Geneva 09: Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Lots of news coming from the Aston Martin corner! One of them that we're covering here is the launch of the V12 Vantage, a high performance model limited to a 500 unit per year run. A V12 packed into the small Vantage should make for a really interesting drive!

Exterior changes are purposeful, with a lowered, more aggressive ride height and each panel designed to enhance the car's dynamics. The object was to increase downforce without increasing the drag coefficient of the car, something engineers succeeded in doing.

The V12 Vantage is the most powerful vehicle ever to be produced by Aston Martin, and a real departure from conventional philosophy for this unique model. The brand has always been about high performance vehicles, but usually they are in the GT heritage, a la Bentley Continental GT.

The V12 Vantage offers something different, stuffing Aston's highest performance engine, a 6.0 510BHP V12 (borrowed from the DBS, with changes) into the smallest, most agile model in the lineup, the Vantage. 

Aston Martin's engineers gave the car a thorough working over in it's higher performance incarnation, getting the car from idea to production in 12 months. Even with the heavier engine, the V12 Vantage still maintains a excellent 51:49 weight distribution. One of the features unique to the V12 Vantage is a Sport mode so you can toggle between two powertrain modes so the driver can achieve maximum performance from the car when desired.

Interior materials have been upgraded to be lighter and more sports oriented, with the optional Kevlar composite seats shaving 17 kg off the weight of the vehicle.

In addition to detail changes in the instrument cluster, carbon fibre is the material of choice for the door pulls and lighter weight Alcantara material is used throughout the cabin.

Personally, I think the Aston Martin design language works better in it's traditional sports/luxury GT style, but I'm sure Aston Martin will find buyers for every one of the V12 Vantage's that it can produce.

More details are supposed to arrive at the Geneva Show, including pricing which is expected to clock in much higher then the standard V8 Vantage.