Following the recent teaser and announcement of the new McLaren MP4-12C Spider, comes news of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster. The V12 Vantage first entered production in 2009, but it’s the V8 Roadster S that’s remained the most powerful Vantage rag-top available (read our review of the V8 Vantage Roadster S).

The V12-powered roadster has been given a number of updates over the Vantage Roadster S model, in the same way the V12 Coupe was over its smaller V8 sibling. The Roadster has been given the same front air intake and splitter as the V12 Coupe, as well as a larger spoiler integrated with the boot lid for improved high-speed aerodynamics. The V12 Roadster’s suspension has been modified to handle the extra power and resulting cornering forces, while Aston Martin have given their flagship drop-top a unique set of 19-inch alloy wheels. Other exterior highlights include carbon fibre side strakes, mirror housings and taillight inlays, while further cosmetic options include a black grille, side strake meshes and tailpipes.

The interior is comparable with the V12 Coupe, with the exception of the Aston Martin logos with black backgrounds and glass switches in place of black plastic items in the centre stack. Carbon fibre trim elements are optional, which feature on the centre stack and gearshift surround.

As the title suggests, the V12 engine is shared with the Coupe model, which produces 380 kW and 570 Nm of torque. Expect acceleration to be slightly slower than the Coupe, which will be slightly lighter too, with a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in the region of 4.5 seconds. Top speed should be fast enough, at a touch over 300 km/h.

Production of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is set to start in the final quarter of 2012, with a production run limited to 101 cars, as evident by the plaque shown in the images.

via V12VantageRoadster.com

While Aston Martin may not have a lot of cash going around for the development of new platforms or engines, the British automaker is trying to make the best of what it already has. What this means is that it is churning all sorts of models and body styles based on the same hardware (and design…) for almost a decade now…

We’re not sure how long Aston Martin can keep doing it, the limit may have been reached,  but for the time being, word on the street is that Aston Martin will introduce a V12 Vantage Roadster at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Power for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is expected to come from the same V12 in the coupe. The 6.0-litre V12 engine is good for 380 kW with a maximum torque of 570 Nm. That gives the coupe the ability to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 304 km/h. Of course, those figures are likely to change for the Roadster.

In other Aston news, CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez has apparently confirmed that the DBS replacement is in the works and could produce more than 440 kW.

Aston Martin Racing will be back on track next year with this new V12 Vantage GT3 racer. The V12 Vantage GT3 marks a new vehicle for Aston’s customer racing efforts, as the new car will replace the previous DBRS9 racer.

The V12 Vantage GT3 will use a modified version of the six-litre V12 production Aston engine for racing, combining dry-sump lubrication and a 6-speed sequential transmission to deliver around 447 kW and 700 Nm of torque. The engine has also been repositioned within the car’s chassis to improve balance and handling, while attention to new aerodynamics is also expected to bring improved results on track.

Additional features of the new V12 Vantage GT3 include, a shorter wheelbase and lower centre of gravity, with the engine having been lowered in the chassis, as well as a race-spec ABS and traction control system. The new customer racer will undergo endurance testing in October and will be ready for deliveries in 2012, with prices starting from £298 000.

If you think the V8 Vantage is too weak and the V12 Vantage is too powerful, prepare to rejoice as Aston Martin has just unveiled the V8 Vantage S. The V8 Vantage S should bridge the gap between the V8 Vantage and the more powerful V12 Vantage RS, a gap that was clearly illustrated by Top Gear USA earlier.

Described as a “driver-focused” model, the ‘S’ features a unique appearance with a carbon fiber front splitter, a larger air intake, a new rear bumper, and a carbon fibre diffuser. Other changes include modified side sills, a bigger rear spoiler and 19-inch alloy wheels with bespoke Bridgestone tyres.

Inside, the cabin is outfitted with sport seats, a sport steering wheel, Weave Alloy trim, and plenty of Vantage S badging.

While most sporting variants are nothing more than a glorified appearance package, the Vantage S has been specifically designed to handle like a proper sports car. Compared to the standard model, the S has a sportier steering ratio, larger front brake discs (which measure 380 mm and are clamped by new six-piston calipers), and new springs/dampers. Additionally, there’s a new dynamic stability control system and a revised brake module with Hydraulic Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist. To cap things off, the car has a “very distinctive and highly vocal exhaust note” thanks to a new exhaust muffler and a bypass valve.

Power comes from a 4.7-litre V8 engine with 321 kW and 490 Nm of torque – 7 kW and 20 Nm more than standard model. It is paired to a new seven-speed Sportshift II transmission which shifts 20% faster than the previous gearbox. The gearbox itself is 24 kg lighter, contributing to a weight decrease of 30 kg over the standard Vantage, at 1 600 kg. While performance specifications haven’t been announced, the car has a combined fuel consumption rating of 12.9 L/100km, CO2 emissions of 299 g/km, and a top speed of 305 km/h.

