2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Coupe

It was 2007 when Aston Martin first suggested the idea of a V12-powered Vantage, and as crazy as the idea seemed, it was seen through to completion, creating an imitable icon along the way. An icon that one of the world's finest design houses, Zagato, proudly associates itself with. 15 years later, it's time to put the wild and wondrous thought of a massive 12-cylinder engine in a tiny sports car to bed. But before we bid goodnight to one of the finest British brutes ever made, Aston Martin is giving us one last opportunity to celebrate its existence with this, the very last V12 Vantage ever. As a celebration of one of the brand's best ideas yet, the 2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage is more than just a big engine stuffed into a small car; it's a proud automaker's way of reminding itself just how awesome it really is.

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It may bear a turbocharged engine and no, you can't row your own gears. But the fact that it exists at all ought to be celebrated. For the lucky 333 individuals who get to experience it firsthand, we implore them to drive their cars while they still can. This is really it; this is really the end. There won't be a V12 Vantage Final Edition. There won't be a V12 Vantage RS. There won't be another V12 Vantage, period. Take a long hard look. This is the culmination of 15 years of lunacy and love for loud, lavish engines. This is a celebration and a tribute. This is goodbye, and it's forever. Thanks for indulging us one last time, Aston Martin. We are forever grateful.

If you're asking the above question with the goal of ordering one of these beauties for yourself, you'll have to curb your enthusiasm. The limited-edition super sports car was sold out shortly after being announced, despite no concrete information being revealed at the time. That means that all 333 examples are spoken for. Your chances of picking up a dropped allocation are slim too, as Aston Martin says it has a long list of interested buyers waiting to pounce on just such an opportunity. For those lucky enough to have secured an order, global deliveries will commence in the second quarter of this year.

Aston Martin has thus far not revealed what each of those 333 buyers will have paid, but since this vehicle is being produced in remarkably low numbers, will be highly sought-after across the globe, and celebrates the very end of a particularly special model configuration, we expect that the base MSRP in the USA will be even higher than that of the $232,000 Aston Martin DBX707, especially since the price of the regular V8 Vantage runs as high as $181,000 before options. With each car set to be tailored to the specifications of each customer through Q by Aston Martin, we'd bet that a well-specced model will breach the $350,000 mark, at the least. As a rare and unique machine, it has no real competition or direct rivals, but we suspect that those who buy a V12 Vantage will also have things like a Lamborghini Huracan JV Stradale on order too, while front-engined V12s that could possibly compare include the Ferrari 812 Superfast.

It's difficult to tell based on images, but Aston Martin has made comprehensive changes to the Vantage's footprint. Widened by 40 millimeters (1.57 inches), the Vantage has a wider track and improved handling. What you can see in the images is that the special edition has been completely overhauled in the styling department, and many of the changes are functional. At the front, the bumper and full-width splitter are made of carbon fiber, with a 25% larger grille opening to improve cooling efficiency. That splitter improves aerodynamic balance and downforce too. Other carbon fiber components include the front fenders, side sills, rear bumper and decklid, and clamshell hood. That hood now has a recessed design that incorporates a horseshoe-shaped vent as a callback to the magnificent GT12, which was the brand's roadgoing tribute to the V12 Vantage GT3 racecar.

More carbon can be found along the profile, where a new, sculpted single-piece sill is again inspired by motorsport and is intended to be reminiscent of past V12 Vantage models. Moving aft, the rear bumper is new too and boasts an integrated diffuser that helps to maintain aerodynamic balance in the same vein as the front splitter. In the center of this gorgeous piece of art, a twin-exit exhaust made of a new, thinner material protrudes, saving 15.9 pounds compared to the regular car's exhaust.

Further complementing the racy look is a huge rear wing that generates almost 450 pounds of downforce at V-max. And if that wing is a bit too gaudy for you, Aston Martin will happily delete it for a sleeker look. Either way, the automaker promises that the underbody aero upgrades will guarantee high-speed stability. 21-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber are fitted, measuring 275/35 in front and a meaty 315/30 at the rear to put down all the power.

As standard, solid paint options include Jet Black, China Grey, and Lunar White, but a number of categories of exciting finishes are available too: Metallic, Signature Metallic, Racing Line, Satin, Special, and Heritage. Various pinstripe themes can be applied, as can additional carbon fiber adornments. The aforementioned wheels can be had in Satin Black with a diamond face but lightweight wheels in Satin Black can also be ordered. Hiding behind these are black calipers as standard, with Grey, Yellow, Red, Vivid Orange, and Bronze as your options. The taillights can be tinted too, as can the windows, while the exhaust tips can be darkened and the badges replaced with Black Chrome items.

