V12 GT3 update
Discussion
ds2000 said:
carbonfib3r said:
the GT3 comes with new Vanquish centre console.
Sweet; I was sat in a new Vanquish at works and really really like that console. Congrats on the purchase / build. Looking forward to seeing it progress!much better detail pics here
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-gene...
actually 600ps, not 600bhp
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-gene...
actually 600ps, not 600bhp
http://youtu.be/QduKOkQNylY
Autocar interview sitting in one (probably the same one linked to in the article)
Autocar interview sitting in one (probably the same one linked to in the article)
I think the car looks stunning and I love the attention to detail in so many areas. If I had oodles of money & 5/6+ cars, I'd have one on looks & sound alone. But there are a couple of areas that concern me and make me wonder how much of this is just a design/marketing exercise rather than serious attempts to make a GT3 rival to the other marques
In typical Aston/Marek style, Marek says in the video 600 hp & 150kg weight saving, but the official stuff shows 100kg weight saving and 600ps. There is also some confusion over whether the 100kg weight saving is with all the weight saving options or without (dif websites say dif things) - knowing Aston as many others on here do, I am sure the 100kg weight saving is with all the options to save further weight
That's really disappointing as carbon roof (option), polycarb rear & 3/4 windows (option), magnesium centre lock (option), all CF body (stated to save 20kg), alcantara inner, CF door cards, new CF centre console, titanium & other exotic metals in manifold/exhaust,etc, lightweight battery, no electric motors in the seats, etc - how have they done all that and only saved 100kg ?!?
On power, 600ps over 573 ps in V12S means a 27ps increase, c. 25bhp. That's not exactly a lot and means in reality, the extra performance will primarily be aero led rather than power or weight related, especially for those customers that don't go for CF roof, centre locks & polycarb window options
It is worth pointing out these stats are all based on the info on the AM website, which points out power & weight figures are estimates, so still tbc
My other concern is that they say it's lower (did I hear 30mm ?) and that front splitter extends much much more than a standard V12V. But I've seen no mention of a front lift. For those who like me put plenty of miles on a V12V, I don't see how that combination can work - I just about manage with my front splitter but I wouldn't go for a run round Evo triangle say, with a lower car & an extended splitter - it will be such a shame if this car is almost unusable away from the track
I desperately would love to see this tracked regularly by owners but these factors combined with price mean alas, I suspect that whilst it will sell well and I know one or two on here intend buying & driving the car, by & large i think this will just be another collectors car - great for factory image, great for factory coffers, of great pleasure to the owners, but not very relevant to the range
In typical Aston/Marek style, Marek says in the video 600 hp & 150kg weight saving, but the official stuff shows 100kg weight saving and 600ps. There is also some confusion over whether the 100kg weight saving is with all the weight saving options or without (dif websites say dif things) - knowing Aston as many others on here do, I am sure the 100kg weight saving is with all the options to save further weight
That's really disappointing as carbon roof (option), polycarb rear & 3/4 windows (option), magnesium centre lock (option), all CF body (stated to save 20kg), alcantara inner, CF door cards, new CF centre console, titanium & other exotic metals in manifold/exhaust,etc, lightweight battery, no electric motors in the seats, etc - how have they done all that and only saved 100kg ?!?
On power, 600ps over 573 ps in V12S means a 27ps increase, c. 25bhp. That's not exactly a lot and means in reality, the extra performance will primarily be aero led rather than power or weight related, especially for those customers that don't go for CF roof, centre locks & polycarb window options
It is worth pointing out these stats are all based on the info on the AM website, which points out power & weight figures are estimates, so still tbc
My other concern is that they say it's lower (did I hear 30mm ?) and that front splitter extends much much more than a standard V12V. But I've seen no mention of a front lift. For those who like me put plenty of miles on a V12V, I don't see how that combination can work - I just about manage with my front splitter but I wouldn't go for a run round Evo triangle say, with a lower car & an extended splitter - it will be such a shame if this car is almost unusable away from the track
I desperately would love to see this tracked regularly by owners but these factors combined with price mean alas, I suspect that whilst it will sell well and I know one or two on here intend buying & driving the car, by & large i think this will just be another collectors car - great for factory image, great for factory coffers, of great pleasure to the owners, but not very relevant to the range
I think it looks fabulous and would love to have had one but my lottery numbers didn't come up last night - probably because I forgot to do them 
I know of two people that have ordered one of these and my understanding was, until now, that the engine power output had not been finalised and they were still trying for 600bhp. I also understood that the factory had been pretty pragmatic in that these weight saving options were standard and you opted out from them if you wanted the car to have a little more "luxury". I guess that allows for owners who are going to either add to their collections or those who will use purely as a track car against those who want to have as road cars with occasional track use.
