Aston Martin V12 Vantage S rings up 565 hp, 205 mph top speed

This is the "something very fast" that Aston Martin teased last week. With a brief to bring "race car performance and technology to the open road," the Gaydon firm introduces the new V12 Vantage S that makes changes throughout compared to the V12 Vantage it replaces.

The heart of the matter is the new AM28 engine, a more evolved species of the 6.0-liter V12 that incorporates features like CNC-machined combustion chambers and hollow camshafts. Power output is 565 horsepower, a healthy 50-horse bump over the outgoing coupe, and 475 pound-feet of torque, a boost of 37 lb-ft. Acceleration from 0-60 miles per hour is expected to come before the four-second mark (down from 4.2 seconds) and the top speed crosses the double-ton to 205 mph, up from 190. It spits out its note through an exhaust adapted from the One-77 and it is now the fastest car Aston Martin makes. In fact, save for the aforementioned One-77, it's the fastest road car in the company's history.

Shifting all that power to the wheels is a seven-speed automated manual transmission. Further honed from its current use in the V8 Vantage S (it's also the 'box from Aston Martin's FIA GT race cars), it gains a gear over the six-speed in the V12 Vantage yet is 55 pounds lighter.

Three-stage adaptive damping confers Normal, Sport and Track modes to the suspension settings and alters the amount of power-assist for the steering. A second, independent Sport setting controls gear selection, throttle response and exhaust note.

Aesthetically, aluminum grille vanes are swapped for carbon fiber or titanium silver mesh inside a grille shell inspired by the CC100 Speedster concept, there are new ten-spoke, 19-inch alloys, the roof goes black and this is the first time customers can spec black pedals.

Pricing hasn't been divulged, but something near $200,000 should get the dealer's attention when it goes on sale. Now that your piggy bank has a reason to die.

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