NEWS: New V12 Vantage Will Become the Fastest Aston... Momentarily
The long and short of this article is that Aston Martin have dropped the DBS' 6.0 Litre 380kW V12 into their smallest car, the otherwise 298kW V8 Vantage. But because the Vantage is a smaller car than the DBS, and is therefore lighter, it also ends up being the faster of the two - both from 0-100kmh (4.2 seconds) and in top speed (305kmh). So, I give Aston Martin's fastest car... until the One-77.
The V12 Vantage is meant to be a little more than Aston's new headline act, however. Aston Martin's CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez is telling us all that the new V12 Vantage caters for a different type of driving taste, something we're not used to from Aston Martin. He's billing the V12 Vantage as the "ultimate driving package" from Aston Martin, rather than the fast grand touring available in the DB9. It has a near perfect weight distribution of 51:49, and the interior certainly looks like it means business - if it had any more alcantara (that suede-like stuff), it would be a race car.
Although having said all that, I still don't see the point of a V12 Vantage - why not just get a DBS? They seem to be aimed at the same kind of buyer - a buyer who wants ultimate outright performance in a performance machine as elegant as an Aston Martin, but without all the luxurious woodgrain of a grand tourer. I just re-read that last sentence, and I nearly didn't understand it, so I hope you get it. Anyway, there can't be any point to buying a V12 Vantage over a DBS - they look similar, except the DBS looks better. It's only a fraction faster than the DBS anway, so no-one will ever know the difference. And it's not going to be any cheaper than a DBS, so why spend all that money on an Aston Martin to get the wrong one?
Ah, but of course, exclusivity. Only 1,000 cars will be made - which means you're less likely to see someone with the same car as you (god forbid!). Which seems to be the only thing going for the V12 Vantage, sadly - because it's probably a fine car, but I won't really care.
February 6, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Aston's Vantage is up against stiff competition in its class, and each of its competitors have (or are going to) release lighter, faster versions of their cars. Porsche as we all know has the GT3RS, Lamborghini has the Gallardo Superleggera, Ferrari has their 430 Scuderia and Audi are releasing an R8 with a V10. This car is an all out road racer designed to compete with them; its nothing like the DBS.
But I'd take the DBS anyday; I'm not a fan of the shape of the Vantage.
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