(gentle music)
- [Narrator] We still applaud the fact
that Aston Martin decided to shoe horn
its largest engine into its smallest car.
Initially launched with a V8,
Aston decided a grunty V12 made the most sense
for the little Vantage.
Soon, a more potent S was launched,
though gone was perhaps the best part,
the six speed manual transmission.
In its place was a clumsy, seven speed,
single clutch automated manual
that was universally described as the worst part
of the V12 Vantage S.
As a swan song for the Vantage,
which is slated to be replaced shortly,
Aston is doing a limited 100 unit run
of the V12 Vantage S for the US,
complete with an old school, Dogleg seven speed manual.
Essentially, Aston took the automated part
out of the automated manual,
and gave it a proper shifter.
The result is a sports car
overflowing with charm and personality,
not that it was lacking much before.
Of course, the Vantage, which debuted in 2005,
is the oldest car in this year's competition.
Once the new DB 11 is fully out of the gate,
Aston's next project will be a Vantage replacement.
Still, the world's last V12 car
with a manual transmission is a very special car.
Let's see how it does on track.
(gentle music)
(car engine running)
- It's a little stronger lockout
on the five, six gate.
(car engine running)
(laughing)
I keep getting the wrong gear.
I need a little bit better lockout,
at four, five now.
The ABS slides a lot,
making you think that the ABS is not working,
but it's just the slide.
It has a very classic feel.
The front engine, rear drive,
classic traditional feel.
I love the close ratio gears
when I'm hitting lane one.
Hear that, how it's right in the power bend?
And it pulls the revs right up.
(car engine running)
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
is old school good.
It has a big V12 up front with a fat torquer
that makes glorious muted noises.
It's got a close ratio seven speed,
and on the shift,
the car's pulling strongly in the next gear.
It's really satisfying,
and it feels racy.
I'm looking for that perfect drift
coming out of the corner.
The brakes were impressive
in that they stayed with me,
just on and on and on.
The enjoyment from the Aston comes
from a more traditional, powerful front engine,
rear drive feel of a classic British Roadster,
and high quality.
(car engine running)