Q by Aston Martin adds to the scope of your customization process with 14 additional graphics options. The division can tint your diamond-turned faces Red, Bronze, or Smoked or can paint your lightweight wheels to match the body or your graphics accents. Three additional caliper colors and the option of tinted carbon fiber in Red, Blue, or Green complete the exterior offerings.

Things have changed quite a bit in terms of measurements. While the standard car is 175.8 inches, this one is 177.7 inches long. Naturally, the wheelbase remains 106.5 inches. Width has increased from 76.5 inches including the mirrors to 77.2, but the height remains the same at 50.1 inches. As for weight, the standard car tips the scales at around 3,370 lbs. Sadly, you can't hide all of the bulk of a huge V12 with carbon fiber body panels, so this new model weighs 3,957 lbs. Despite this, the increased performance that comes with this special edition translates to a power-to-weight ratio of 384 hp/ton.

Years ago, in 2009, one Jeremy Clarkson filmed a moving tribute to the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, lamenting what he thought was the end of such lunacy, such decadence. Although that turned out not to be the last V12-powered Vantage, today's car is a far cry from the naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 of the Noughties. While that car only produced 510 hp, today's smaller-but-boosted 5.2-liter twin-turbo 60-degree V12 develops a delicious 690 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque, all of which is channeled to the rear axle via an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a proper mechanical limited-slip differential. That gearbox has been enhanced with lessons learned from the V12 Speedster and the Vantage F1 Edition, so it's refined like an auto and sharp like a dual-clutch (DCT).

Max power is reached at 6,500 rpm, while all that torque is accessible between 1,800 and 6,000 rpm. 0-60 mph is dispatched in just 3.4 seconds, with top speed arriving at 200 mph, but this is about more than just straight-line performance.

Aston Martin has seen fit to add a new adaptive damping suspension system with new anti-roll bars, bushes, and spring and damper assemblies. This has resulted in the front spring rates increasing by 50% and the rears by 40%. Top mount stiffness has been enhanced by 13% too, and new anti-roll bars are 5% stiffer in front and 41% softer in the rear. That should help prevent too much-unwanted exuberance in the corners, while a secondary tender spring with a lower spring rate than the main spring has been introduced to the rear to improve comfort without affecting the performance of the car. The body is stiffer by 8% too, with lateral stiffness improving 6.7%.

When it's time to stop, carbon-ceramic brakes promise increased longevity, reduced unsprung mass (saving over 50 lbs compared to steel brakes), and greater resistance to brake fade. In the front, six-piston calipers bite down on 16.1-inch discs while four-piston calipers at the rear are paired with 14.2-inch rotors.

Does anyone really care? Probably not, and as much as Aston Martin has provided us with loads of detail on this car, the consumption figures have not been revealed. We expect them to be considerably worse than the V8 Vantage, of course, so the V12 Vantage's 19.3-gallon gas tank won't last very long. In any case, if only as a point of reference when consumption figures are announced, the standard V8 model with an automatic returns official EPA figures of 18/24/20 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. Regardless of how thirsty it is, if you buy one of these and don't get on the loud pedal every chance you get, you have no soul.

As standard, the cabin boasts Sports Plus Seats trimmed in full semi-aniline leather. These seats boast the 'Wings' quilt and perforation pattern, but those who don't care much for comfort can specify a lightweight performance seat with an exposed twill carbon fiber shell and manual six-way adjustment. These save a notable 16 pounds over the standard seats "without compromising comfort," says Aston. We're not sure about that claim, but let's move on.

Whether you have woven leather or Alcantara seat inserts, these along with the trim inlays and the anodized rotary dials in the center console can be colored to match or contrast with the exterior paint or graphic color. Other options include ventilated seats, colored Alcantara for the headliner, colored carpets, a trim split with a two-tone finish, dark chrome switch jewelry, and a choice of two steering wheels (one heated), either of which can be color-keyed. Additionally, seatbelts in Mocha, Red, Ivory, or Graphite are also available.

Speak with the Q department, and five textured color weaves are available for the woven leather seat inserts, with four on offer if you choose Alcantara. Painted trim inlays, tinted carbon fiber jewelry in Red, Blue, or Green, and carbon seatbacks and door treadplates with tinted options are available too. The rotary dials can be customized with a choice of Red, Blue, Lime, Gold, or Yellow, while a carbon fiber steering wheel with a 12 o'clock pinstripe graphic, a fitted luggage set, and a premium audio upgrade round out the interior options.

As for cargo, the V12 Vantage has an open rear load space for maximum aural drama, but a new rear suspension strut brace means that you really should opt for the fitted luggage. That said, a cargo capacity of 12.2 ft³ is certainly respectable.