Aston Martin Vantage GT12 2015

When it was first announced in February 2015, the car was called the Vantage GT3 Special Edition. It later adopted the GT12 name for production and sales. This explains why some early reports and archival material still refer to the road car as a “GT3”, while production examples are known as GT12s. The naming overlap should not be taken to mean that the road car was a homologated version of the competition Vantage GT3; it was a separate road-going model inspired by that racing programme.

Aston Martin limited Vantage GT12 production to 100 examples. The company’s financial documentation states that the cars were built between October 2015 and May 2016, with the complete run pre-sold. The announced UK list price was £250,000. This very small production figure set the GT12 apart from the regular Vantage range and helped establish its rarity among modern Aston Martin collectibles. The figure of 100 refers to the GT12 production run as a whole, rather than to an additional national allocation or a separate trim series. Its 2015 model identity therefore overlaps with a production period that continued into 2016.

Automotive journalists generally praised the GT12’s dramatic character and the sound of its naturally aspirated V12. Evo awarded it 9 out of 10, highlighting its visual impact, expressive engine and status as a final major development of the Vantage, while also noting its limited traction at the circuit limit and its tiny production run. Top Gear likewise focused on the weight reduction, performance and the concept’s comparison with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Auto Express welcomed the power and the car’s ability on fast, twisting roads, but regarded the automated manual gearbox as a drawback. Overall, the reception was highly positive, with most criticism directed at the transmission and the demanding nature of the chassis rather than at the car’s ambition or engineering.