Aston Martin V12 Vantage S revealed
More power, less weight, and adaptive suspension to broaden $400,000+ supercar's appealAston Martin’s latest (no, really it is!), the V12 Vantage S has broken cover.
Officially the fastest production car in the company's history, the two-seater’s thumping 12-cylinder engine propels it to a claimed 330km/h. Indeed, Aston Martin says, the new V12 Vantage S performance is bettered only by its limited run One-77 supercar.
The new car makes use of a lighter (and louder) exhaust system carried over from the rare million dollar One-77. It also boasts a 25kg lighter gearbox, a boost in engine power and new tri-mode adaptive suspension.
Aston says the V12 Vantages S's adaptive suspension -- a first the Vantage range -- is designed to broaden the cars appeal. It offers track-focussed damping levels when set to 'Track' mode and cushy cruising in 'Normal'. The system also adjusts the power steering levels.
Another significant change for the British missile is an increase in peak power from 6.0-litre V12 engine, codenamed AM28. The 5935cc engine produces 423kW at 6750rpm (up from 380kW) and 620Nm at 5750rpm (up from 570Nm). If at a glance it appears as though the lavishly appointed sports car is only concerned about top-end engine performance, consider that Aston Martin claims the engine pumps out 510Nm at just 1000rpm.
The car is now 15kg lighter at 1665kg and Aston quotes a 0-100km/h acceleration time of less than 4.0 seconds. The previous V12 Vantage was a 4.2 second car.
The new seven-speed 'Sportshift III' gearbox is borrowed from the V8 Vantage S and tweaked to match the increased power output. Built by Oerlikon Graziano, it is an automated single-clutch manual transmission. It replaces a conventional six-speed manual cog-swapper.
Packaged with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters, Aston reckons the motorsport-derived gearbox setup exploits "the full sporting potential of the V12 engine" thanks to "only milliseconds of torque interruption" between shifts.
A limited slip differential is fitted, and the final drive ratio is 3.7:1.
There's no mistaking the car's exterior design either (no, really!). It looks more aggressive than most other Vantages thanks to a few key differences.
The grille shows off a wider new form, inspired by the CC100 concept, says designer Marek Reichman. The snout also featuring carbon-fibre vanes in place of aluminium ones.
New 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, a black roof and partially painted boot and carbon-fibre side vents can be added as options, while a slightly wider rear fascia is also new. Pumped wheel arches and a quartet of bonnet vents return for active duty.
Aston Martin is known for extravagant cabins, and the new V12 Vantage S doesn't disappoint. Drivers are greeted with acres of high-quality cow-hide and Alcantara, with plenty of optional upgrades. Aluminium accents are splashed about for good measure and a carbon-fibre pack can be added for a motorsport theme.
Sales of the new model are scheduled to begin in Europe later in the year, with Australian pricing and spec yet to be confirmed. The Aston Martin V12 Vantage currently sells for $386,391 not including on-road costs. Expect the S model to be priced substantially higher.
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