Aston Martin confirms new V12 Speedster production

ASTON Martin has confirmed the production of an all-new open-top speed machine, and while the British marque has confirmed the strictly limited V12 Speedster will be homologated for New Zealand, there are no plans at this stage to offer it in Australia.

Destined to go toe-to-toe with the McLaren Elva and Ferrari Monza, Aston Martin will produce just 88 V12 Speedsters in a homage to the 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1 and CC100 Speedster centenary concept car.

Aston Martin Lagonda president and group chief executive Andy Palmer made the announcement this week and said buyers would be “securing an iconic new piece of Aston Martin history”.

“The V12 Speedster we’re proud to confirm today once again showcases not only this great British brand’s ambition and ingenuity, but also celebrates our rich and unrivalled heritage,” he said.

Set to make its global debut later this year, the roofless, windscreen-less V12 Speedster will be powered by – as the name suggests – a high-performance version of Aston’s familiar twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 engine good for more than 520kW of power and about 700Nm of torque.

While performance figures are yet to be released, the big V12 will be mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission which will be mounted towards the back of the car for better weight distribution.

On the design front, Aston Martin is yet to release any official images of the V12 Speedster though it has revealed the rough silhouette in a sketch accompanying the production announcement.

The resemblance to the classic DBR1 and futuristic CC100 Speedster is undeniable, combining high wheel arch and bonnet lines of the racer with the super-low seating position of the concept car with a few added touches from recent models.

The pointed nose looks to have been pinched from or at least very similar to the current V8 Vantage while the enlarged ducktail spoiler could have come from the last generation V12 Vantage – albeit a fair bit bigger.

While it is safe to expect largely classic styling, Aston Martin says there will be nothing classic about the materials used in its construction which will be “the same advanced materials and expert engineering used throughout Aston Martin’s contemporary sports car range”.

The V12 Speedster will make its global debut later this year with orders now being taken ahead of the expected first quarter 2021 deliveries.