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John Mahoney25 Mar 2015
NEWS

Aston Martin forced to rename Vantage GT3

New Vantage GT12 gains new name, more power, sheds weight, costs more. Just 100 will be made

Aston Martin has released power, prices and full specification for its renamed GT12.

Recently revealed at the Geneva motor show, Aston Martin has announced it will make just 100 of its new GT12 and price it at £250,000 ($A440,000.)

The reason for the rebranding of the most hardcore Aston Martin road car ever made? Rumour is Porsche objected to using ‘its’ ‘GT3’ road car name.

Based on the current V12 Vantage S road car, the new GT12 shares the same V12 but gets more power. The GT12’s revised 6.0-litre now produces 441kW (+20kW) and fractionally more torque 625Nm (+6Nm)

Against the clock, the most extreme road legal Vantage is 0.2s faster to the 100km/h benchmark, taking just 3.5 seconds but, because of a complete new aero package that maximises downforce, the GT12 has a significantly slower top speed versus the standard road car (298km/h v 330km/h).

Weighing in at 1565kg, the new GT12 has a wider (+50mm) carbonfibre body that saves 20kg and helps the Aston weigh in 150kg lighter than the standard Vantage S. Aston is also proud of its all-new all-titanium exhaust system that saves 19kg.

Behind new 19-inch alloys there’s large Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and a track widened by 15mm at the front and 33mm at the rear. There’s also new springs and adaptive Bilstein dampers.

The standard car’s seven-speed automated manual carries over but is said to have faster changes in manual mode.

The GT12 driver will have the choice of Normal, Sport and Track driving modes that, like in the standard car, alter dampers, throttle, gearshift speed and exhaust note.

Inside, there’s yet more evidence of weight-saving. Both seats and centre console are made out of carbonfibre. The infotainment system carries over, but is now fixed in position rather than rising up gracefully.

It’s not known how many new GT12s will make it here to Australia. Sources at Aston Martin say that most of the 100 limited run cars have already been sold to its VIP customers.

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