2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Trims and Specs

Too upscale to be called merely a "base” trim, the 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe is better served as the “entry-level” trim. All of which is not to say that owners are getting a stripped sports coupe; on the contrary, this snazzy 2-seater sports a V8 powerplant and sport-tuned suspension that provide better-than-acceptable power and superb handling characteristics. The handsome exterior is enhanced by 19-inch painted alloy wheels with performance tires, body-color heated power-adjustable mirrors and powerful brakes that can be spiffed up with calipers available in a number of eye-catching colors. Inside, look for premium leather, power-adjustable sport bucket seats and automatic climate control, as well as leather and genuine alloy trim on the doors, dash and center console. Complementing all of the above are power windows, remote power door locks, rear parking sensors and telescoping tilt-wheel steering, with a 160-watt stereo system bolstering a 6-CD changer and a USB connection. Oh, and this classy hatchback coupe also boasts 10 cubic feet of trunk space.

Options, meantime, include cruise control, Bluetooth hands-free communications, heated seats, upgraded 19-inch wheels, a variety of upholstery and chrome appearance upgrades, satellite radio and a universal remote garage door opener. Packages include either the Aston Martin 700-watt premium audio system or the concert-worthy Bang & Olufsen 1,000-watt system with 5 tweeters and 5 woofers. Finally, this particular coupe is eligible for the heady Sports Pack, which features diamond-turned 19-inch forged alloy wheels, upgraded suspension components and a tweaked rear anti-roll bar.

No matter the suspension choice, the rear-wheel-drive-only (RWD) 2012 V8 Vantage Coupe is powered by a variable-valve-timed (VVT) 420-hp 4.7-liter V8 engine and comes with a 6-speed manual transmission able to throw down 346 lb-ft of torque to the tune of 14 mpg city/21 highway of required premium unleaded. A 6-speed auto-manual transmission is also available in this classy Coupe with performance numbers running the same as the stick shift, though mileage drops a smidgeon to 14/20.

Standard safety equipment aboard the 2012 V8 Vantage Coupe includes 4-wheel antilock braking, as well as traction and stability control. Front side-mounted airbags are also standard in this snazzy 2-seater, not to mention self-leveling xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights, rear parking sensors and a remote antitheft alarm. Optional safety equipment, meantime, includes front parking sensors and an enhanced remote security alarm system.

Need a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) screamer with sure feet and a sultry visage? Check out the 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Coupe. A beefed-up suspension in this snazzy 2-seater totes a tweaked 430-hp 4.7-liter V8 that combines with the standard 7-speed auto-manual transmission for 361 lb-ft of torque. Beware that all of this comes at a tepid 14 mpg city/21 highway and the V8 burns only premium unleaded gasoline.

Standard appearance features include 19-inch painted alloy wheels mounting performance tires and oversize brakes with calipers available in a variety of colors. Inside, plush leather upholstery endows power-adjustable seats, not to mention the sport steering wheel, with leather and genuine alloy trim adorning the dash, doors and center console. Remote power door locks complement heated power mirrors and power windows, with cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, driver and passenger memory settings and automatic climate control also delivered standard. Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, cruise buttons and audio controls are standard, as well. Entertainment comes via a standard 160-watt system with 6-CD changer, auxiliary audio input and a USB connection, with Bluetooth hands-free technology also standard. Finally, 10 cubic feet of trunk space give this nimble 2-seater a bit of unexpected practicality.

Options for this nimble 2-passenger coupe include satellite navigation, heated seats, upgraded interior trim and upholstery, a universal remote garage door opener, upgraded 20-spoke wheels and satellite radio. Available packages include an Aston Martin 700-watt premium audio system or a 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen system with 5 tweeters and 5 woofers.

Standard safety features aboard the 2012 V8 Vantage S Coupe include 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control and front side-mounted airbags. Then there are lesser things like standard self-leveling high-intensity-discharge headlights and front and rear parking sensors, as well as a remote antitheft alarm. An upgraded security system, meantime, is optional.

A bit of tweaking allows the 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Roadster to put out 10 extra horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque over its lesser siblings. Add to that this 2-seat drop-top’s bulked-up springs, dampers and bushings for a screamer with the moves of a cheetah chasing down dinner. Meantime, all this comes in a head-turning profile that sports standard 19-inch painted alloy wheels mounting performance tires, oversized brake calipers that are available in several eye-catching colors, heated power-adjustable body-color mirrors and a soft power-opening convertible top that folds neatly into the trunk on sunny days but, alas, leaves only 5 cubic feet of cargo space. No matter—this handsome Roadster will have you planning a long trip for a short stay. Inside, the S Roadster offers standard hand-stitched leather upholstery, power-adjustable sport bucket seats and a leather steering wheel and leather-trimmed shift knob, as well as leather and genuine alloy dash, door and console trim. Additionally, cruise control, automatic climate control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering complements remote power door locks and power windows, not to mention memory for driver's seat and mirror settings and passenger seat settings. A standard 160-watt audio system encompasses a 6-CD changer, auxiliary iPod integration and a USB connection, while communications are enhanced by standard Bluetooth hands-free technology.

Options in this classy convertible include satellite navigation, heated front seats, a universal remote garage door opener, upgraded cabin trim and upgraded 19-inch forged alloy wheels. Further options include an Aston Martin 700-watt premium audio system or a 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen system with 5 tweeters and 5 woofers, and each system can be endowed with available satellite radio.

Powering the rear-wheel-drive-only 2012 V8 Vantage S Roadster is a muscled-up 4.7-liter V8 engine and 7-speed auto-manual transmission featuring steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. This combo throws down 430 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque, with mileage a tepid 14 mpg city/21 highway. This exotic Roadster, of course, burns only premium unleaded gasoline.

The more noteworthy standard safety features in the 2012 S Roadster include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control and front side-mounted airbags. Further standard safety equipment includes self-leveling high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, front and rear parking sensors and a remote antitheft alarm. An upgraded remote security system, meantime, is also available.