RE: Manual Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

RE: Manual Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

Saturday 9th April
Manual Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
The manuals rise again as Aston Martin revives stickshift option for mighty V12 Vantage S
Wait by the shores of a river for long enough and, Sun Tzu assures us, you will see the bodies of your enemies floating past.

Wait by the shores of a river for long enough and, Sun Tzu assures us, you will see the bodies of your enemies floating past. An alternative - and slightly cheerier - hypothesis is that your patience will be rewarded by an optimally specced sportscar, like we suspect the newmanual will be.When Aston launched the V12 Vantage S a its near-perfection was let down only by the non-optional presence of the Graziano single-clutch automated transmission, a gearbox that can make part-throttle upshifts feel like you've questioned the parentage of a particularly punchy nightclub doorman. Now the company has built on boss Andy Palmer's commitment to offer a manual wherever possible by announcing that the 2017-spec V12 Vantage S will be available with the option of a new seven-speed manual 'box, one complete with a dog-leg first. The Speedshift III automated transmission will continue to be offered as a no-cost option.

Coming soon after Porsche's commitment to offer future 911 GT models with a stick this comes pleasingly close to a trend back towards offering senior sportscars with clutch pedals.

The new 'box comes with what's being described as AMSHIFT, a rev-matching system that will deliver digitally simulated heel-and-toe downshifts and which also "offers the capability of full-throttle upshifts for maximum smoothness and minimal interruption in acceleration." Which sounds good to us, especially as Aston confirms that it will be possible to switch this off, if only to prove that you can't do as neat a job yourself. The engine is unchanged, the same wailing 573hp masterpiece, with Aston saying that the manually equipped Vantage S can dispatch the 0-62mph benchmark in just 3.9-seconds and reach a top speed of 205mph.

Aston is also introducing what it calls a Sport-Plus pack option which includes the contrasting colour trim accents for the front grille surround, sills, mirrors and rear diffuser blades alongside ten spoke graphite finish lightweight alloys. The basic V8 Vantage has also been dropped - the choice is now between V8 S Coupe and Roadster - with some minor visual tweaks and a spec upgrade: the premium audio system becomes standard, as do heated and power adjustable memory seats. The changes should help sharpen the Vantage's appeal as retirement approaches - we're expecting to see its replacement, complete with AMG's, next year.

A final piece of good news comes from Aston's decision to introduce what it's calling a new AMi III infotainment and navigation as standard across all its existing model lines, this replacing the desperately outdated current system. This isn't the Mercedes-derived system that the new DB11 will have, but Aston says it will include better graphics, updateable mapping, advanced traffic information and Apple CarPlay integration. All versions of the Vantage, Rapide and Vanquish are being upgraded to it.

Deliveries of the manual V12 Vantage S start in the autumn, prices to be confirmed but likely close to the current £140K.