The Aston Martin V12 Speedster is a roofless Vantage inspired by a fighter jet

Aston’s answer to the swelling ranks of speedster-style cars like the reborn Ferrari Monza, new McLaren Elva and just-announced Bentley Bacalar, the V12 Speedster is aimed at what Aston chief Andy Palmer calls “our most demanding and enthusiastic customers”.

A maximum of 88 cars will be built, priced from £765,000 and with first deliveries expected a year from now. The model has been created as a showcase for the Q by Aston Martin customisation arm which will hand-craft each car, based on the bonded aluminium foundations of the firm’s flagship model, the DBS Superleggera, with elements from the Vantage also featuring 

The first pictures reveal a car with a strong Aston Martin personality with lots of familiar design cues whose notably long and low form is highlighted by the complete absence of any windscreen, or even aeroscreens. The car’s cabin is open, without any hood, but split into two distinct cocoons by a central spine.

Twin humps behind the seats instantly define the style as a speedster, recalling ‘50s sports racers like Aston’s most illustrious racecar, the Le Mans-winning DBR1 which the company says provided the inspiration for this ultimate Aston road car. Without the DBR1’s more voluptuous form the V12 Speedster is more clearly related to the CC100 Speedster concept conceived to mark Aston’s centenary in 2013. Unlike the CC100, which had open sides, the V12 Speedster comes with regular doors.

Aston design director Miles Nurnberger says: “Since the DB11 launch, everything has been focused and very forward looking. Here though, we go back a step and look into our past for inspiration. There’s clear lineage from the 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1 to our Centenary celebratory CC100 Speedster Concept in 2013. There is also a bit of 1953 DB3S in the mid-section, so it really is our latest incarnation of the Speedster concept.”

The V12 Speedster’s bespoke platform is fitted with double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear end. The wheels are 21-inch forged centre-lock alloys and the brakes carbon ceramic, 410mm on the front axle and 360mm at the rear. Adaptive damping offers Sport, Sport+ and Track modes.

Powering the V12 Speedster is Aston Martin’s 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, with a peak output of 700PS (690bhp)  and 753Nm (555lb ft) of torque. Front mid-mounted, the all-alloy, quad cam 48-valve engine is mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and drives the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential. Performance is quoted as 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed reined back to 186mph.

Aston does not say how windy that speed might be but it does say how splendid the performance will sound: a bespoke stainless-steel exhaust system exiting centrally into the diffuser surface delivers what the firms says is an even more rousing sound. All in all it promises to be a visceral experience. As Matt Becker, Aston’s chief engineer, tells us: “Driving doesn’t get any purer than this. The V12 Speedster engages on every level.”

As well as calling on Aston design heritage the V12 Speedster as shown draws inspiration from aeronautical design. Many of the cabin details, trim and materials make up an optional specification pack, inspired by America’s F/A-18 fighter jet and created by Q by Aston Martin in partnership with Boeing.

The first V12 Speedster is finished in Skyfall Silver with contrasting satin black on the exhaust tips, vent grilles and vanes. The dark theme is carried through to the interior, with satin dark chrome, machined aluminium and black leather with vivid red Aston Martin detailing, like the door pulls.

“Nothing demonstrates Aston Martin’s commitment to providing unique, special models to its customers more than the V12 Speedster,” said Aston Martin Lagonda CEO  Andy Palmer at the car’s unveiling. “The 88 hand-built cars will be sought after by driving enthusiasts and collectors alike all around the world.”

Visceral, open-cockpit driving machines are currently enjoying a resurgence among the  supercar companies. Porsche may have coined the name Speedster back in the 1950s, but as a generic for uncompromising  power and performance in a stripped-back road car – often lacking windscreen, windows and roof –  the style has taken on a new lease of life. 

HOW BRITAIN IS REINVENTNG THE SPEEDSTER

                                    Aston V12 Speedster  McLaren Elva  Bentley Bacalar          

Layout                         Front engine               Mid engine      Front engine

Seats                           2                                  2                      2

Windscreen?               No                               Optional          Yes

Hood?                         No                               No                   No

Engine                         5.2 turbo V12              4.0 turbo V8    6.0 turbo W12

Power                          690bhp                        804bhp            650bhp

Torque                         753Nm                        800Nm            900Nm

0-62mph                     3.5secs                        2.9secs            3.8secs*

Top speed                   186mph (limited)       200mph*         200mph*

Price (from)                £765,000                     £1.425m          £1.8m

Number to be made   88                                399                  12

First deliveries             2021                            2020                2020

*To be confirmed