The V12 Vantage nameplate, first used in 2007, will return for one final generation in 2022 and previous teasers have hinted at how it will be marked out from the standard V8 version.
Shown next to its predecessors in a darkened image, the new 12-cylinder car looks to feature a bespoke front end with a much larger front grille – similar to that of the hardcore Vantage F1 Edition – and new vertical air intakes. Just about visible is a downforce-enhancing front splitter, which is likely to be made from carbonfibre.
Aston previously announced that the newPorsche 911 Turbo S rival will arrive in 2022 but didn't share any details of the model’s design or technical specifications. A short preview clip (below) gives a teaser of its engine note.
In the Aston Martin V12 Speedster, launched in 2021, the 5.2-litre engine produces 690bhp and 555lb ft of torque, giving it a 0-62mph sprint of 3.5sec and a top speed of 186mph.
A Vantage mule has been spied featuring an updated front grille, a large twin exhaust, additional air intakes and a bonnet bulge that was suspected to hide an engine larger than the V8 of the current Vantage.
Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers has outlined plans to introduce 10 new derivatives of existing models within the next two years, with the V12 Vantage being one of them.
The British firm faces challenges to make its V12 engine compliant with Euro 7 emissions standards, but Moers said "aficionados for a V12" would make the endeavour worthwhile.
Other changes for the Vantage are expected to include chassis upgrades and a new infotainment system.
It's expected that the current Vantage, introduced in 2018, will be replaced in 2025 by an all-electric sports coupé. A plug-in hybrid model is also under consideration. This would use a new electrified transaxle supplied by Mercedes-AMG and shared with its next-generation C63.
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