In general, from the point of view of tradition, the “correct Aston Martin” should have a V8 engine. But for the most prestigious and expensive models, the company has been using V12 engines of its own design since 2001. Alas, the era of such cars is coming to an end, and the 2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage presented today is announced as the last model with a V12 engine.
2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
This is an extreme version of the already existing “junior” Vantage model , which in the basic version is equipped with an AMG V8 biturbo engine. A similar modification was in the range of the previous generation, but then buyers could choose between aspirated V8 and V12. The new Aston Martin V12 Vantage is equipped with a 5.2 biturbo engine of its own design, like in older models DB11 and DBS .
For the Aston Martin V12 Vantage coupe, this engine is tuned to deliver 700 hp. and 753 Nm, although this is not the limit and the DBS model has even higher figures. The main thing is that the characteristics of the eight-cylinder Vantage model (510 hp, 685 Nm) are noticeably blocked. The eight-speed “automatic” ZF was reconfigured, a limited-slip differential was installed as standard, and the steering gear was recalibrated.
The body has been significantly redrawn: the front fenders, bumper, hood and sill plates are made of carbon fiber, the rear bumper is made of lightweight composite. Additional amplifiers front and rear, coupled with a “stretch” between the rear suspension struts, made it possible to increase body rigidity by 8%. To cool the large motor, the area of the front air intake is increased by 25%. The new aerodynamic body kit generates downforce equivalent to 204 kg (at top speed). However, you can opt out of the rear wing when ordering.
The track has been increased by 40 mm, the adaptive suspension has been redone: the springs have become 50% stiffer at the front and 40% at the rear. The front stabilizer is now also 5% stiffer, but the rear stabilizer, on the contrary, has become 40% more pliable. Already “in the base” Aston Martin V12 Vantage has carbon-ceramic brakes, which are 23 kg lighter than steel ones. The front axle has 410 mm discs and six-piston mechanisms, while the rear axle has 360 mm discs and four-piston mechanisms.
Finally, the V12 coupe has a compact 12-volt battery and a lightweight exhaust system (minus 7.2 kg compared to the standard one). But even with all the above measures, the supercar turned out to be heavy: the curb weight is 1795 kg versus 1685 kg for the base coupe with a V8 engine. It is not surprising that the gain in dynamics is barely noticeable: the acceleration time to “hundreds” is 3.5 s instead of 3.6 s, and the maximum speed is 322 km/h against 314 km/h.
However, the status of the V12 engine in this case is more significant than any numbers. Not surprisingly, the entire run of 333 Aston Martin V12 Vantages was sold out shortly after the announcement last December. Deliveries of client machines will begin in the second quarter of this year.
There will indeed be no new 12-cylinder Astons, but this does not mean the end of production of the existing DB11 and DBS models. Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers recently clarified that V12 cars will continue to be produced as long as economy permits. Even large – scale modernization is expected . The introduction of the Euro 7 standard is tentatively scheduled for 2025, and this year is likely to be the last for Aston’s V12 engine.
sudharsan has over a decade of experience covering the breaking news in the auto industry and over ten years of experience writing about cars for magazines, automotive websites, and YouTube videos.
Thank you for following
