2007 Aston Martin Db9 2dr Volante Auto on 2040-cars

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Aston Martin Vantage with a manual transmission due next year

In 2016, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told Car and Driver that that Aston Martin would continue to offer manual transmissions and will always have at least one hand-shaker in the lineup. For the keepers of the dying manual light, it's been a long wait since the V12 Vantage S went out of production last year, but dawn will break over Gaydon in summer 2019. Aston Martin chief engineer Matt Becker told Road & Track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that there'd be a stick shift in the V8 Vantage by "this time next year." That might seem like a long wait when there are already prototypes on the road, but the small company has a large engineering job. The Mercedes-AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 sitting in the Vantage's engine bay has never been paired with a manual gearbox, so Aston Martin has to create the software and the driveline hardware from scratch to make it work. On top of that, the company wants to make sure the package delivers the thrills the row-your-own crowd seeks. Becker said the car won't be a pushover, tuned so that "It reminds you that you have to know how to drive." Depending on uptake, one could hope that the DB11 using the same Mercedes-AMG engine would also undergo a manual transformation. Road & Track didn't get the details on what kind of transmission we could expect. We figure the options are a traditional six-speed, a Corvette-style seven-speed, a Porsche-style seven-speed, or the dogleg seven-speed used last in this year's V12 Vantage V600, of which there were only 14 units. Speculation on product plans puts the manual transmission first in the V8 Vantage pipeline, followed by a Vantage roadster and a V12 Vantage. Other models will certainly fill out the portfolio, Becker saying this first Vantage "is the starting point." Having applied the hardcore AMR moniker to the Valkyrie AMR Pro, DB11 AMR, and Rapide AMR, the Vantage seems a lock for the same extreme makeover. Related Video:

Aston Martin V12 Vantage V600 sends old model out with 600-horsepower bang

Time is nearly up for the outgoing Aston Martin Vantage coupe and convertible now that the new model has been released, but thanks to one fan of the car, it's going out in style. The company has created a special version of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage called the V600 at the request of a customer, and it will build just 14 of them, seven in each body style. It's apparently a tribute to the 1998 V8 Vantage V600, which had a supercharged V8 making 600 horsepower. Under the hood of this new iteration is a 600 horsepower naturally aspirated V12, which is even more potent than the V12 Vantage AMR. It's also exclusively paired to a seven-speed manual transmission. But the powertrain isn't the only unique aspect of the car. The hood is given a menacing bulge, and the louvered vents of the regular V12 Vantage have been replaced by more subtle circular holes arranged in a shape similar to the standard vents. The vents in the fenders have been changed as well, this time to something similar to those of the new Vantage. Up front, a grille shaped like that of the Rapide AMR replaces the normal one, and it has a unique mesh insert. In the back, the V600 gets a custom diffuser and quad exhaust tips. The interior features loads of carbon fiber, dark anodized aluminum trim and leather. Aston Martin didn't announce pricing for the V600, so it's fair to assume it's a lot. These special-edition cars are still available to purchase, though, unlike many special supercars that sell out before they're revealed. The company expects to deliver the cars in the third quarter of this year. Related Video:

Aston Martin revives two iconic names for its new DBS Superleggera

Progress has finally swept away the Vanquish S, with its non-turbo V12 and old-style Aston Martin chassis, and its replacement signals the new way of doing things. The new DBS Superleggera is twin-turbocharged and adopts a variant of the chassis and a whiff of the styling of the newer DB11. That styling is rendered in carbon fiber, incorporating such new-style features as the "curlicue" and the Aeroblade to improve downforce to 397 pounds at its top speed of 211 MPH. And some familiar elements show up in the overall styling, too, like the semi-floating roof and the fender vent that blends into the front wheel opening. The massive, gaping grille is more reminiscent of the Vantage than the DB11, although on the DBS Superleggera it has a more classic Aston Martin shape and treatment – but perhaps the grille takes up too much of the frontal area to be considered pretty rather than simply bold. Overall, the look is DB11 plus luxury and opulence, which is exactly the point. Speaking of opulence, the interior is an almost scandalous blend of premium materials and bold shapes. There's a lot of leather and alcantara – the car shown in these photos has accent panels of chopped carbon fiber and charcoal-colored leather with bold red accent stitching. There's more exposed carbon fiber, albeit woven, accenting the exterior in various places. It's not subtle or particularly classic, but write a big enough check to Aston and they'll surely trim your DBS Superleggera in any fashion you want. There is also a range of Designer Specifications, which are specific color and trim combinations picked out by the company's designers, in case you want to leverage in-house talent to deck out your DBS. Performance is suitably commanding. The DBS Superleggera now makes 715 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to turbocharging, that torque figure is available from 1,800 to 5,500 RPM, although the corollary is that peak power is at 6,500 RPM. It's rear-drive only, assisted by an eight-speed auto and a mechanical limited slip differential with torque vectoring. 0-62 mph takes 3.4 seconds according to the factory, but the more important number is the 0-100 MPH time of 6.4 seconds, and fourth-gear acceleration of 50-100 MPH in just 4.2 seconds. This is the power of turbocharging a large-displacement engine – it's a 5.2-liter unit. The DBS Superleggera starts at $304,995, and deliveries begin later this year.