Aston Martin is updating its V12 Vantage S sports car by making a manual gearbox available for it for the first time.
For its 2017 model year V12 Vantage S, Aston Martin has added a seven-speed manual gearbox as an option alongside the standard seven-speed automatic ‘box. The new transmission is available for both coupe and roadster versions of the sports car.
New gearbox performance
The V12 Vantage S with its new gearbox has been dubbed ‘the ultimate analogue Aston Martin’ by its makers, who hope to entice more driving purists to the range.
With the new manual gearbox, the V12 Vantage S is 4kg lighter than the original automatic version and can cover the zero to 62mph sprint in just 3.9 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 205mph.
There are a couple of major features of the new manual gearbox worth noting. One is called a ‘dog-leg’ first gear, which means that the first gear is down and left to the other speeds. Second to seventh gears are arranged in the familiar H pattern that allows for swift and smooth gearshifts on the move.
The new manual ‘box also features AMSHIFT which essentially mimics the ‘heel-and-toe’ braking technique used by race and track drivers in order to blip the throttle, achieving smoother downshifts.
Other options and pricing
Aston Martin has also added a new Sport-Plus Pack option for its V12 Vantage S, which brings a raft of exterior and interior changes. Highlights include ten-spoke graphite finish lightweight alloy wheels and a choice of black or grey upholstery with stripes and contrast stitching.
The updated Aston Martin V12 Vantage S with the manual gearbox costs £138,000, which is the same price as the automatic version.