According to Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez, “The Vantage S epitomizes every attribute of the V8 Vantage and pushes the driver experience beyond what we have offered before. It combines dynamic exhilaration with all the charming finesse, beauty and practicality already associated with the Vantage range.”

The countdown has begun in preparation for the 2010 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) and Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY) awards ceremony that will be taking place on April 1 at the 2010 New York Auto Show.

A total of 31 cars made up the original list of candidates for the 2010 World Car category, while 15 cars made up the list for the 2010 Performance Car category, but now these lists have been whittled down to just ten finalists.

Now in their seventh year, the World and Performance Car of the Year awards are an independent global accreditation to name the best new car on the market, as selected by a voter group made up of established automotive journalists from around the globe.

To be eligible, a car has to be in production and sold in at least five countries and on two continents, which meant many American manufactured cars didn’t make the list. The final winners will be picked by a team of 59 judges and announced during April’s New York event, however, the list will be whittled down even further to just three finalists in both categories at next month’s 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Also running once again for this year’s event are the additional World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year awards. Last year, the Volkswagen Golf 6 drove off with the World Car title, while the mighty Nissan GT-R supercar took top honours in the Performance Car segment.

2010 World Car of the Year top ten finalists:

• Audi Q5
• BMW X1
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Kia Soul
• Mazda3
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Opel/Vauxhall Insignia / Buick Regal
• Porsche Panamera
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Polo

2010 Performance Car of the Year top ten finalists:

• Aston Martin V12 Vantage
• Audi R8 V10
• Audi TT RS Coupé / Roadster
• BMW Z4
• Ferrari California
• Jaguar XFR
• Lotus Evora
• Mercedes-Ben z E 63 AMG
• Nissan 370 Z
• Porsche 911 GT3
• Porsche Boxster / Cayman

Adapted from MotorAuthority

Few will ever contest the exclusivity of owning an Aston Martin. Any Aston Martin will do, but it doesn’t get any better than the supercars in the line-up, being the DBS and V12 Vantage.

But if you reckon there are a few too many of these models around, then I suspect you’ll be more than pleased with the Carbon Black Special Editions, which the company has just announced.

If you choose either of these models, expect bespoke Carbon Black metallic paint with a subtle metallic twist for a rich patina finish.

But this is no ordinary paint job. Each car will require an incredible 50 man-hours of hand painting with stringent quality control to ensure a perfect finish.

The traditional Aston Martin side strake is finished in proper carbon fibre, backed by black mesh along with a set of superb gloss black 10-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels.

It’s all about black inside the car too with Obsidian Black leather with contrasting sliver course stitch – hand stitched of course by craftspeople at Aston Martin headquarters in England.

Special lightweight seats made from carbon fibre and Kevlar replace the standard sports seats, saving a significant 17 kilograms per seat.

Continuing with the all-black theme, the facia, centre stack and centre console are trimmed Piano black along with anodised black tread plates and carbon sill plaques.

Audio in the V12 Vantage is a 700w premium system, which we rate as the best standard fit in car audio system we have heard in 2009, while the DBS is fitted the incomparable Bang & Olufsen Beosound DBS system as standard kit.

Order the Carbon Black Edition V12 Vantage then you will have the opportunity to experience Aston Martin’s Performance Driving Course (UK and Europe only) free of charge, which should be hugely rewarding for any owner.

Adapted from CarAdvice

The striking Veritas RS III is finally set to make its world debut, which will take place this year at an exclusive supercar show held at the Hurlingham country club in the UK. For those of you that don’t quite remember, Veritas RS III is a one-seater speedster that packs a 448kW V10 taken from an M5 and dropped into a tiny 1,070kg shell.

The car is most notable for its eschewing of any driver aids, something that we expect will see several of these kinds of stories popping up as overconfident owners forget about the lack of ABS and traction control. Additionally, Veritas will be offering a more tame version with a 358kW M3 V8 engine if you feel the V10 might be a little too much.

With the range-topping V10 in place, the car will reach 100km/h from rest in just 3.2 seconds and go on to a top speed of 345km/h – if you can find a section of road long enough. Priced at US$375,000, the car is no cheap proposition, but its performance and exclusive run of just 50 units should see enough people willing to part with their cash for the supercar.

The Veritas RS III will be appearing at the London Salon Prive in July, a rather fancy event that will also play host to a new Morgan Aero Super Sport, the ultra-rare Aston Martin One-77, as well as the V12 Vantage and DBS Volante. Also appearing will be the Maybach Zeppelin in all of its big-boned glory, and considering the exclusive cars on show it’s not surprising to hear that tickets to the event will be priced at US$190 each.

Adapted from MotorAuthority