Aston Martin V12 Vantage review

You used to have to be pretty brave to drive a supercar. In the 1980s anyone caught speeding down a wet country road in one was more likely to receive the Victoria Cross than a ticket. By comparison today’s supercars are as intimidating as a basket of kittens. Thank God then for the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage - it’s a snarling British bulldog of a car.

Despite the small body, it has a massive bite courtesy of the fact Aston has somehow shoehorned the DBS’s 6.0-litre engine under its stubby bonnet. It produces 517hp and 560Nm of torque which is good for 190mph and a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds.

Feel the V12
These stats aren’t that different to the V8’s, but how the V12 feels is. It pulls as hard in third as the 420hp 4.7-litre model does in second. Power delivery is totally linear, and thrust is so strong that you have to be careful not to swallow your tongue. Pressing the ‘Sport’ button opens a baffle in the exhausts and makes the V12 sound like armageddon.

All that weight in the nose
Now all this would count for nothing if the car handled like an overfilled shopping trolley. Amazingly, though the V12 doesn’t feel nose-heavy at all. Even though its engine is 100kg more than the V8’s, a number of weight saving measures, such as carbon fibre body parts, means the entire car is actually only 50kg heavier. And most of these changes have been made to the front end to deliver an almost perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

Does it out-handle the V8?
This, plus a lower ride height and tweaked suspension, means the V12 actually handles slightly better than the V8. Really it does. You do have to treat it with more respect though as with all that power going through the rear wheels it can bite you on the arse. Thank God for the well-judged traction control system and powerful carbon brakes (also from the DBS).
Other upgrades for the V12 Vantage include a large tail spoiler, side skirts and carbon front and rear diffusers. These help aerodynamics and let drivers of V8 Vantages know their cars aren’t as good. The only downside is the garish bonnet vents which look a bit aftermarket.

Overall the V12 Vantage is pretty blumin’ brilliant. It’s fun, it’s raucous and, while it might not be quite so fast down the same stretch of road as a four-wheel-drive Lamborghini, it’s more likely to put hairs on your chest. In short it’s the best Aston Martin. Ever!