Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin serious about V12 Vantage RS
click above image for big high-res gallery of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS we told you about yesterday is the real deal. Though officially referred to as a "Performance Concept Car" during its debut at the opening of Aston Martin's new design center yesterday, it's fully functional like all of Aston's concepts and Ulrich Bez, the automaker's CEO, said if the interest is there, they'll build it. We don't know about you, but we're pretty interested in a 3,527-lbs. car with a race-derived V12 motor producing 600bhp. Performance for the car has been conservatively quoted as 4.0 seconds to 62 mph and 8.5 seconds to 100 mph.
Today we can better analyze the design of the V12 Vantage RS thanks to a bevy of high-res images released by Aston Martin this morning. What would you call that color, Cornflower or Baby Blue? Either way, we're not big fans of it for softening the demeanor of this British-born supercar. Despite that, the rest of the Vantage's already gorgeous exterior gets down to business with new carbon fiber pieces for the hood and trunk lid, as well as enough louvers on the bonnet to cool a nuclear reactor. A carbon fiber chin spoiler keeps things steady at high speed and out back the V12 Vantage RS has also been fitted with a retractable spoiler. The interior has also been wrapped entirely in grippy suede, including the heavily-bolstered though comfortable-looking seats.
What we love about the V12 Vantage RS is that it's not just a hat-tip to the recently defunct V12 Vanquish. It is its own car, and a fierce one at that. Though development of the car likely began before Aston Martin had been sold by Ford, we're glad the new owners didn't kill this concept to save some money.
Check out Aston Martin's official press release after the jump.
[Source: Aston Martin]
Gallery: Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS Concept
PRESS RELEASE:
Aston Martin Unveils Performance Concept Car
At the official opening of Aston Martin's first ever dedicated design centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11 December, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, thrilled an audience of more than seven hundred VIP guests with a surprise unveiling of a stunning new 600bhp performance concept car; the V12 Vantage RS.
The V12 Vantage RS concept is based on Aston Martin's critically acclaimed V8 Vantage coupe, but the company's design and engineering team have fully exploited the design flexibility of their unique VH architecture and the motor sport development of their 6.0 litre V12 engine to create a dramatic and production feasible concept car focussed on extreme performance and dynamics.
In a speech to the assembled guests, Ulrich Bez said: "Over the last five years, we have established a reputation for presenting fully functional, feasible concept cars, and the V12 Vantage RS is no exception. We will listen with interest to feedback on this concept and, as ever, if there is sufficient demand then we will seriously consider a low volume production run in the near future with a price that will reflect the exclusivity of the car.
"With our dedicated production facilities, our own engine plant, our own unique vehicle architecture and now a dedicated design studio, we have the ideal framework to bring new models such as this to market and to further establish Aston Martin as the ultimate independent luxury sports car company."
Although the 600bhp power output of the V12 Vantage RS concept will be the focus of attention, just as significant is the level of weight reduction achieved by Aston Martin's engineering team. With a kerb weight of less than 1600kg, the RS concept underlines Aston Martin's continued commitment to intelligent use of materials and weight reduction as a means of achieving improved efficiency and performance. In common with the recently launched DBS, the bonnet and trunk lid are moulded in carbon fibre and the concept also adopts motor sport-inspired carbon ceramic brake discs.
The subtly aggressive exterior appearance is driven by function. The dramatic bonnet louvres extract air from the fully ducted cooling pack and the trunk lid features a deployable spoiler that rises automatically at high speeds to increase rear down force. The front bumper features cooling ducts for the carbon ceramic brakes and a carbon fibre splitter to balance down force.
Director of Design, Marek Reichman, commented: "Much of Aston Martin's recent success has come from the ability of our designers and engineers to work hand-in-hand to optimise form and function. Our new dedicated design centre will take this process to a new level and I am delighted that the V12 Vantage RS is the first car to stand on the turntable in the studio."
The 600bhp 6.0 litre engine featured in the V12 Vantage RS concept has benefited directly from the race development of this acclaimed power unit. It features a dry sump lubrication system, tuned length exhaust manifolds, forged pistons and steel con-rods, revised lift and duration camshafts and modified cylinder heads. Peak power is achieved at 6250rpm and peak torque of 690Nm is at 5000rpm.
With a power-to-weight ratio of over 375bhp per ton, the V12 Vantage RS concept is the fastest accelerating road car ever built by the company, capable of reaching 62mph (100km/h) from rest in 4.0 seconds and 100mph (160km/h) in just 8.5 seconds.
