‘Anything you can do, I can do better’ goes the tune of top automotive brands. It doesn’t take long for a game of oneupmanship to break out amongst rivals if one of them is onto a good thing. At the moment the trend is for roofless and windscreenless supercars. McLaren and Ferrari are already in the game, but Aston Martin will soon follow suit with the V12 Speedster.
Word of the Aston Martin V12 Speedster’s imminent arrival isn’t news, but its development program has just hit a pivotal stage. The very first prototype car is now hitting the road to complete testing for the finished car that’s expected in 2021.
Why publicise the prototype? Firstly, it’s a pretty cool thing to look at, but a more practical point is that there’s no hiding its distinctive silhouette while testing. Its long bonnet, short rear overhang and total lack of glasshouse means that it can only be the previously announced Speedster.
The Aston Martin V12 Speedster will only number 88 examples once production comes to an end. Those lucky enough to house one in their collection will enjoy its muscular twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 engine alfresco, a unit that will run this car from 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds – a helmet is strongly advised! Thanks to 690bhp, the driver and passenger can experience the wind rushing through their hair at up to 186mph.
It sits on a bonded-aluminium platform that is somewhat bespoke, forged from a combination of DBS Superleggera and Vantage parts. The result is something unique in the Aston portfolio.
The Speedster rivals the likes of McLaren’s mid-engined Elva – a car that’s had its production numbers slashed again – and Ferrari’s F12-based SP1. If you want the British take on these supercars that hark back to racers of old, it will set you back £765,000.
Which car would find a home in your collection?
Keyword: First Aston Martin V12 Speedster prototype hits the road