As is often the case with new car releases, Aston Martin found it difficult to wait until the official unveiling of its Aston Martin V12 Vantage. The V12 Vantage will be unveiled in ‘the flesh’ at the Geneva Motor Show in about a month’s time but the official details and images are now ours to share.

Packing a 6.0-litre V12 engine, the newest Vantage is good for 380kWs and 570Nms. The V12 Vantage is expected to dispatch the 0-100km/h dash in around 4.2-seconds, while a top speed of over 300km/h is on the cards.

The eagle-eyed among you will note the handful of subtle differences that differentiate the V12 Vantage from its V8 powered brother.

A new vented bonnet and front bumper with larger intakes are the most notable changes up front, while new sill panels and wheels give the Vantage a more aggressive side profile.

Out back Aston has fitted a larger rear spoiler, a functional rear diffuser, clear taillights and a new dual exhaust system with larger tips.

Not much has been done to the interior of the V12 Vantage, which was already well appointed, but a piano gloss black trim centre and Alacantra wrapped steering wheel can be seen in the provided images.

Aston Martin is looking to begin customer deliveries in the third quarter of this year but has announced that only 1000 examples will be produced. The one piece of news that has not been revealed, the price, will be confirmed at the Geneva show. In the meantime, you can feast on the video, images, and press release below.

GALLERY » aston-v12-vantage

Fastest and most agile Vantage ever; ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range

• Purposeful, striking and functional styling signalling performance capabilities
• Everyday usability associated with a modern Aston Martin
• Race-derived technology used throughout

Gaydon, Warwickshire, Wednesday 4 February 2009. Aston Martin will present the most potent production sports car in the marque’s 95-year history at the Geneva motor show on 3 March. Based on the hugely successful V8 Vantage, the V12 Vantage will feature a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and 0-62 mph (0-100 kp/h) time of 4.2 seconds.

The latest incarnation of the Vantage family has been designed to provide a unique character, appealing to different driver tastes and complementing the other models in the current Aston Martin line-up.

The original V12 Vantage concept was unveiled to guests at the opening of the Aston Martin Design Studio in December 2007. Continuing the marque’s impressive record of bringing concepts through to production, Aston Martin engineers have brought the V12 Vantage to market in an incredible 12 months.

Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “This is the ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range, combining our most agile model with our most powerful engine. It represents the definitive driving package; providing spectacular performance to ensure a dynamically thrilling and everyday useable driving experience.

“The V12 Vantage has a unique character, one unlike our other cars. This will appeal to different people with different tastes, allowing more people to enjoy the Aston Martin experience.

“This also illustrates one of Aston Martin’s key strengths – the ability to act quickly and turn concepts and ideas into reality.”
Designed for the focused driver, every component of the V12 Vantage has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. Benefitting from race-developed materials and components, and featuring lightweight carbon fibre; performance and agility have been tuned to perfection.

Visually enticing, the V12 Vantage expresses its performance potential through its purposeful stance created by enhanced aerodynamic and cooling aids optically widening the car, while retaining traditional understated Aston Martin design. Equally inviting, the cosseting interior permits the driver to extract maximum performance ability from the car while also enjoying customary levels of Aston Martin comfort on longer journeys. High levels of power and torque are available at all engine speeds making the V12 Vantage responsive and tractable in any driving situation.

The V12 Vantage will be built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire joining the DBS, DB9 and V8 Vantage model lines which are built in the state-of-the-art production facility combining hi-tech manufacturing processes with traditional hand-craftsmanship. Production will be limited up to 1,000 examples over the life span of the car, making the V12 Vantage a truly exclusive driver’s car.

Deliveries of the V12 Vantage are expected to commence during quarter three 2009 with prices to be confirmed at the Geneva motor show.