One last storm before the calm.
As announced in December 2021, Aston Martin has taken the wraps off the return of the V12 Vantage—limited to 333 units globally. Price? Well, don’t bother, because all of ’em are already sold out. Deliveries are expected to commence in Q2 2022.
Visually, the new V12 Vantage looks pretty aggressive with all the oversized composite bits, such as the front spoiler, side sills/rocker panels that extend into the fender outlets, and a rear wing that kinda looks like an aftermarket addition. But if you don’t fancy the wing, you can ask that to be deleted. However, the wing is claimed to contribute to 204 kg (450 lbs) of downforce at top speed, so it’s probably best to keep it. The rear diffuser has also been redone for this car, with centrally positioned twin tailpipes. Also, notice that the clamshell hood has a massive outlet to let the air flow smoothly over the car. The overall widebody design has resulted in a 40 mm increase in track width.
The new exhaust system is made from lightweight 1 mm stainless steel, saving ~7.2 kg (16 lbs) compared with the regular one. The car rides on 21-inch alloy wheels—offered in satin black or satin black diamond-turned, plus an optional lightweight option available in satin black, which saves a further 8 kg (18 lbs). Michelin Pilot 4S high-performance tyres come standard. Braking duties are handled by carbon ceramic (CCB) discs as standard, measuring 410 mm x 38 mm at the front with 6-piston calipers and 360 mm x 32 mm at the rear with 4-piston calipers. These CCBs are claimed to save 23 kg (51 lbs) unsprung mass compared with steel brakes.
Suspension spring rates have been increased by 50% at the front and 40% at the rear, combined with top mount stiffness increasing by 13%, and new anti-roll bars are 5% stiffer at the front and 41% softer at the rear. To ensure driver comfort, a secondary tender spring has been introduced to the rear. The tender spring is claimed to offer a lower spring rate than the main spring, enhancing ride comfort without affecting dynamic performance.
Body stiffness is increased with additional front and rear shear panels, a rear suspension tower strut brace and fuel tank bracing, increasing body stiffness (kNm/Deg) by 8% and lateral stiffness (kNm/mm) by 6.7%.
These changes are complemented by a new steering calibration which is claimed to offer an improved steering feel and a sharper response. And, inside, Sports Plus seats are standard with full semi-aniline leather, while there’s an optional carbon fibre performance seat with 6-way manual adjustment; the latter saves 7.3 kg (16 lbs). And of course, Q by Aston Martin will be on stand-by for any customization requests.
Moving on to the business end of the story, the 5.2L twin-turbo V12 pumps out 515 kW (700 metric hp) and 753 Nm (555 lb-ft) of torque. The power is fed through an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and a mechanical Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) at the rear of the car. The transmission is claimed to be calibrated to deliver a level of shift refinement and usability which is beyond that seen on dual-clutch gearboxes. As for the official performance figures, 0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph (322 km/h).
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