EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT: ASTON'S BRUTE IS BACK

The last ever V12 Vantage is here, sporting a small car, big engine formula that's worked miracles in the past. If it ain't broke...

- Vijay Pattni

This is the end. Aston has revealed the last Vantage that'll carry a 12-cylinder engine, bringing this unique line of over-endowed small sports cars to a close. Welcome to the last ever Aston Martin V12 Vantage.

Aston calls it the "fastest” and “fiercest”, though judging by the er, ‘bold silhouette, perhaps it's more aligned to the cinematic universe that also starts with 'fast'. Y'know, the one with the tuna crusts.

These muscular little Astons have always been engine cars. This Vantage gets the company's 5.2-litre twin turbo V12, here producing 690bhp and 555lb ft of torque; figures you'll agree are suitably voluminous. Indeed, its power to weight ratio stands at 385bhp per tonne.

The quad-cam 60° V12 is mounted up front of course, matched to a rear midmounted eight-speed auto powering the rear wheels. There's a proper mechanical LSD, and fully lit, Aston claims 0-62mph in 3.5secs and a top speed of 200mph.