Random Car Wednesday: 2014 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

The current Aston Martin Vantage has been in production since 2005. Visually, there have been no major refreshes in that time period, but the engineers at Aston Martin keep finding ways to make the car better. Meet the 2014 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, the latest and greatest of the Vantage series. There are two main versions of the Vantage to choose from: the 4.7-liter V8 model, or a 5.9-liter V12 version. Both cars can be had as a coupe or convertible and utilize a conventional FR layout. In hopes of adding some spice to the V8, a sportier version was created and called the V8 Vantage S. The changes focus around squeezing more performance from the engine and radically improving the handling. Minor aerodynamic tweaks also distinguish the Vantage S from the base model. Now, Aston Martin is offering an S version of the V12 Vantage. This is a very good thing. The V12 Vantage S, using the all-new AM28 6.0-liter V12, produces 565 horsepower, 457 pound-feet of torque, and will do 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds. Those are some serious numbers, and they're topped off with one more: a top speed of 205 mph. This is 15 mph more than the standard V12, and Aston Martin claims this is their fastest production car ever. Quite a machine, then. Furthermore, it's still a wonderfully beautiful car, which is impressive when you think about how long it's been in production. This particular car really gets me. That shade of blue is out of this world, and the aggressive body modifications and black trim on the Vantage S seal the deal. It's an incredible automobile.

2014 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S