Well, it was just a matter of time. The Ferrari Monza and McLaren Elva now have a new companion and hopefully, more brands will join this roofless, windshield-less category of roadsters. Will use the term “companion” because all these cars are limited to only VIP collectors and no carmaker is competing in an open market to sell more of these.
As for the Aston Martin V12 Speedster, it is limited to just 88 units, a lot less than the Elva. Created by Aston Martin’s Q division, the example here sports a livery inspired by a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet.
The Speedster has been in the works for over a year now. It uses the brand’s latest bonded aluminium architecture, the elements from both the DBS Superleggera and Vantage models to create its own unique platform, which also explains its looks. The headlamps, for example, are straight out of the Vantage and so are some of the design elements such as the nose cone and also the rear fascia. And, there are generous gaps, gapes and intakes to let the air, flow as smoothly as possible.
According to Aston Martin, the V12 Speedster’s bespoke body is constructed almost entirely from carbon fibre.
With the V12 Speedster, we do go back a step and look into our past for inspiration. Since the DB11 launch, everything has been focused and very forward looking. Here though, we find a different tempo. There’s a clear lineage from the 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1 to our Centenary celebratory CC100 Speedster Concept in 2013. There is also a bit of 1953 DB3S in the mid-section, so it really is our latest incarnation of the Speedster concept. It’s also inspired by fighter jets as much as it is by our history, and it has been created to deliver an incredibly visceral experience, hence why it is a V12, rather than a V8. – Miles Nurnberger, Director of Design, Aston Martin Lagonda
The exterior paint finish is called ‘Skyfall Silver’, with contrasting satin black on the exhaust tips, vent grilles and vanes.
The Speedster rides on 21-inch forged centre lock alloy wheels as standard. The Carbon Ceramic brakes measuring 410 mm on the front axle and 360 mm at the rear are also standard. The suspension is taken care of by independent double wishbone at the front and multi-link at the rear with coil springs and adaptive damping; there are also Sport, Sport+ and Track modes to play with.
The interior is a mix of traditional and modern materials. Structural satin carbon fibre contrasts with traditional hand-crafted Saddle leather, chrome, aluminium and even 3D printed rubber. Aston Martin scripted Red door pulls and straps add to the drama.
The passenger section has a removable leather bag in place of a traditional glove box, while there’s additional storage space under the rear buttresses.
As the name suggests, powering the V12 Speedster is a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, producing an estimated 515 kW (700 metric hp) and 753 Nm (555 lb-ft) of torque. The engine is paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission with a limited-slip differential driving the rear wheels. The car is claimed to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and on to a limited top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).
Aston Martin promises a characterful sound from a bespoke stainless-steel exhaust system integrated centrally into the diffuser.
The V12 Speedster carries a starting price tag of £765,000 including VAT; deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021.
The 88 hand-built cars will be sought after by driving enthusiasts and collectors alike all around the world. I’m excited not just about what they offer drivers, but of what it represents. The V12 Speedster not just showcases our incredible engineering capability and ambition, but also celebrating Aston Martin’s rich heritage. – Andy Palmer, CEO, Aston Martin
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