Aston Martin V12 Vantage S with a 7-speed manual transmission unveiled
Aston Martin recently revealed that its V12 Vantage S is receiving a manual option. This adheres to Aston Martin's recent statement where they said that V12s and manuals are here to stay, regardless of the industry trends. This is music to the ears of purists especially because there is also no price difference between the manual and automatic trims.
The new manual is a dogleg type transmission, the most popular layout for race cars. This means the most frequently used gears are in a double H pattern, akin to a traditional 6-speed transmission.
The manual variant also comes with rev matching, which means you can execute precise heel-and-toe downshifts without needing to blip the throttle. This can be activated or deactivated as per the driver's discretion. Aston Martin recommends using this in Sport mode, for maximum crackle and pop from the exhaust.
Aston Martin stated that both transmission variants are otherwise mechanically identical, so expect the same monstrous 6.0-litre V12 producing 573PS and 620Nm of torque. This is good for a 0-100kmph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 330kmph. Apart from the new transmission, the V12 Vantage S also receives an updated infotainment system which is a welcome change.
The manual variant is limited to only a 100 units in the United States whereas in other markets, it will be a series production model. Aston barely  has a presence in India and it is painfully apparent that the manual trim isn't coming to our shores anytime soon. Sigh!