2023 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster Spy Shots: Hardcore sports car is about to have its top lowered

In March, Aston Martin unveiled the new generation V12 Vantage, but unfortunately, the car was to be the last of its kind.

Aston Martin announced at the time that only 333 would be built. However, Aston Martin did not state that a convertible was also planned and that its production would likely be 333 units.

A prototype of the new generation of the stunning V12 Vantage Roadster has been spotted on the Nürburgring race track in Germany, and the lack of camouflage suggests that it could be revealed soon. We are told it may happen as soon as Aston Martin's Club 1913 exhibit scheduled for August 19-20 at the 2022 Monterey Car Week.

The V12 Vantage is designed to compete with track-focused extreme cars like the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series and Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and the convertible body style is a unique offering among them.

The V12 Vantage is powered by a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 that produces 690 hp and 555 lb-ft of torque. These are the same figures the engine delivers in the 2020 V12 Speedster, a special edition of the V12 Vantage that shares much in common with the V12 Vantage, helping the coupe accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 200 mph. Similar performance can be expected in the convertible.

Along with the powertrain enhancements, many improvements have also been made to the chassis and aerodynamics. The list includes new dampers, anti-roll bars, bushings, spring rates, body reinforcements, and wider tracks. Also not to be overlooked is the huge rear wing, but there is an option to omit this feature, at least on the coupe.

Unlike the previous V12 Vantage, which had a manual transmission, this time the only transmission available is the Vantage's eight-speed automatic. Fans will have to get used to the automatic. The Vantage is the last car for Aston Martin to have a manual option, and the manual option will be phased out with the arrival of the improved Vantage scheduled for 2023.

One might wonder why Aston Martin is also discontinuing the V12 Vantage. This electrification strategy will extend to the sports car lineup as well, as Aston Martin plans to introduce hybrid and electric vehicles in the future. In fact, Aston Martin is already developing an electric sports car for 2025.