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Another shout-y Brit: 205mph Aston Martin V12 Vantage S packs more power, less weight

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 Just yesterday we brought you a new teaser video from Aston Martin, which we assumed was leading the way for a new V12 Vantage variant. We promised new information to shortly follow, not knowing exactly how long we’d have to wait. Delightfully, the high-end British automaker hasn’t made us wait long, as just a few hours after the tease dropped, so, too, did the new car: the 2014 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S.

Under the hood, the V12 Vantage S has a new 6.0-liter V12 codenamed AM28. This new, lightweight V12 features a new Bosch engine management system, CNC machined combustion chambers, and hollow camshafts. Altogether, these improvements make for 565 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque.

Mated to the AM28 V12 is an all-new transaxle called the Sportshift III AMT (automated manual transmission). Replacing the outgoing six-speed manual in the V12 Vantage, the Sportshift III AMT is a “hydraulically actuated automated manual transmission provides motorsport-style paddle shift changes for optimum performance delivery and efficiency.”

While Aston hasn’t told us a 0-60 time yet, it has said the V12 Vantage S will hit a top speed of 205mph. This makes the V12 Vantage S the fastest road-going Aston in the world, aside from the One-77 supercar.

As you can hear in the embedded video, the new Vantage has a new exhaust system. Based upon the exhaust from the One-77, the new system is lighter, smaller, and Aston says more “sonorous.”

We’re not so sure how deep and full of “sonorous” song it is. To us, it sounds quite the opposite. Take a look and listen:

The 2014 V12 Vantage S also features new electronic power steering with a 15:1 ratio and a three-stage adaptive damping suspension with three modes: Normal, Sport, and Track. Excitingly, when Sport is engaged, the vehicle also ratchets up throttle response, gear shifting speeds, and stiffens the steering.

Aston Martin has not yet made pricing available but we presume it’ll be a tick or three higher than the $180,000 V12 Vantage it replaces.

Should we know more, we’ll be sure to bring it to you. Heck, given Aston’s history, it could be in a few hours so be sure to check back.

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Nick Jaynes
Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
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