We try out the V12 Vantage S specced with a manual gearbox -
a rarity among supercars these days
Verdict
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S has always been a special
car. The big-engine, small-body setup continues to thrill, while the addition
of a dog-leg manual adds another degree of involvement. That new gearbox offers
a level of engagement so pure that you’d be mad not to spec it – especially as
a no-cost option. The purists will be pleased.
Driving purists the world over continue to mourn the
apparent death of the manual transmission. More and more sports car
manufacturers are realising the performance and efficiency benefits of an
automatic – with many claiming far quicker shifts than could ever prove
possible on a gated gearbox.
But not Aston Martin. While the
brand has long been fitting clunky automatics to its most successful models, it
continues to satisfy enthusiasts with sweet-shifting manuals – and this V12
Vantage Sis the latest car to get that special treatment.
However, unlike any Aston Martin that’s gone before, this
Vantage S gets an all-new seven-speed manual. Aston claims to be ‘unashamedly
championing classic tradition’ with its new dog-leg gearbox – an echo to the
past that will be welcomed by driving enthusiasts the world over.
What that means is that first gear sits where you’d expect
second to be, and second in place of third. The tight ratios slot in with a
rewarding snick, and the short throw allows you to string together a series of
fast changes as the revs crescendo toward the redline.
With a soundtrack that’s simply second to none, the V12
Vantage S just begs to be revved, while holding on to the gears is even easier
given the manual box. Lift off and you’ll find the Aston has lost none of its
charm as it pops and bangs on the overrun.
Aston has also introduced something it calls AMSHIFT for the
manual gearbox. Hold the Sport button on the centre console to initialise the system
and the transmission will blip the throttle on the downshift for slicker
changes. It uses a series of sensors connected to the clutch, gear lever and
propshaft, to mimic the artful technique of heel and toe gear changes.
It allegedly facilitates full-throttle upshifts, too, but
that sequence requires plenty of practice, as your natural reaction is to lift
off the throttle as you dip the clutch. It’s plausible in theory, but a bit of
a gimmick in reality.
Performance is unchanged from the Sportshift auto V12
Vantage S, meaning the baby Aston can sprint from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds
and hit a scarcely believable 205mph flat out. Two decades ago, those numbers
challenged the supercar elite but today, when you drive the V12 Vantage S, they
actually feel rather conservative.
The steering remains perfectly weighted and progressive
through faster bends. It’s incredibly agile and until we test the new
DB11 in full later this year, it retains its crown as the finest
handling Aston Martin. The adaptive damping system works well, too, though here
in the UK you’d be hard-pushed to find a road smooth enough to warrant the
firmer Sport setting. In fact, Normal mode does a decent job of softening the
springs while also keeping things in check.
As with the automatic car, the V12 Vantage S is more than
happy to slip and slide if you turn all the safety systems off. More
experienced drivers will revel in the car’s adjustability, too – something
that’s only heightened by the increased control offered by the new
transmission.
Elsewhere, the Vantage range has been given a series of
updates for the 2017 model year. While our car featured the now dated AMi II
infotainment system, customer cars will use the new AMi III setup. This
integrates better graphics, a faster processor and advanced traffic
information, as well as Apple CarPlay for the first time.
A new Sport-Plus Pack option is also available, which adds
accent colours to the front grille, side sills, mirror caps and diffuser blades
as on our test car. It also adds contrasting stitching to the interior and the
ten-spoke graphite wheels. While it won’t be to all tastes, it adds a bit of
excitement to what is essentially an 11-year-old car.
Gimmicks and stickers aside, though, this new manual gearbox
transforms the V12 Vantage S from a great car into a truly brilliant one. Aston
boss Andy Palmer says the manual gearbox remains an “integral part” of the
company’s product plans and will do for “many years to come”. Well let us be
the first to thank you, Andy. And long may it continue.
source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/aston-martin/v12-vantage/95547/aston-martin-v12-vantage-s-review
by Richard Ingram
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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