Tuesday 22nd October 2013

V12 Vantage S: Time For Tea?

Silverstone shakedown reveals full brutality of Aston's V12 Vantage S bruiser

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The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S we drove just last week is the most potent car in the range but, even so, probably a bit chunky to use as a regular track car.

This little vid, shot on Silverstone's National circuit with some informed commentary by the unnamed Aston man, does however prove that the V12 Vantage S can still hustle around a tight little circuit at a reasonable lick. And also underlines quite how brutal the acceleration and noise are when let off the leash. It also demonstrates the Aston's old-school dynamics and the oversteer friendly combination of a socking great V12, short wheelbase and rear-wheel drive.

Where a 911 Turbo would probably whoosh off into the distance, clinically dissecting the track corner by corner with its torque vectoring this and four-wheel steer that we can't help but think you'd be having a hell of a lot more fun in the elegantly uncouth Aston. Which, unless you're actually racing, is what a hoon around on a track should be about. Right?

Oh, and you'll be pleased to hear the only music on this one is that provided by the 6.0-litre V12.

See here!

 

[PascalBuyens]

Looks like a bit of fun indeed...

[whoami]

Yeah, but they all look the same...

[yeti]

whoami said:

Yeah, but they all look the same...

Boring to drive I heard

[whoami]

yeti said:

whoami said:

Yeah, but they all look the same...

Boring to drive I heard

Positively narcoleptic.

[Omaruk]

The V8 sounds better

[Omaruk]

The V8 sounds better

[McSam]

Thankfully, they sound a damn sight better than that - after the bit of info before the video, I was underwhelmed by the video soundtrack! There it sounds considerably less exciting than a standard V12 Vantage, so I look forward to a better quality vid.

It does look entertaining, though!

[Lordbenny]

Whats the point in flappy paddles in a car like that, might aswell just let it change gear for you...and, what's more...who's gonna take a V12 Vantage S on a track day anyway?....A very small percentage of owners I'd suspect.

[giblet]

1/10 - the video is missing a keen harpist

[KTF]

giblet said:

1/10 - the video is missing a keen harpist

Playing the funeral march in the background I imagine...

[fatboy b]

Oooh. A new Aston Martin. Oh wait

There's a reason they're losing money me thinks.

[wheelsmith]

Sounds good to me

Love one

[f328nvl]

whoami said:

Yeah, but they all look the same...

Exactly, they're hideous and nobody with eyes could think otherwise unless they were utterly stupid, and had a really smelly guide dog or broken contact lenses or something bad like that. Nothing says the future like a Porsche 911, pushing back the boundaries of contemporary design like Picasso on Crystal Meth. (although I have driven a 911 round Silverstone, and it was a lot slower than an Audi R8, which is also ugly and fat and German, so I don't like it)

Any adults want to join in?

[cheddar]

I thought that was brilliant.

It looked lithe, agile and very very quick - 133mph down the short straight.

Love it that it's so low geared too, only 85mph in 3rd and 105mph in 4th - perfect and brilliant value.

[StarmistBlue400]

My lotto car.

Stunning to look at, fast, sound amazing and he looked like he was having fun which for me is what it's all about.

I'm sure if he had the window open a tad the sound would have been much better. But the result would have been a st vid.

[Geoff Ashcroft]

Looks great, sounds great, but the gear shifts seem slow - is it a lazy box or is it just the vid?

[Schermerhorn]

Fantastic car but its long in the tooth now unfortunately technology wise. It's much like the Gallardo. When that was launched it the 360 Mondena was still in production. Then the F430 came along. And then came along the 458 Italia an and the old girl was still hanging in there.

I wish Aston had the mega bucks to develop new cars as fast as their competition do. It's such a crying shame because their cars are really p*ssy magnets and uber cool.

[DonkeyApple]

yeti said:

whoami said:

Yeah, but they all look the same...

Boring to drive I heard

I don't like the wheels.

[GRBF430F1]

Schermerhorn said:

Fantastic car but its long in the tooth now unfortunately technology wise. It's much like the Gallardo. When that was launched it the 360 Mondena was still in production. Then the F430 came along. And then came along the 458 Italia an and the old girl was still hanging in there.

I wish Aston had the mega bucks to develop new cars as fast as their competition do. It's such a crying shame because their cars are really p*ssy magnets and uber cool.

Its not just about speed and the latest DSG box's. Its about FUN something that the latest breed of supercars seriously lack because they are just to fast and capable for the public roads

I think Aston are going down the right track with this, updating it but keeping it FUN

Drive a McLaren and you can't fold it as an exquisite piece of engineering but its not what I call fun.

I drove a Mac, 458 and Gallardo back to back and to my amazement I bought the Gallardo and for more money because it was outrageous FUN

[whoami]

DonkeyApple said:

yeti said:

whoami said:

Yeah, but they all look the same...

Boring to drive I heard

I don't like the wheels.

The boot carpeting is also a little disappointing.