In a move that it says ‘underlies its commitment to building exceptional sports cars that appeal to the most discerning enthusiasts’, Aston Martin has announced it is introducing a manual transmission option for the 17MY V12 Vantage S.
The seven-speed manual transmission features a classic dog-leg first gear position, and Aston Martin’s ‘AMSHIFT’ program. The system, which is driver selectable uses clutch, gear position and propshaft sensors, together with finely-tuned programming of the engine management, to mimic the technique of heel-and-toe downshifts; the act of blipping the throttle while braking and changing gear. AMSHIFT also offers the capability of full-throttle upshifts for maximum smoothness and minimal interruption in acceleration.
AMSHIFT can be used in all driving modes, but is especially effective in Sport, with the sharper throttle response and louder exhaust note really emphasising the downshift throttle blip for maximum excitement.
“We’re all enthusiasts here at Aston Martin,” stated Ian Minards, director of product development. “Building cars that offer something exceptional is what we do. Technology drives us forward, but we understand the importance of tradition. The true purist will always hanker for the tactility and connection offered by a manual transmission, so it has been a real pleasure to offer just that in our fastest and most focused model. At a time when manual transmissions have almost entirely disappeared in high performance cars, this makes the manual V12 Vantage S a very special car indeed”.