2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage: What I drove last night - AutoWeek
Back in summer 2008, I was in Germany for the first drive of the 2009 V8 Vantage. The big news then was the new 4. 7-liter engine (up from the previous 4. 3 liters) with 420 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque. But now the V12 Vantage comes to the United States after Aston Martin originally said it was going to be a European-only model. There's roughly a $60,000 price premium between the V8 Vantage and the V12 Vantage, which gets you the upgraded V12 engine with 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, a specific front fascia, wider flared side sills and a higher integrated rear spoiler. So you're looking at an additional 90 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque and a more aggressive body appearance. To get this engine wedged into the engine bay, Aston had to develop a new oil sump and a smaller alternator, install a different oil filter and tilt the radiator forward slightly. There also are stiffer front springs to handle the extra heft of the V12 and a lowered ride height, and wider 19-inch wheels wrapped with Pirelli Corsas complete the Vantage's transformation from a fast car packing a V8 to a really fast car... It doesn't feel as nimble as say, a Porsche 911, but it still has a ton of grip, and the car can be steered using the throttle easily. Source: autoweek.com
