Double Treat: Aston to debut DBS roadster, V12 Vantage in Geneva?
Click above to view the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept in high resolution
Aston Martin doesn't have a huge product range. In fact, until the Rapide and One-77 come along, its line-up essentially boils down to two models: the Vantage and the DB9. And if reports coming straight from Switzerland are to be believed, the now-independent British sportscar company is descending on the Geneva Motor Show next month with new top-of-the-line variants of both.
First up is the convertible version of the DBS. The iconic Bond-mobile, whose name may have finally been determined, will make for a stunning drop-top. Not unlike arch-rival Ferrari, which took the 430 Scuderia and crossed it with the F430 Spider to create the 16M Scuderia Spider, Aston will take the fixed-roof DBS and put it in a room together with the DB9 Volante, dim the lights, put on some Boys2Men and let nature run its course.
Reportedly joining the DBS Volante/Roadster will be the production V12 Vantage RS. Forgot about that one? It's easy when Aston keeps serving up delectable new flagship supercars, so we'll scribble the recipe down for you again: take one V8 Vantage and the 600-hp V12 engine from the DBRS9 race car. Add louvers, spoilers, carbon fiber and alcantara. Shake (don't stir). Production should be very limited, and performance should be blistering. Stay tuned.
Gallery: Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS Concept
Gallery: Aston Martin DBS Volante - spy shots
[Source: topcarblog.ch]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fooman 2:51PM (2/02/2009)
Man now I need new underwear, I love the v-8 Vantage, and could only think of one reason to go to the DB, the sound of that engine...
Now I can have both! If allot of banks get robbed in SoCal, I swear it is not me.
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SPF 3:44PM (2/02/2009)
Wanna tag-team? I'm in.
MajorGeek 2:54PM (2/02/2009)
Beautiful. Reminds me why I personally don.t like the GTR design, it has too many edges. Look at how this design just flows.
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DCragtop 3:41PM (2/02/2009)
Lawdy...I never get tired of looking at this car! Autblog should post a pic/story about this car EVERY Monday!
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Frustrated Aston Martin owner 3:47PM (2/02/2009)
I wish Aston-Martin would stop producing a million different variations of models no one wants and that even fewer people will buy. Instead, I wish Dr Bez and his eminently capable team would focus on producing one single model that is superb and complete. In particular, traditional Astons, like the one my father owned always had V8s. in such times of austerity, we need an engine that combines horsepower with economy, (something along the lines of Audi's forthcoming 4.0 litre TFSI: 450 bhp and 35 mpg in combined cycle) not another V-12 that delivers 12 mpg and a gazillion horsepower the use of which is illegal on 98% of Europe's roads. Secondly, we need a car that properly seats 4 adults, like Maserati's Grand Turismo, Bentley's Continental GT or Ferrari 's Scaglietti. Thirdly, let's have a proper chassis, please. Enough of this Lotus kit car approach. Give us a properly engineered aluminium spaceframe architecture. Fourthly, stop raiding other manufacturer's parts bins and buy a CNC machine that can turn out beautifully crafted aircraft-grade switches that are unique. If all this sounds unreasonable, look what Porsche has achieved starting with just one good model: the 911. Get just one car absolutely right and everything else falls into place. But this constant production of a myriad variations of different models simply denigrates the brand by killing the residuals of models that don't contain the same developments. Constant variations mean that we the customers end up as the guinea pigs who test the damn things. The glitches you get with with the V8 Vantage simply don't justify its price. Compare the standard Vantage production car to a Porsche Cayman S and you'll soon see what I'm talking about.
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DCragtop 4:04PM (2/02/2009)
...but just look at it! Besides, aren't there plenty of 'economical' options out there for everyone? You don't buy (lust) over this car for practicality. Shortcomings aside; the automotive world needs cars like this from both a design and exclusivity point. Porsche and Audi are a dime-a-dozen and while great works of engineering...they too have shortcomings; one is lacking the emotion this car awakens inside of almost everyone who sees/hears/drives it. I'm sure you will have no trouble finding a buyer for your AM.
Mobius_1 6:10PM (2/02/2009)
I love trolls, sometimes :)
Man you would have to have no soul to not like an Aston. Cars are not just about squeezing every last bhp but also the experience a car delivers, physical, visual or aural. Listen to your heart, not your head for once.
ken_aisin 4:04PM (2/02/2009)
Other than the pop-up rear wing, it is absolutely beautiful.
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fusen 4:04PM (2/02/2009)
hah, I've had that RS concept as the background on my laptop since it was very first released. Such an awesome looking car
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zamafir 4:19PM (2/02/2009)
"Reportedly joining the DBS Volante/Roadster will be the production V12 Vantage RS. Forgot about that one? "
They dropped the RS from the name, and confirmed it will be in Geneva last month. Man what's up with this week, I count on autoblog to provide news before the print rags, not repeat it a month later. Do you guys honestly not read anything on the print side of things?
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yacoub 4:22PM (2/02/2009)
Oh wow i wonder how much that V12 RS will be. So hot. So hot. If i could have one exotic, that would be it. I'd even take it in that metro baby blue.
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Will 4:50PM (2/02/2009)
Top Gear magazine's article on the V12 Vantage was accompanied by some of the most beautiful automotive photography I've ever seen. The car is astonishing and their photographers are truly talented as well.
My dream garage includes one of these in Merlot Red, parked right next to the 22B.
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Matt 7:14PM (2/02/2009)
As much as I love Aston Martin, (and I do, the DBS and Vanquish are my dream rides) I do not like how Aston is just spitting out "new" cars that really aren't new or revolutionary. The DBS was suppose to be a tight supercar, but then they put an automatic-box (which they said they wouldn't do) and then the option for back seats (not sure if this is true but I've heard it is).
The V12 Vantage is cool and all, but it feels just like a tuner-vantage. I don't like the idea of Aston's fastest and most powerful car to be a fired up version of it's base model. Why not just fire up the current DBS flagship more?
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