Aston Martin V12 Vantage 2022 review review Car News

The serious part is accomplished by lightweight carbon fiber and composite body panels, some major chassis strengthening measures and a fairly large suspension redesign. This Vantage has 40mm wider axle tracks than a V8; 40-50% stiffer coil spring rates, with new secondary soft springs adopted on the rear axle; re-evaluated anti-roll bar rates (stiffer than a V8 up front, but softer in the rear); all-new “Skyhook” adaptive damping material; and recalibrated power steering.

Even taking into account the carbon fiber wide-shell hood, bumper and front fenders, the car weighs 110kg more than a V8 and yet it still has 20% more power, as 690bhp.

Aston gave us an afternoon at its Stowe development circuit at Silverstone for a first look at the car, as well as some time on the local roads. On the trail, there’s a weight and precision to the steering and a startling firmness to its body control that both speak of tightly controlled extra mass. It corners even more level and immediate than a V8, with just a little less perfect balance of steady-state handling and greater high-speed stability, though there’s still some tweakability. throttle when looking for it. Overall, though, the V12 Vantage wants to be ridden properly and quickly around a circuit—not goaded or played with. It has the stopping power, body control, grip and endurance to lap really fast and steady, plus absolutely massive acceleration power – and back to that, widening lap after lap. eyes, is probably where he is at his best.

And yet, at any given moment, the car’s titanic engine is ever ready to rip its poise aura to the seams. It can pour on torque that the transmission and chassis just seem to throw their hands up in the air. Slippery mechanical differential or not, you’re in constant danger of burning your inside rear tire if you exit tighter corners too quickly when the electronic traction control is off. On the road, while the car’s vertical body control is surprisingly supple at everyday speeds, surprisingly throaty acceleration and short, snappy, uncompromising damping are just a toe dip away. .

The V12 Vantage looks a bit like a brute wherever it’s dropped, to be honest, and it should. But the mournful whine of the old GT12’s atmo V12 engine isn’t matched by Aston’s modern turbocharged block, and so the ferocity of the car’s performance lacks dimension in dramatic expression.