|
Aston Martin's New V12 Coupe is Ready!  Here are the latest photos of Aston Martin's 450 bhp V12 coupe, which is to replace the V8 (formerly Virage) this autumn. This is closely based on the Project Vantage
concept car shown at Detroit in January 1998, and will be called Vanquish. It is in the final stages of development and durability testing, and the first deliveries to customers will
take place in the second quarter of 2001.
Just 300 will be handbuilt each year at Aston's Newport Pagnell factory, and they will cost around £200,000
($280,000) each. This latest Aston is the first of a new generation of cars developed under Ford ownership, in which the American parent will be using the British company as a testbed for high-tech
engineering solutions - in this case, the body construction. In three to four years time, Aston will introduce a completely new model to compete with the Porsche 911, and to take the firm's annual
production from around 1000 cars to 3000 (close to the 3500 cars Ferrari produces each year).  This new V12 coupe is intended to take on Ferrari's 550 Maranello and 456 GT, as well as the Bentley Continental. It has been designed by Aston Martin design director Ian
Callum, and it will closely resemble the 1998 concept car in both style and dimensions, the main difference being to the lighting arrangements at the front end. It is constructed
around a lightweight aluminium spaceframe, features inner bodywork panels made from composites and exterior panels handfinished from aluminium, maintaining a
longstanding Aston tradition. The result is a car much lighter than the admittedly overweight V8.
This new model is powered by an upgraded version of the Ford-derived V12 used in the DB7 Vantage. A 6.0-litre 48-valve V12, it produces 420 bhp in the DB7 Vantage, a figure that rises to 450
bhp in the new car. It has an electronic throttle, and is mated to a six-speed sequential gear change with Formula One-style paddle shifts mounted to the steering column. The car will only be available with this
transmission, which the driver can switch to a fully automatic mode if desired. Inside, you can expect a more modern interpretation of the wood and leather approach in which
aluminium is also highlighted. The car can be ordered either as a two-seater, with a luggage shelf in place of the rear seats, or as a two-plus-two. As ever, there will be a wide range of paint and trim
finishes offered, together with plenty of scope for incorporating bespoke features. |
