Aston Confirms 835 Hp V12 for the New Vanquish

There’s a lot to do for Aston Martin at the moment: the updated DBX 707 is about to enter series production, both DB12 variants are in production and the new Vantage is just around the corner. Not to mention the hybrid Valhalla. Notably, however, a V12 engine is missing from all of these vehicles. Having produced so many memorable twelve-cylinder models over the last quarter century, the configuration has become a crucial part of Aston’s history. And it’s not finished yet.

Following Lawrence Stroll’s recent confirmation that Aston Martin will continue to use the internal combustion engine for as long as it is allowed, this point has been reinforced by the announcement of a new 835bhp V12. It will power the DBS’s successor, the range’s flagship sports GT, which aims to revive the Vanquish name – “all will be defeated” seems a pretty strong hint.

Exact details beyond performance – next to the headline it says 738lb ft – are still to come, although the mere presence of a large multi-cylinder internal combustion engine in a new car seems exciting enough. It must be an evolution of the 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 that came to market with the DB11, because it clearly had plenty of headroom (the DBS Ultimate made 770hp) and even Aston can contend with one blank page certainly doesn’t justify V12 in this day and age. But then almost a decade ago it was assumed that the 5.2 would be an AMG holdover, and that wasn’t the case – so let’s not get too ahead of ourselves just yet.

Aston says the new core V12 benefits from reduced inertia turbos for better throttle response and more power, higher flow injectors, redesigned heads, a stronger block and rods, and new intake and exhaust ports compared to previous models. There will also be “best-in-class efficiency improvements” and, as the video suggests, a suitably rousing soundtrack.

Aston says that alongside the DBS replacement, the V12 will also be included in upcoming limited editions. Maybe, just maybe, cars like the V12 Vantage and Speedster aren’t dead yet. With an engine like this coming into use and probably not going to be around for much longer, there will certainly be a temptation to create so many V12 heroes , as realistically possible. (It should be noted, however, that the engine is “hand-built year after year in strictly limited numbers.”) As for the new DBS/Vanquish, we’ll see it for the first time later this year, along with additional technical specifications. So that probably means a launch in 2025 – at least enough to keep them busy in the meantime.

Roberto Fedeli, CTO of Aston, said: “The V12 engine has long been a symbol of power and prestige, but it is also an expression of engineering passion and technical prowess.” With 835 hp and 1000 Nm of torque, this unparalleled engine is nothing less as the start of a brilliant new V12 era for Aston Martin.” Bring it on.