2023 Aston Martin Vantage V12 RS spy shots and video: spy shots of the Aston Martin V12 RS

Aston Martin is testing an early prototype of what appears to be a hardcore variant at the top of its updated Vantage series.

Aston Martin is expected to introduce a major update to the Vantage in late 2022 or early the following year. The focus of the updates will be on the technical features of the cabin, but there will also be this new hardcore variant, which is said to revive the Vantage V12 RS name first used on the Vantage concept car with a V12 engine, which was unveiled in 2008.

Think of it as an Aston Martin version of the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series or Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

The prototype is still fitted with makeshift body panels, but the huge hood vents, front mask air curtains, widened front and rear tracks, aggressive rear diffuser, and centrally mounted exhaust tips are already visible. visible.

Under the hood, Aston Martin's own 5.2-liter V12 twin turbo is expected to be mounted, and the sound in the spy video above points to it. This engine is tuned to produce 760 hp in the DBS GT Zagato, but is expected to be closer to 700 hp in the Vantage.

What is not clear is whether the V-12 engine will be a permanent option on the Vantage or only on hardcore specials like this car.

Sadly, a manual transmission will not be offered, as in previous V-12-powered Vantage models. Aston Martin plans to phase out the manual transmission with the introduction of the updated Vantage series. This means that the current 8-speed automatic will likely be the only available transmission going forward.

The price of the hardcore variant will likely be close to $200,000. The current Vantage series already tops out at $162,000 for the Vantage F1 Edition, which will be introduced in 2021.