Test Drive: The 2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Is Exactly As Much Fun As You Think
Thrills only an Aston could provide.
Image via Complex Original
The day promised sunshine, steaminess, and sensory overload as I prepared to climb into the new 2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S for the first time. I slid the balaclava over my head, adjusted the strap in the D-ring on my helmet, securely mounted my sunglasses, and climbed into the passenger seat so the instructor could show me around the track where we’d be spending our day.
As we rolled off, that glorious V12 rumble gradually began to build around us. At first, the instructor took it slow -- after all, we were exiting the pit lane onto an active track. No one was going race speed, but still. I couldn’t wait to hear that engine roar in full anger.
Palm Beach International Raceway was the track, and although it lacked the elevation changes that make watching racing fun, it flowed beautifully and worked quite well for our intended purposes. Turns were mostly late-apex sweepers and a nice section of esses, as well as a back straight that just begged you to floor it -- this on top of the mile-long drag strip. All in all, it was a good selection of place to demonstrate this car’s mind-blowing capabilities -- not to mention the sheer delight of driving it.
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Power(rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)
The 2015 V12 Vantage S's 6.0-litre AM28 engine makes a claimed 565 HP. Low-rev torque kicks in with 376 lb.-ft. at 1,000 RPM, while available torque maxes out at 457 lb.-ft at 5,750 RPM. It's an impressively wide range that thrums easily at low revs, until and unless you put pedal to floor and make that One-77-derived exhaust howl and rumble (Trust me, you want to do that, just not where you're likely to get arrested). 0 to 60 time is a mere 3.7 seconds, and top speed is 205 MPH in a compact, sport-minded package that weighs 3700 lbs -- a mere 60 lbs. more than the V8 Vantage. The 2015 V12 Vantage S is currently the fastest production car in Aston Martin's venerable 100-year history.
Other Features
If you're an enthusiast, you might be forgiven for worrying about the shift from a six-speed manual transmission to the new Graziano-built Sportshift III AMT (automated manual transmission.) Aston Martin says the new trans offers a significant weight reduction -- 55 pounds, to be exact. It's true that some drivers simply won't like this change. It's also true that other reviews mgiht make you view this change in an extremely skeptical light. Although I didn't drive the V12 Vantage S on the street, it's important to note that if you choose to use manual mode, potential jerkiness in shifting can be alleviated if you very slightly lift on the throttle before you upshift.
The carbon ceramic brakes work extremely well, allowing you to pull back all that power on a dime. If you're buying this car, chances are excellent that you aren't worried about the cost of replacing brake components, but it's good to know that they'll last to at least 100,000 miles, easily. Another obvious advantage of these rotors is that they won't warp, period.
As for tires, your stock choices are between Pirelli P-Zeros and P-Zero Corsas. We had the Corsas on the track, and they worked well with the V12 Vantage's suspension to keep it firmly planted on the track. The car also comes equipped with ABS, for additional security.
The ZF Servotronic power steering is set at a comfortable ratio of 15:1. I found it very reassuring in my hands as I powered through corners on the track. With a bit more practice, I have no doubt that I would have liked it even more. The other most important new feature on the V12 Vantage S is a three-mode adaptive damping system. Choose normal mode for a relatively soft ride, perfect for a quiet and understated country drive to look at autumn colo(u)r and covered bridges in Vermont. Sport mode firms up the suspension and steering just a bit, making it tighter and more precise. Finally, you can choose track mode for all your full-throttle madness handling needs.
(Family-Friendly) Fun
I thought that I had some inkling of what I was missing, having never heard the fantastic noise of a V12 under my power before. But I can honestly say now that I had no real idea until it actually happened. As I passed 150 MPH and the engine roared so loudly that no intelligible conversation was possible, all I could do was laugh maniacally. Speed = good, but that exhaust note? Naughty in the best possible way.
That Grille
Although we're pretty certain that you'd never actually mistake a Ford Fusion for an older Aston, this grille redesign leaves no room for accidental misinterpretation. It also offers optimized cooling and improved aerodynamics to an already sleek, sophisticated, and brutally fast package.
That Interior
The interior options available on a V12 Vantage S are pretty much only limited by your imagination. Continuing in the proud Aston tradition, a single seamstress stitches the entire interior of any given individual car, so that stitch depth and weight are uniformly consistent throughout. Alcantara and leather options are available as shown in the photos here, but colors, stitching styles, and a variety of paneling options (carbon fiber weaves, wood veneers, and lacquers) are completely customizable, as well. The company's Q by Aston Martin personalization arm takes your dreams a step further: When you place your order, anything not listed as an available option can have paint and leather color-matched according to your wishes.
Proper Drifting
OK, that's not something I actually did, but it's nice to know that you could, since it still has a real (and beautiful) e-brake. The e-brake is mounted on left side of the driver's seat. Electronic advances are great, don't get me wrong -- but there's nothing like a proper e-brake, and doing proper e-brake turns.
Price and Availability
The 2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S will be available in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2014. It starts at $184,995. So you can't put the key fob underneath the tree this year, but you can start saving any money gifts you get for the holidays. Fair warning.