Nothing lasts forever, not even in the motoring world. So it's with a heavy heart and a shedded tear that Aston Martin have introduced the last in their long line of twelve-cylinder engined supercars this month, with the release of the final V12 Vantage model.
Since the original concept car for the Vantage was first unveiled to the world back in 2007, the small but turbocharged range from the most timeless of British marques has gained fans all over the world.
Jeremy Clarkson had just three words - well, one repeated three times in succession if we're being semantic - when he reviewed the car on the thirteenth series of the BBC motoring show Top Gear in 2009: "wonderful, wonderful, wonderful".
The last Aston Martin to be powered on a V12 engine is, however, going out in style; it makes some improved modifications on the dual clutch ZF gearbox that was also used in the V12 Speedster and Vantage F1 model variants.
And there's more; the chassis has been tweaked as well to better accommodate the most heavyweight of engines, with all-new spring/damper assemblies, bushes, anti-roll bars, and a more robust body. The brakes are carbon ceramic as standard, which means more of a sharper drive as they reduce the weight by around 23kg.
However, don't get too excited just yet, because as befitting the final model in a long line, only a limited number have been produced - 333 to be exact - and all have now sold out in record time. But if that's not a fine send off for one of the most dynamically powered supercars of the 21st century, we don't know what is. So long, V12 Vantage, we were blessed to know ye.
Visit our Aston Martin Driving Experiences page on the Driving Experience website today to book from available dates in Aston Martin's greatest models - including the DB9, DB11, V8 Vantage - on our Events Calendar or through purchase of our Gift Vouchers.
