Aston Martin to launch 700-hp V12 Speedster

Aston Martin will build 88 V-12-powered Speedsters in 2021, presumably based on the DBS Superleggera’s tech. These roofless limited editions will pack Aston’s 5.2-liter twin-turbo V-12 tuned to around 700 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, connected to the same rear-mounted ZF eight-speed gearbox as you’ll find in the rest of Aston’s lineup.

This is hardly surprising. Not too long ago, Ferrari realized that after hyping up its racing cars from the ’50 for a bit, it could sell a roofless car to people—one that’s clearly not eligible for racing—at $1.75 million a pop. With those 812 Superfast-based Monza SP1s and SP2s out there, McLaren was quick to respond, talking about its racing cars from the ’60s before announcing the equally roofless Elva, priced at $1.85M. Granted, for that hefty sum, at least McLaren gives you over 800 horsepower in a mid-engine package.

Now, the time has come for Aston Martin to tout racing cars of the past, focusing on 1959’s World Sports Car Championship and Le Mans-winning DBR1.

The last time Aston trumpeted the DBR1—regarding something that did not come with replicas of Carroll Shelby’s leather racing gloves—was in 2013, when the Centenary CC100 Speedster Concept was built to celebrate the brand’s first 100 years. However, that fully-functional lightweight study remained a one-off.

Aston Martin says the V12 Speedster is the product of more than 12 months of development by both its Q division and Aston Martin Design. From the teaser sketch, it seems that Marek Reichman’s team went for a very open front, large sidepods, a small wind deflector, and an even more pronounced rear spoiler than on the new Vantage Roadster.

No word on pricing yet, but at 88 units, the Aston Martin V12 Speedster is designed for a much more exclusive club than the Ferrari Monza and the McLaren Elva.