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The Aston Martin Vantage dates back to the 1950s but none of them have been as powerful or advanced as the upcoming 2023 V12 model.
The 2023 Aston Martin V12: Will this really be the final edition?
Before you get too sad let’s make one thing clear, the Vantage as a model will surely continue on in some fashion beyond the 2023 model year but the mighty V12 variant will not. That’s why Aston Martin refers to this as the final edition and most likely why production has been reported to end after just 299 units are built. That puts the 2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage in very rarified air and allows it to go out with all of the pomp and circumstance it deserves.
Where The V12 Vantage Comes From
The Vantage and more specifically, the V12 Vantage both have a long history with the brand and each is special in its own right. The first time that Aston Martin used the Vantage name was back in 1950 as a specification of its DB2 sports car and it continued in that fashion until 1972.
At that point, the name had become so important that it became a model of its own. By 1977 the addition of V8 was added to the official name and then finally, four more cylinders were added to reach that V12 total in 1993. While that era of Aston Martin is much maligned due to its relationship with Ford, it did provide the very first V12 Vantage. Since then it’s only grown in reputation and stature but with the transition to electrification coming faster than ever, the 2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage will be the very last of its kind.
What We Know About The 2023 Aston Martin V12 Design
The current model of the Vantage arrived in 2018 and we’ve seen the upcoming V12 version being tested in public many times so we can be sure that it’ll share the same basic design structure. What’s different though is how Aston Martin has gently massaged the design to ensure that it stands out on its own. The rear fenders might be the widest and most muscular that we’ve ever seen for instance. The front bumper also gets its own unique design with big vents flanking the central grille. Out back, the V12 Vantage will be defined by a center exhaust exit situated just below the license plate. That’s a drastic change from the V8 models that use a much more wide-set dual exhaust setup.
What We Know About Its Powertrain
While we still don’t have a final horsepower rating that’s been confirmed by Aston Martin themselves, we do know a lot about the powertrain. First, the engine will be very similar if not identical to the 5.2-liter one found in the V12 Speedster as well as the DBS GT Zagato. In those vehicles, the engine makes 700 and 760-horsepower respectively. Many have suggested that Aston won’t release the V12 Vantage with that much power but we hope they’re wrong. It only seems fitting to send it off with a proper bang.
Power will be sent to the rear wheels with an eight-speed automatic only transmission and we suspect it’ll be the ZF-sourced 9HP95 that gets the nod for duty. It’s capable of handling some 664 lb-ft of torque without issue and snaps off shifts almost as quickly as a dual-clutch transmission. Sadly, no manual option will be offered. Perhaps some other company will come along down the line and offer a conversion kit in the same way that the Aston Martin Vanquish saw long after it was discontinued.
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