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Aston Martin is viewing the demise of the manual supercar as a unique opportunity, adding a seven-speed DIY-shifter as a V12 Vantage S option.
Not only is the V12 Vantage S now available with a manual transmission, but also it is a dog-leg unit that places first gear to the lower left of the double H-pattern that takes care of the six higher ratios.
Aston Martin says the aim of the design “ensures the gears used most frequently are located in a double H-pattern like that of a conventional six-speed manual” and it is designed to “unashamedly champion classic tradition and total driver engagement.”
“At a time when manual transmissions have almost entirely disappeared in high performance cars, this makes the manual V12 Vantage S a very special car indeed.”
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer went a step further: “Broadening the scope of the V12 Vantage S with a manual transmission option is an indication of our desire to offer the keenest drivers a more analogue and immersive machine to enjoy.”
The rear-mid mounted manual transmission is a variation of the seven-speed Sportshift III automated manual long available in the V12 Vantage S, adding a clutch pedal in the driver footwell instead of being robotically actuated.
The manual also features a throttle-blipping rev-matching function called AMSHIFT. Both transmissions contribute to an identical 1665kg kerb weight and link with the 421kW/620Nm 5.9-litre V12 engine to achieve a claimed 3.9-second 0-100km/h.
Along with the adoption of a manual for V12 Vantage S, the entry-level V8 Vantage GT coupe and roadster have also been dropped, replaced by the V8 Vantage S in each bodystyle with either manual or automated manual.
