2017 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Will Offer Manual Transmission
Automaker trims V8 Vantage lineup
Among other big announcements for its 2017 lineup, Aston Martin confirmed it will offer a seven-speed manual transmission on the V12 Vantage S.
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Limited to just 100 copies in North America, the manual 2017 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S packs a familiar 6.0-liter V-12 engine. The manual should deliver the same 3.9-second 0-62 time (3.7-second 0-60 time) as the Sportshift III automated manual transmission, the automaker says. Top speed is 205 mph in both versions.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the manual gearbox remains an integral part of our product plans and will do for many years to come," Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said in a statement.
Not too long ago, Aston Martin offered a six-speed manual on the V12 Vantage. The new seven-speed harkens back to the layout of the old gearbox. Its dog-leg first gear position creates a double H pattern among the gears that are used most frequently, making it easier to shift. Also helping in that regard is the AMSHIFT throttle blipping feature, which makes it so you don't have to worry about those heel-and-toe downshifts to match revs. It also works on upshifts to minimize interruptions in acceleration.
The automaker also announced it will consolidate the V8 Vantage lineup into a single offering: the Vantage GTS. For 2017, the V8 Vantage GTS will be available in either coupe or roadster form. Also, all Aston Martins will receive an updated infotainment system with better graphics and quicker address input functions for the new model year.
Source: Aston Martin
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