I posted sometime ago that I thought the UK allocation had been sold out and still believe that to be the case. It is still my understanding that this is still the case and any more allocation for right hand drive cars will have to come from the left hand drive allocation if there are any available.
I think it right to launch it now which leaves Geneva free for the Vulcan to be the star of the show.
Beautiful car and it will be interesting to see what the motoring press make of it when they get their hands on it. I hope it is as good as I want it to be
I know of two people that have ordered one of these and my understanding was, until now, that the engine power output had not been finalised and they were still trying for 600bhp. I also understood that the factory had been pretty pragmatic in that these weight saving options were standard and you opted out from them if you wanted the car to have a little more "luxury". I guess that allows for owners who are going to either add to their collections or those who will use purely as a track car against those who want to have as road cars with occasional track use.
I posted sometime ago that I thought the UK allocation had been sold out and still believe that to be the case. It is still my understanding that this is still the case and any more allocation for right hand drive cars will have to come from the left hand drive allocation if there are any available.
I think it right to launch it now which leaves Geneva free for the Vulcan to be the star of the show.
Beautiful car and it will be interesting to see what the motoring press make of it when they get their hands on it. I hope it is as good as I want it to be
Edited by IanV12VR on Wednesday 18th February 08:37
IanV12VR said:
I think it looks fabulous and would love to have had one but my lottery numbers didn't come up last night - probably because I forgot to do them
I know of two people that have ordered one of these and my understanding was, until now, that the engine power output had not been finalised and they were still trying for 600bhp. I also understood that the factory had been pretty pragmatic in that these weight saving options were standard and you opted out from them if you wanted the car to have a little more "luxury". I guess that allows for owners who are going to either add to their collections or those who will use purely as a track car against those who want to have as road cars with occasional track use.
I posted sometime ago that I thought the UK allocation had been sold out and still believe that to be the case. It is still my understanding that this is still the case and any more allocation for right hand drive cars will have to come from the left hand drive allocation if there are any available.
I think it right to launch it now which leaves Geneva free for the Vulcan to be the star of the show.
Beautiful car and it will be interesting to see what the motoring press make of it when they get their hands on it. I hope it is as good as I want it to be
You are right in that specs haven't been finalised. I am not taking everything as gospel yet. But both the official website & the 'proper' auto journos suggest that CF roof, magnesium centrelocks & polycarb windows are an optional extra. That fits in with what I was told when I was (briefly) looking at the car. As you say, there is the option to add some luxuries back in like electric motors on the seatsI know of two people that have ordered one of these and my understanding was, until now, that the engine power output had not been finalised and they were still trying for 600bhp. I also understood that the factory had been pretty pragmatic in that these weight saving options were standard and you opted out from them if you wanted the car to have a little more "luxury". I guess that allows for owners who are going to either add to their collections or those who will use purely as a track car against those who want to have as road cars with occasional track use.
I posted sometime ago that I thought the UK allocation had been sold out and still believe that to be the case. It is still my understanding that this is still the case and any more allocation for right hand drive cars will have to come from the left hand drive allocation if there are any available.
I think it right to launch it now which leaves Geneva free for the Vulcan to be the star of the show.
Beautiful car and it will be interesting to see what the motoring press make of it when they get their hands on it. I hope it is as good as I want it to be
Edited by IanV12VR on Wednesday 18th February 08:37
But what I don't get is that you could take a standard V12V and if you put on the roof/window/centrelock options mentioned above, that would save surely 40kg+ (windows being the biggy). Rip out the seat motors & replace the battery (both standard features of this GT3), which you could do to any V12V and that takes out perhaps 15-20kg ? They have already said that the CF body saves 20kg. The new exhaust & related bits must save 15-20kg. THat totals 90-100kg
So all the stuff they have done with the interior saves almost nothing and the target weight of 1500kg appears to have been missed
UNLESS they are being conservative in their now published official estimate
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