Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Expert Rating:

What is it?

When Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin's CEO, first unveiled the V12 Vantage, he said: "This is the ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range, combining our most agile model with our most powerful engine."

So on the face of it, it looks like Aston Martin has shoehorned a V12 engine under the bonnet of the pretty and compact V8 Vantage and tweaked the styling to make it more aggressive. This particular V12 is 6.0-litres in capacity and produces 510bhp for the rear wheels to contend with. It's fed there via a six-speed manual transmission, carbon fibre driveshaft and a limited slip differential, the latter to help with traction during 'spirited' cornering. This very engine is found under the bond of Aston's current top dog, the DBS. In the V12 Vantage the result is 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and a 190mph top speed, meaning the Aston can stand up and be counted as nothing less than a supercar.

Is it any good?

Sorry if it spoils the surprise, but the V12 Vantage is simply sublime. It's a very different car to the V8 version, with suspension settings more suited to the keener driver. Response from all controls is instantaneous. The steering is direct, yet fluid and communicates well to the driver what's happening under the sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Likewise, the standard carbon ceramic brakes offer huge stopping power, with a well-weighted middle pedal. Some will expect the V12 to be more of a cruiser than its V8 sibling, but in fact it's the other way around. Saying that, the V12 is never uncomfortable, but its ride is harder. The upshot is of course fantastic body control.

Driving dynamics aside, it's an exciting car to just sit in and steer in a straight line. The 6.0-litre engine makes light work of the Vantage body, meaning it always feels quick, regardless of the gear you select or the engine speed. When you do eventually find a piece of road long enough to extend the V12 through a few gears you're left in no doubt that this is the real deal. Accompanying the rush towards the horizon is a stirring cacophony of noises from the engine and exhaust, especially above about 4,000rpm, where a bypass valve opens up to release the full fury. Pressing the Sport button ensures that that valve opens earlier, while also altering the response of the throttle pedal. If I owned this car, I'd stick that button down permanently.

Should I call the bank manager?

At £135,000, you'll probably need to. That represents a hefty £48,000 premium over the basic V8 model, though, as mentioned above, there's a lot more to the V12 Vantage than just a bigger engine. It's actually pretty well equipped for a car that's targeted at driving enthusiasts too. Along with loads of lovely carbon fibre bits, unexpected standard items include cruise control, satnav, parking sensors and electrically adjusted sports seats.

If you're in the enviable position to be considering such things, we'd urge you to put a little aside for a few choice extras, such as the lightweight one-piece seats. As you'd hope a tracking device is standard (in the UK), while the presence of a battery conditioner on the list of options indicates how much time this car might spend sitting in a climate controlled garage waiting for a gap in its wealthy owner's diary...

Summary

Brought from someone's flight of fancy to production in a matter of 12 months, the V12 Vantage feels like it's what the compact Vantage body was designed for all along. The presence of a 6.0-litre V12 under the bonnet should dominate the driving experience, but Aston's engineers have done a superb job on the car's chassis, endowing it with honest to goodness agility and response, meaning it's currently the best driver's car Aston makes.

Shane O' Donoghue