Closing time: Aston Martin unveils final iteration of V12 Vantage

MANILA: The Aston Martin V12 Vantage has proudly embodied the brand's passion for performance for the past 15 years. Successive generations of these vehicles have developed a legendary DNA that is both fast and vicious in equal measure: One based on the idea of pairing the smallest and most driver-focused vehicle with the largest and most powerful series production engine possible. With this remarkable lineage coming to an end, Aston Martin proudly unveiled the new V12 Vantage, the quickest, toughest, and most dynamically capable of them all.

This final edition of the V12 Vantage marks the conclusion of an epic era in fitting style, with production strictly limited to 333 units worldwide. This incredible machine combines scorching straight-line speed and dazzling handling with magnificent looks and coveted exclusivity to create the ultimate embodiment of extreme performance and driver-centric thrill.

Aston Martin has seen extraordinary demand for the future icon since the V12 Vantage was announced in December last year, with all vehicles sold ahead of delivery and an overflowing register of interest excitedly waiting in the wings.

In a statement, Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Tobias Moers said, “Every great sports car brand has a hero car. For Aston Martin in more recent years that car has been the V12 Vantage. Right from the moment the first V12 Vantage RS Concept was shown back in 2007 our customers and fans around the world fell in love with the idea of fitting our biggest engine into our smallest and most sporting model. The recipe has been refined over the years with great success, but the essence has remained the same. Now it is time to bring this bloodline to a close, fittingly with the most spectacular example yet – the fastest, most powerful and most dynamically capable V12 Vantage ever. A celebration of its forebears and an embodiment of Aston Martin’s intensifying focus on driving dynamics, it ensures the V12 Vantage goes out on the highest of highs.”

The V12 Vantage is powered by a quad-cam 60-deg 5.2-liter V12 engine that delivers an exhilarating blend of outstanding low and mid-range muscularity with blistering top-end power, producing 700ps at 6,500rpm and 753Nm of torque from 1,800rpm to 6,000rpm. With a top speed of 200mph, the V12 Vantage accelerates from zero to 60mph in just 3.4 seconds. It  features a power-to-weight ratio of 390ps per ton, 20% higher over the V8-powered Vantage.

Among the weight-saving features are the carbon fiber front bumper, clamshell bonnet, front fenders and side sills, composite rear bumper and deck lid, lightweight battery, and a special center-mounted twin-exit exhaust system. This new exhaust system, designed to give the V12 Vantage a sound to complement its aesthetics and performance, consists of lightweight one-mm stainless steel, saving 7.2kg over the previous system.

The power is sent to the rear wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD). With insights from the V12 Speedster and Vantage F1 Edition models, the V12 Vantage gets a unique transmission calibration to improve shift speeds and driver engagement. This software has been particularly designed to provide a level of shift refinement and usefulness not seen in dual clutch gearboxes. The adaptive software in the transmission is developed to measure the conditions in which the car is running, as well as the demands made by the driver, to guarantee that the car is in exactly the right gear at the right time, giving a genuinely connected driving experience.

The new V12 Vantage, like its renowned predecessors, is aimed at providing a thrilling driving experience that complements its distinct engine performance and character, while keeping the driver at the center of the experience. To achieve this, the vehicle is designed with a new adaptive damping suspension system with new anti-roll bars, bushes, and spring and damper assemblies.

Suspension spring rates have been boosted by 50% in the front and 40% in the rear, with top mount stiffness up 13% and new anti-roll bars that are 5% firmer in the front and 41% softer in the rear. A secondary tender spring has been added to the rear to keep the driver comfortable. The tender spring has a lower spring rate than the main spring, resulting in a more comfortable ride without compromising dynamic performance.

With the inclusion of front and rear sheer panels, a rear suspension tower strut brace, and fuel tank bracing, body stiffness is improved by 8% and lateral stiffness is enhanced by 6.7%, resulting in the best platform stiffness for driving dynamics.

A new steering calibration complements these modifications, enhancing steering feel and producing a quicker response — and, as a result, a better driver experience.

 The V12 Vantage comes standard with a Carbon Ceramic Braking (CCB) system, which includes 410 mm x 38 mm discs with six-piston calipers up front and 360 mm x 32 mm discs with four-piston calipers at the rear.

These CCB discs provide enhanced braking performance and a substantial decrease in unsprung mass while maintaining consistent braking performance at high temperatures and resisting brake fade at temperatures up to 800 degrees, allowing the V12 Vantage to reach its full performance potential while providing the driver with maximum confidence and precise control.

When compared to steel brakes, this CCB technology saves 23 kg in weight. The weight savings also contribute to the V12 Vantage's ride quality and agile handling nature, as this mass is unsprung.

Rounding out the V12 Vantage dynamic package are a choice of two new designs of 21-inch alloy wheels in satin black or satin black diamond turned, as well as an extra lightweight option available in Satin Black, which saves an additional 8 kg. The Q by Aston Martin bespoke service offers even more options for matching or complementing the color of the diamond turned highlights to the body or graphics package. All rims come standard with Michelin Pilot 4S high-performance tires in sizes 275/35 R21 up front and 315/30 R21 at the rear.

Such an uncompromising pursuit of performance and driving satisfaction requires an equally uncompromising aesthetic. To that aim, the V12 Vantage features a bodywork that has been enlarged by 40 mm to suit a wide track chassis that has been optimized for cornering performance and stability. This revolutionary widebody design incorporates a stunning aerodynamic package as well as substantial use of carbon fiber.

While stunning from any angle, the V12 Vantage is most spectacular when viewed from the front.  A full- width front splitter perfectly complements the new front bumper design, generating more downforce and aerodynamic balance while also improving the ground-skimming profile.

The front grille has been expanded by 25% to allow more air to pass into the engine cooling radiators. A unique “horse shoe” style engine vent has also been fitted into the bonnet, increasing cooling and mirroring the aesthetic character of Aston Martin's stunning Vantage GT12, a road-going tribute to the famous V12 Vantage GT3 racer. A new sculpted single-piece sill, inspired by motorsport and evocative of past V12 Vantage models, extends the aggressive design along the side profile.

A redesigned and distinctive rear bumper with integrated diffuser maintains front-to-rear aerodynamic balance. The lightweight center-mounted twin tailpipe exhaust system is the centerpiece of this innovative design. The dynamic rear wing, which provides a maximum downforce of 204 kg at top speed and further accentuates the V12 Vantage's undeniable aesthetic appeal, completes the nose-to-tail transition. The option to remove the rear wing for a more modest look and a sleeker form is available. However, considerable work to the underbody in any configuration assures aerodynamic balance, offering high-speed stability and ultimate performance.

Enhancing the driving experience with the iconic V12 audio, the V12 Vantage features an open rear load space that also exposes the new rear suspension strut brace.

The vehicle's interior keeps the easily recognizable layout of the current Vantage while also emphasizing its halo status with a Sports Plus Seat dressed in full semi-aniline leather with a standard "Wings" patchwork and perforation pattern.

A new carbon fiber performance seat with exposed twill carbon fiber shell and manual six-way adjustment is offered as an option, providing a supportive seat design for increased driving dynamics as well as a distinct design character. This is a patented Aston Martin design inspired by motorsport that has been optimized to reduce 7.3 kg while maintaining comfort.

The V12 Vantage will be produced within the first quarter of 2022, with first deliveries expected in the second quarter. The order book has been closed due to the unforeseen demand.

Photos from Aston Martin

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