New Aston Martin Vantage RS V12 spotted on the track?

From the initial RS concept in 2007 to the coveted V600, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage has always been adored. The V12 paired Aston's most attractive form with its finest sounding engine and installed a manual gearbox (at least initially).

Now, an Aston Martin Vantage with significant exterior changes has been seen making the rounds at the Nürburgring. It's believed this is a test mule for a future Vantage RS with a V12 engine and a performance-enhancing chassis.

This is no ordinary Aston Martin Vantage. Note the gaping front intake, V12 Speedster-like hood, DBS wheels, reworked rear end, and center-exit exhausts. Larger rear arches hide a wider track. This leads most to guess we’re dealing with a V12 and not a V8.

Power

The Mercedes-AMG twin-turbo V8 produces a maximum of 527hp in the Vantage F1 version. 

But it seems the new RS will utilise Aston's own 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 from the DB11 and DBS. The heavily redesigned bonnet with its many air vents is obviously intended to keep things cool.

This V12 can generate up to 715hp, but we’d expect the tuning here to be in the 600-700hp range. The 3.6s 0-62mph pace and 195mph maximum speed of the standard V8 Vantage will be greatly improved.

Pricing and availability

Before extras, the current Vantage line is around £123,000 for a V8. The V12 Vantage RS, like the top-spec Mercedes-AMG GT R, will demand a significant premium over other versions, with prices expected to start around £160,000.

Not much is known about this upcoming Vantage variant, but an announcement may come later this year, with manufacturing beginning in 2022. With the F1 Edition and V12 Speedster only just coming out the gate, it’ll be some time before we see this new beast in the hands of customers.