Aston Martin V12 Vantage S video review

The standard Aston Martin V12 Vantage wasn't exactly a dull drive, but as you'll find out in this video review, the Vantage S has still managed to take things to the next level.

• Aston Martin V12 Vantage S full review

Thanks to a top speed of 205mph and a 0-62 time of 3.9 seconds, the V12 Vantage S is the fastest car that Aston has ever made, bar the one-77. Power is even up 55bhp from the standard Vantage, bringing the total output to 565bhp.

The steering is variable ratio for the first time, which does take a bit of getting used to, but once you have, there's loads of great feedback and you can really have fun around the corners.

The adaptive dampers come in three stages - Normal, Sport and Track. They're nicely judged especially on the smooth US roads that we tested the Vantage S on. Our only gripe is with the gearbox - it's the latest version of the seven-speed Sportshift. It blips through downshifts in the blink of an eye, but on upshifts, it's a little bit jerky when it's in auto mode.

Weighing in at 200 kilograms less than the Vanquish, but with the same V12 engine, the Vantage S offers amazing, savage performance. But, does the £138,000 Aston V12 Vantage S keep up to pace with its rivals? Well, you can probably go faster in something like the Porsche 911 Turbo for a similar price tag, and the gearbox isn't great. But, this car has character and is proof that Aston Martin is still very much at the top of its game. Watch the video review and see what you think.