Chalices don’t come much more laden with poison than the one inherited by Aston Martin’s current design team. Just look at the current range, which is entirely made up from derivatives in the shape of the original DB9, which first saw light of day a decade ago. It was pretty much perfect to begin with and the Vantage, Rapide, Vanquish and even the ultra-exclusive One 77 all share its overall shape and proportions. Arguably they are less pretty than they used to be but that fundamental form will never date.
So what can the company do to keep customers and enthusiasts satisfied while it tries to come up with something entirely new that befits this most glamorous of brands? Apart from garnishing its models with side skirts and spoilers, that is.
In the brutal V12 Vantage S the company has at least a temporary saviour to sate the appetites of drivers who demand more performance, more excitement and more advanced technology. It’s the quickest production Aston yet, as you might expect with the engine of the Vanquish squeezed into the confines of the smaller and lighter Vantage bodyshell. Flat out it will hit 330kph and 100 flashes by in just 3.9 seconds – crucial numbers in the fight for Top Trump supremacy. And, while it’s certainly not cheap at Dh850,062, it’s still a comparative bargain against the Vanquish’s Dh1,185,500 sticker price.
The V12 Vantage is not a new car, having been around since 2009, and it has, since it first turned a wheel, shone as the finest car Aston Martin has ever produced. Whatever you might think of those carbon bonnet vents, it still manages to look utterly gorgeous and it’s wild, uninhibited performance has never been for those faint at heart or short of talent. It’s always been a bit scary and now, in S guise, it’s all that and more.
Its transmission is the really big news here. The previous model was blessed with a good old-fashioned six-speed manual gearbox because Aston’s “Sportshift” robotised manual couldn’t cope with the V12’s power. The manual, as good to use as it was, never really allowed its performance potential to shine through, however, with its standing start acceleration hampered by prolific wheelspin.
The Sportshift has been re-engineered and is now the only available gearbox in the V12 Vantage. It has seven speeds and somehow manages to put down the power in a more controlled fashion and the numbers speak for themselves, reducing the zero-to-100 time by half a second. Combined with that top speed, this means it can now fight with the Ferrari 458 Italia and the McLaren MP4-12C in terms of sheer pace and it can be had for a fraction of their price.
Where the Aston can’t compete with its rivals is in its interior appointments. It’s well made, there’s no denying that, but the instrumentation and displays are hopelessly outdated and you can’t help feeling that, in these times of touchscreen connectivity, the company really needs to invest in more modern cabin technology.
Aston’s stock answer to critics is that this is an analogue car in a digital world, and that sometimes you need and desire something a bit more old school. But that reasoning is starting to wear a bit thin these days.
Forgetting all that, though, is simple once you fire up that glorious engine and get moving because there is simply nothing out there that can hold a candle to the noise and sense of occasion you get from Aston’s naturally aspirated six-litre V12. The power delivery is more impressive than ever before and you really get a feel for all that torque, with effortless acceleration in normal circumstances.
Really get on it, however, and the punch in the back is extraordinary. Ah, that will be the transmission, then. For smooth changes when your foot is flat on the floor, it’s best to lift said foot a little so the single clutch affair can compose itself for the next ratio when you’re taking charge via the carbon fibre paddles.
Once you’ve mastered this, driving the 12-pot Vantage just gets better and better. Grip is prodigious, with the fat tyres and active suspension ensuring excellent composure through any bends you might find in the road – having been scared silly by the previous model on damp British roads, this is most welcome.
It’s still a hooligan, don’t get me wrong, but it just feels more together, more complete and less daunting than before in extremis. But it’s at the ragged edge that the V12 Vantage S makes most sense – that place you’re unlikely to reach on public roads unless you have either a death wish or seriously deep pockets once the police inevitably feel your collar. In the upper echelons of its performance repertoire, it excites and demands like few others and this alone sets it apart from the rest of Aston Martin’s models.
Fear not, however, because this car can still act the part of the refined gent. Take it easy and cabin noise is almost non-existent, the seats are supremely comfortable, even on long journeys, and its sound system is utterly superb.
Yes, the V12 Vantage S is a truly special piece of kit, whichever way you look at it. See one, hear one, drive one, and you’ll be convinced of it yourself.
