for all its may, the engine only at any time speaks with a smooth voice.
When the common V-8-driven Vantage is loud and lairy, the V12 reveals a considerably additional calm character. That’s correct for the exhaust, which burbles at lower revs and zings when the motor is labored challenging, but by no means develops numerous muscular bass frequencies. But it really is also accurate for the relaxation of the car’s dynamic behavior. Irrespective of sitting down on stiffer springs than its V-8 sibling (Aston prices fees that are firmer by 50 percent at the front and 40 p.c at the rear), the V12 Vantage continue to feels impressively pliant above bumpy surfaces. Even the adjustable dampers’ Keep track of environment won’t experience overly severe for road use.
There ended up a couple refinement troubles on the car or truck we drove—some relevant to its prior daily life as a growth car or truck, some not. The loud whine from the differential can possibly be attributed to the really hard use of growth work, and we presume the diffs in buyer cars and trucks won’t audio like that. The V12 Vantage also endured from an issue we have noticed in other carbon-roofed coupes, with particular frequencies of sounds seemingly trapped by the roof, developing a drone that was apparent at continuous-pace cruising. Moreover, the optional carbon bucket seats traded well-clamped lateral aid for rising discomfort following a couple of hours at the rear of the wheel. Any consolation seekers would be well suggested to take into consideration the conventional activity seats as a substitute.
But it is incredibly tough to fault the V12 Vantage in conditions of performance. The motor could possibly make 108 much less pound-toes of torque in this article than it does in the DBS, but it still has more than sufficient muscle to make the motor vehicle experience monstrously quick. The computerized gearbox’s inclination to upshift nicely short of the 6900-rpm redline would seem to have tiny outcome on the amount of acceleration.
But it lacks the edgy sense of the V8 Vantage. The lesser car’s active differential pushes torque to the outside the house wheel throughout enthusiastic cornering, producing an entertaining feeling of impending oversteer even limited of the issue at which the rear tires in fact run out of grip. The V12’s traditional limited-slip differential would not do that, and it normally takes a little much more work to get the auto turned and settled into a corner, whilst traction was impeccable from the Pilot Activity 4S tires. The steering felt good, far too, with revised entrance geometry offering newfound crispness and precision. The V12’s typical carbon-ceramic brakes survived repeated tough use without the need of complaint, despite the fact that there was some audible grumbling at reduced speeds.
But there is an undoubted mismatch in between the aggression of the V12’s style and design and the gentleness of its dynamic demeanor. The wide rear wing is a case in place, contributing to a claimed 450 kilos of peak downforce and without doubt bettering the car’s perception of substantial-pace stability. But it also eliminates a good percentage of the see by way of the rear window. Aston claims it really is probable to buy the car with out the wing, while with a consequent reduction in downforce.
Driving on the 2.1-mile circuit at Anglesey solidified the effect of a grand tourer in monitor-rat outfits, to the extent we have been glad to have initially skilled the auto on a rapidly-flowing highway, which appears far more like its desired natural environment. Though massively speedy, the V12 Vantage does not come to feel like a natural track motor vehicle. The motor has small problems in motivating its substantial weight—3957 kilos in its lightest configuration, according to Aston—but the mass was evident in Anglesey’s tighter corners. The V12 feels nose hefty when cornering in the vicinity of its limit and wants to be diligently shepherded into bends to avoid operating wide, the traction control then intervening tough to keep the rear finish under control.
There is a a lot more permissive Sport placing for the steadiness-manage technique, despite the fact that we quickly uncovered this lets important oversteer even at the higher speeds where these driver-flattering modes are likely to subtly enhance intervention. The result undoubtedly felt enjoyable, if not primarily exquisite. And even the fastest modifications of the automatic gearbox also felt way too leisurely on keep track of when compared to the pace of a dual-clutch transmission. As on the community roads, we quickly acquired it was a lot easier to short-change and believe in in the breadth of the engine’s torque.
The V12 Vantage is a hugely likable vehicle, but also a somewhat confused 1. The pugnacious layout indicates it will provide a supercar-baiting driving knowledge, yet the dynamic truth is far closer to Aston’s tradition of relaxed grand tourers, like a slightly smaller and fractionally slower model of the DBS Superleggera. Opting to forego the rear wing would of course eliminate a lot of the peak downforce, but it would also make for a far more classically exquisite car, a single with the visible polish to match what is below the hood. And if enough of individuals 333 prospects go that route, perhaps Aston will have to cook up one particular additional genuinely extreme V12 Vantage to use up their source of huge aerodynamic aids. One particular can dream.
Specifications
Specs
2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Car Style: entrance-motor, rear-wheel-travel, 2-passenger, 2-doorway hatchback
Value
Base: V-12 Coupe, $300,000 (est)
Motor
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, immediate gasoline injection
Displacement: 318 in3, 5204 cm3
Energy: 690 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 555 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-pace computerized
Proportions
Wheelbase: 106.5 in
Duration: 177.7 in
Width: 77.2 in
Top: 50.2 in
Passenger Volume: 47 ft3
Trunk Quantity: 10 ft3
Control Bodyweight (C/D est): 3960 lb
General performance (C/D EST)
60 mph: 3.2 sec
100 mph: 7. sec
1/4-Mile: 10.7 sec
Best Speed (mfr’s declare): 200 mph
EPA Fuel Economy (C/D EST)
Put together/City/Highway: 18/15/23 mpg
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