The unveiling of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept concludes a remarkable year of new product announcements for the British manufacturer. In the last twelve months the company has launched two of the most eagerly anticipated sports cars of the year – the DBS and Vantage Roadster – and announced details of the DB9 LM and V8 Vantage N400 special editions which celebrate the company's racing successes at Le Mans and the Nϋrburgring. All of these models now join the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9 and DB9 Volante models in production at the company's Gaydon headquarters.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mark 10:57AM (12/12/2007)
I'm in love.
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Zane 11:09AM (12/12/2007)
A big gaping void has suddenly developed in my peaceful life. All Ferraris and Lambos have gone flying out of my dreams!
Oh, and for the love of God Aston, show some pride and release the official shots with the car draped in British Racing Green!
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Bill 11:19AM (12/12/2007)
Amazing car except for the wheels. Dear god get rid of those, they look awful.
"Normal" Astons have some of the best looking wheels around (including after-market).
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B Montgomery 11:20AM (12/12/2007)
Always liked the "baby" Aston but the addition of a V12 is going to be heavy up front (weight distribution) and impact a chassis that could (in present form) use improved handling. That being said, it's a great looking car and it will go fast in a straight line which is always important.
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lovice 12:21PM (12/12/2007)
The 'baby' Aston has the same chassis as DB9/DBS. So V12 is natural for it.
Paid Blogging 11:23AM (12/12/2007)
What a great car. It never ceases to amaze me what the auto industry is capable of these days. The guys at aston martin have done it again!
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Zane 11:26AM (12/12/2007)
I presume the opening of the new design center means Aston aficionados can participate in a European Delivery program, eh?
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Eddie 11:41AM (12/12/2007)
I want that car, but I'd want it with the DB9 Sport 19 inch wheels.
http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2006/11/10/1061110.001/1061110.001.Mini11L.jpg
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SilverAero 11:51AM (12/12/2007)
Wow, suddenly most supercars don't impress me. Look at the engine pic, how the hell did they fit that in there. I don't know that color kind of enhances the "dreamyness" factor. I woke up this morning saw the pic on my screen and thought "this is a good dream...very good"
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Bob-o 11:55AM (12/12/2007)
How is that 3500 lbs. Good god.
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LloydChiro 11:57AM (12/12/2007)
Look at the hood. Truckers make better louvers.
Stunning car, though, and I would be happy even with the regular V8 version.
Here's one I caught in the wild: http://www.lloydchiro.com/pictures/v8_vantage.JPG
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mk 12:21PM (12/12/2007)
WOW.
FAN-freakin'-TASTIC.
that engine looks like it was made to fit there, just right.
I like the front end treatment, I love the rear end treatment. The deployable spoiler is very cool.
It probably already has the prodrive mangeto-fluid suspension dampers, it should get the prodrive forged mesh-style wheels, which look much more like race hardware than the pictured ones. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/11/prodrive_vantage_01.jpg from about a year ago.
British racing green with color-identifier lipstick and roof arch paint would be cool. But I can't think of a better car to wear the white stripe over deep flag blue of the old ecurie ecosse colors.
Auto-lust, thy name is Aston Martin. Ferrari has NOTHING on this car from the 599GTB's corner.
I'll likely never own one, and I may never even see one in person, but I love the fact that a car like this exists, and has a chance at production, even in very limited numbers for astronomical prices.
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JS 12:21PM (12/12/2007)
Seriously, that car is sex on wheels. I think that there isn't much I wouldn't do to obtain this masterpiece of engineering and art.... Who needs a woman when you have this, wow....just wow...
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SPYKER 12:25PM (12/12/2007)
They said if there is interest they would build it, but i am pretty sure that they knew people would be interested, its just a question of whether they will build it or not.
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MikeW 12:29PM (12/12/2007)
How about real power numbers?
86ft-lbs per liter, no.
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hokiebird 12:33PM (12/12/2007)
Loose the ugly wheels and throw some british racing green paint on it and it would be automotive perfection.
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Mondo 12:32PM (12/12/2007)
I actually don't like all of the suede, especially on the shifter. Also, this car should begin and end in British Racing Green.
Otherwise, the car is pretty dreamy. As in keep dreamin' if you think you're gonna get your hands on one.
Overall, I like it. I like it a lot.
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hoyaCS08 12:40PM (12/12/2007)
They make a big fuss about weight reduction, but 3,527lbs is only ~70lbs lighter than stock and is pretty porky for a "race-inspired" car. Compare to Z06, GT3, or F430 Scuderia that all manage to come in closer to 3,000lbs
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EMC 4:55PM (12/12/2007)
yes, it's only a little bit lighter, but it's also got a 50% larger engine compared to the regular Vantage!
Jimmy 1:11PM (12/12/2007)
i understand the v12 puts out a lot of heat and they need to dissipate it somehow, but that hood is just awful.
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