Geneva 2009: Aston Martin V12 Vantage packed with power
by Chris Shunk on Mar 5th 2009 at 12:04PM 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage
The V8 Vantage is a true beauty, and it's more powerful than ever with it's new 4.7L V8. That may be enough grunt for a lesser GT, but the Vantage is getting even more pony power later this year. The upgraded V12 Vantage will receive Aston Martin's 6.0L V12 engine capable of 510 hp and 420 lb-ft. With the recent horsepower wars, it seems as though you can get 510 hp anywhere, but the V12 Vantage is more than just the world's most beautiful sports coupe. Ginormous ceramic brakes, liberal use of carbon fiber and vastly stiffened spring rates ensure that the V12 Vantage is more than just a gussied up version of its V8-powered sibling.
If you're wealthy and looking to score this V12 beauty, you'll have to wait until after the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in May. Aston CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez announced that a V12 Vantage modified only with safety equipment would run the world's most famous track before the British supercar is given the go-ahead for production. After seeing the V12 Vantage in person on the floor of the Geneva Motor Show, we're guessing this twelve-pot Aston will be worth the wait.
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
V12 Vantage: Aston Martin's most exhilarating sports car
• Fastest and most agile Vantage ever; ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range
• Purposeful, striking and functional styling signalling performance capabilities
• Everyday usability associated with a modern Aston Martin
• Race-derived technology used throughout
Gaydon, Warwickshire, Wednesday 4 February 2009. Aston Martin will present the most potent production sports car in the marque's 95-year history at the Geneva motor show on 3 March. Based on the hugely successful V8 Vantage, the V12 Vantage will feature a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and 0-62 mph (0-100 kp/h) time of 4.2 seconds.
The latest incarnation of the Vantage family has been designed to provide a unique character, appealing to different driver tastes and complementing the other models in the current Aston Martin line-up.
The original V12 Vantage concept was unveiled to guests at the opening of the Aston Martin Design Studio in December 2007. Continuing the marque's impressive record of bringing concepts through to production, Aston Martin engineers have brought the V12 Vantage to market in an incredible 12 months.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: "This is the ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range, combining our most agile model with our most powerful engine. It represents the definitive driving package; providing spectacular performance to ensure a dynamically thrilling and everyday useable driving experience.
"The V12 Vantage has a unique character, one unlike our other cars. This will appeal to different people with different tastes, allowing more people to enjoy the Aston Martin experience.
"This also illustrates one of Aston Martin's key strengths – the ability to act quickly and turn concepts and ideas into reality."
Designed for the focused driver, every component of the V12 Vantage has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. Benefitting from race-developed materials and components, and featuring lightweight carbon fibre; performance and agility have been tuned to perfection.
Visually enticing, the V12 Vantage expresses its performance potential through its purposeful stance created by enhanced aerodynamic and cooling aids optically widening the car, while retaining traditional understated Aston Martin design. Equally inviting, the cosseting interior permits the driver to extract maximum performance ability from the car while also enjoying customary levels of Aston Martin comfort on longer journeys. High levels of power and torque are available at all engine speeds making the V12 Vantage responsive and tractable in any driving situation.
The V12 Vantage will be built at Aston Martin's global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire joining the DBS, DB9 and V8 Vantage model lines which are built in the state-of-the-art production facility combining hi-tech manufacturing processes with traditional hand-craftsmanship. Production will be limited up to 1,000 examples over the life span of the car, making the V12 Vantage a truly exclusive driver's car.
Deliveries of the V12 Vantage are expected to commence during quarter three 2009 with prices to be confirmed at the Geneva motor show.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Arch111905 12:25PM (3/05/2009)
This or DBS?
Reply
Mobius_1 12:27PM (3/05/2009)
Both. DBS Volante as well. And while you are at it (fantasy car shopping, that is), throw in a Rapide and One-77 and 599XX and LP670 SV as well. And a Zonda R.
Mobius_1 12:25PM (3/05/2009)
I think I might have just shouted WOW like a 7 year old kid after seeing that picture.
"WOW!"
The Vantage is by no means a new car, but it is still the best looking small sports car by quite some distance. The perfect combination of aggression and elegance and smoothness.
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Franz 12:52PM (3/05/2009)
Couldn't agree more. This makes most other sports cars look like my middle aged high school math teacher.
Arch111905 12:29PM (3/05/2009)
Yes 1 Zonda R please.
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zamafir 12:39PM (3/05/2009)
ditch the Chicago reps, paint that carbon on the hood, and this car is perfect. Sure it could stand to be quicker and loose weight, but aston's aren't about being the quickest.
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Preus 12:55PM (3/05/2009)
You gotta love it, but if I bought one, the first thing I would do; Replacing the hood. It's horrible.
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zamafir 1:12PM (3/05/2009)
With...? The hood has the slats due to the enormous amount of heat that engine produces, you could paint them, but whatever hood you replaced it with would need to allow for equal or greater amounts of heat exhaustion. Most about this car is purely functional, the hood, down force of the body kit, etc.
Preus 1:19PM (3/05/2009)
I know, I know. But some aftermarket tuner must agree with me, and create a new functional hood a bit better designed.
Jared 2:33PM (3/05/2009)
I don't like the hood either. As to whether or not it needs those vents, I'm guessing they are more for style than function.
Smeagle 5:17PM (3/05/2009)
An aftermarket tuner creating something functional??? Thats asking a bit much
DJ_Swammi 1:24PM (3/05/2009)
I guess after this got all of the pretty, there was none left for the Lagonda.
Explains everything.
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Mr.K 1:25PM (3/05/2009)
Right click, "Save Image As"
@_@
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Duke 1:35PM (3/05/2009)
Now that is one amazing car.
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AIL 1:40PM (3/05/2009)
oooph.
I like aston martin. Heck I love aston martin. Continuously and reliably gorgeous, everything they design looks fantastic.
Except this. This car may be awesome but it is by far the ugliest AM i have seen to date. It is not a BAD looking car, but it certainly is not up to their own standard.
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BoxerFanatic 2:01PM (3/05/2009)
[homer] aaaaaggghhhhhhhhhhh.......... Aston Martin[/homer]
Good grief this is hot.
THIS is the object lesson for car designers. THIS is how it is done for a front engined car. (I wish Aston would create an object lesson for a mid-engined car, too... but the VH chassis architecture isn't quite that flexible.)
This is why Astons look similar. They all are variations of this *hotness*.
I love the V8 Vantage anyway... but man, a V12... to quote Jim Carrey... HOLY HELL!
Now just paint mine in a nice rich Ecurie Ecosse Blue, with the chrome tail lights, dove-grey/charcoal 2-tone with CF or silver-CF trim interior... a couple of titanium white details (blue/white scottish livery), LED repeater chrome side-vent strikes, and the DBS Convertible's sweet split-five spoke wheels and S-logo brakes...
Even if the V12 is just too darn rare, a nicely tuned up Prodrive-package 09 4.7 V8 model so configured would be ultimate.
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Fooman 2:24PM (3/05/2009)
Like I said before.. the best looking car they have with the best engine... Too bad they already said no to US production for this car....
Good thing as I would be robbing banks to get this beauty.
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Fooman 2:26PM (3/05/2009)
On a side note.. I would loose the m6 ish rims... Centerlock BBS's from the Porsche performance options??? ummm.....
TigerMil 2:27PM (3/05/2009)
Won't even beat the Z06, much less the ZR-1 at the 'ring.
Corvette FTW.
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Leo 2:46PM (3/05/2009)
I rather have a used much slower Vantage V8 over a new ZR1 any day.