Posted on Wednesday 2 April 2008
Another Aston Martin prototype has been spotted at the Nurburgring undergoing testing, this time a V12 version of the handsome Vantage coupe. Dubbed the Aston Martin V12 RS, the car was first shown as a concept to commemorate the opening of Aston Martin’s new Gaydon design center and then was confirmed for production by CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez during last month’s Geneva Motor Show.
These latest spy shots show what appears to be a regular V8 Vantage, but the tell tale sign of a big rear-diffuser reveals the massive power underneath the prototype’s bonnet. The concept car had the 6.0L V12 from the stunning DBS shoehorned into its engine bay, and the Vantage’s relatively small size and weight meant the 600hp concept car was the fastest road-going Aston Martin ever, with a 0-60mph time of just 4 seconds.
Unfortunately, the production version of the V12 Vantage will likely have a downgraded version of the DBS engine, ‘only’ putting out around 550hp, although this is still more than the 512hp of its DBS big brother.
While production of the Rapide is taking place at Magna Steyr’s facility in Austria, for now it seems as though the V12 Vantage will be produced at Gaydon alongside the regular V8 model. The first cars should hit showrooms within the next year.
Aston Martin Vantage RS spy shots
Supercar.
Aston’s lineup is ridiculous. They just keep on building special versions of the same old car.
we have:
- the DB9
- a convertible DB9 (DB9 volante)
- a smaller DB9 (the V8 vantage)
- a smaller DB9 roadster (the V8 Vantage roadster)
- a smaller and lightweight DB9 (the V8 Vantage N400)
- a more powerful DB9 (the DBS)
- an even more powerful DB9 (the Vantage RS)
- a DB9 with 4 doors (the Rapide)
- a DB9 racecar (the DBR9)
- a DB9 racecar that’s a little cheaper (the DBRS9)
- a smaller DB9 racecar (the V8 vantage N24)
- a more expensive DB9 (the Vanquish)
- a much more expensive DB9 (the Vanquish S)
That’s all I can come up with for now but there’s more in the current lineup. It’s time to come up with something new.
Germandude - to say all of Aston’s cars are variations of the DB9 is a little ignorant.
The V8 Vantage feels totally different to the DB9, not just because of its engine, but because of its weight and size. Sure, it uses the same platform but that’s hardly a complaint.
As for the Vanquish, it’s not on sale any more. It used an old platform that has no relation to the DB9.
We agree that the design need work but the basic mechanics are fine.
Admin, the heart of the V8 Vantage is essentially an Jaguar XK8 as was a DB7 an XJS, convertible top and all. As for Germandudes comments it is time Aston stood on its own and built something oringinal rather than keep rearranging the Lego set it bought from Ford.
Sorry Admin but I thought the same thing as Germandude before even opening the link. I consider myself fairly well informed about the automotive world but I have simply lost track of all the Astons that look 95% alike.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a gorgeous piece of machinery. I just wish they would change it some.
Change? How? Ian Callum is not around. With all the new designers at AM and supposedly a new design centre what have they done? Show that design is not achieved with money, but that it´s a God given gift.