Aston Martin V12 Speedster, a gem limited to 88 drivers

The Aston Martin V12 Speedster has made its debut and only 88 lucky people will be able to get behind the wheel. It has been created by the personalisation division Q by Aston Martin and, according to the manufacturer itself, the new model is “a truly visceral driving car that draws as much on the brand’s rich racing history as on aeronautical design. The example on display is a conceptual inspiration from the F/A-18, also created by the same craftsmen”.

Andy Palmer, chairman and chief executive of the Aston Martin Lagonda group, has noted that “I am tremendously proud to reveal the latest and most fascinating special model from Aston Martin. The Aston Martin V12 Speedster is an incredible demonstration of the immense capability and determination of the “Q by Aston Martin” team, who have worked tirelessly to create this impressive two-seater sports car aimed at our most demanding and enthusiastic customers.”

The Aston Martin V12 Speedster was developed in just twelve months and, as the personalisation division itself states, this model is a living showcase car that “underlines the company’s commitment to delivering customers an impressive vehicle, using both the ingenuity of engineering and the most advanced materials found across the entire Aston Martin range.”

It is important to highlight that the new Aston Martin V12 Speedster incorporates elements of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera and the Aston Martin Vantage, forming its own platform. This features independent double wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and adaptive damping offering three modes: Sport, Sport+ and Track.

Aston Martin V12 Speedster, everything you need to know

The new supercar is fitted with 21-inch forged alloy wheels with central locking. It also has 410 mm carbon ceramic brakes on the front axle and 360 mm on the rear, not to mention its carbon fibre bodywork.

Miles Nurnberger, Design Director of Aston Martin Lagonda, has stated that “with the V12 Speedster we step back and seek inspiration from our past. Since the launch of the DB11, everything has been focused and very future-oriented. Here, however, we find a different rhythm. There is a clear lineage from the DBR1, winner of Le Mans in 1959, to our centenary CC100 Speedster Concept of 2013. There is also a touch of the 1953 DB3S in the midsection, so it really is our latest incarnation of the Speedster concept. It is inspired by combat aircraft as much as by our own history, and it has been created to deliver an incredibly visceral experience, which is why it is a V12 rather than a V8. With the V12 Speedster we are amplifying every emotional attribute we can to the absolute maximum.”

The Aston Martin sports car is powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine capable of delivering a maximum output of 700 CV and 753 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mounted at the centre front and is coupled to an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox with a limited-slip differential driving the rear wheels. The V12 Speedster can accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 300 km/h.3

Matt Becker, chief engineer at Aston Martin, concluded that “for raw driving emotion, the V12 Speedster has no equal; the car’s fully open element adds a new dimension to the experience. It commits at every level, offering a meticulous and enveloping driving experience, with agility and poise backed by the rich power of Aston Martin’s 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12. A purer driving experience than this is impossible to achieve.”

Orders are already being taken for the V12 Speedster, priced from €800,000 including VAT, and deliveries are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021.