Aston Martin’s V12 Speedster Is An Homage To Its Racing History

Aston Martin has looked back in its history – and also to the sky – to create its latest limited-edition sports car, a radical two-seater the company says is dedicated to a ‘puristic’ driving experience.

The Aston Martin V12 Speedster was designed and built in just over a year by the company’s bespoke customization service, ‘Q by Aston Martin’. The Speedster is a ‘living show car’, according to the company, and it certainly looks like nothing on the road now – perhaps most of all because it lacks a windshield. The open cockpit is divided in two, with aerodynamic humps behind each seat that double as luggage carriers. With its long hood, open passenger area and short rear end, it’s reminiscent of Aston’s legendary race cars like the 1959 DBR1 – which was the intent of Q designers.

Despite being an homage to history, the Speedster is very much modern. The body is almost entirely carbon fibre, sitting on a bonded aluminum chassis. Carbon ceramic brakes and 21in center-lock alloy wheels are standard, of course. The interior also uses structural carbon fiber, and along with the usual fine leather, brushed aluminum and chrome, it even features 3D-printed rubber parts. Perhaps the only tribute to the past inside is the removable leather bag that stands in for a glove box.

A twin-turbo, 5.2-litre V12 is mounted mid-front, pumping out 700hp and 753Nm (555lb ft) of torque, going through a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox to a limited slip dif in the rear. This all gets the Speedster to 100kph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 300kph (186mph).

The first V12 Speedster seen here takes inspiration from the F/A-18 fighter plane, in a collaboration with Boeing. It features aviation themed accents in the cockpit, and is finished in Skyfall Silver. Wonder where they got that name…

Only 88 examples of the V12 Speedster will be built. There’s no word if driving goggles will be standard equipment, but at £765,000 (around $982,000) per car, we’re sure that’s not a worry for prospective buyers.

*Images courtesy of Aston Martin