New Aston Martin V12 Speedster goes roofless with £765,000 price tag

Aston Martin has revealed a new limited-run, roofless, windscreen-free V12 special. The car is called the V12 Speedster, and is earmarked for a production run of just 88 examples. 

Responsibility for creating the new car has been handed over to Aston Martin’s ‘Q’ customisation division, and the brand claims that the design of the V12 Speedster draws on both Aston’s racing heritage, and takes inspiration from aeronautical design.

The front of the Speedster also takes some inspiration from Aston Martin’s Porsche 911-rivalling Vantage, with similar headlights and a familiar front grille. However, the Speedster’s face is flanked by two new, more aggressive grilles, while the bonnet features a large central air intake and further air gills sitting on top of both front wheels.

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Aggressive cuts and surfacing details define the V12 Speedster’s flanks, while the two-seat cockpit is free from screens and other distractions from the road. Driver and passenger are separated by a central spine that runs from the bonnet to the back of the car, while two curved buttresses flow across its rear deck. 

In the stripped-back driver and passenger cells, satin carbon-fibre trim is paired with leather, chrome and aluminium elements, and the V12 Speedster also features 3D-printed rubber. In front of the passenger is a removable leather bag - a lighter alternative to a traditional glove box. 

Underneath, the Speedster features an adapted version of Aston Martin’s bonded aluminium platform, which uses structures borrowed from both the DBS Superleggera and the Vanquish to create a bespoke chassis.

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This chassis cradles a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 developing 690bhp and 753Nm of torque, placing the V12 Speedster just below the DBS Superleggera terms of raw power. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and Aston Martin claims 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 186mph. 

Aston engineers have created a unique stainless steel exhaust system for the V12 Speedster, too, in a bid to combine the permanent lack of roof with a rousing soundtrack. 

At the front, the suspension comprises a double wishbone setup, while the rear axle is multi-link with coil springs. Adaptive dampers are also fitted, altering in profile if the driver flicks through the Sport, Sport+, and track settings. Carbon-ceramic brakes are fitted all round, while the V12 Speedster rides on 21-inch, forged, centre-locking wheels. 

Orders for the V12 Speedster are already open, with prices to start from £765,000. Deliveries will begin 12 months from now, in early 2021.

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