As transformations go, this one's as dramatic as Clark Kent stepping into a phone booth and flying out in blue Lycra tights. The V8 Vantage is a good looking car, but it's a bit of a weakling when faced with hoodlums like the Porsche 911 Turbo and Ferrari F430.
Things have changed drastically with the V12 Vantage though. The new boy's got a V12 heart that feels like it came out of the Man of Steel himself, and he's spoiling for a fight. The pumped up body, riddled with gills and scoops, is 45 per cent stiffer than the V8's and would shame superheroes - let alone mere supercars. It's properly loud too. You'd probably attract less attention if you went to work dressed as Superman than in a V12 Vantage. So, it's a very far cry from its feeble brother.
But, unfortunately, the shiny new power comes at a price. At Dh600,000, the V8 is already a Dh150K more than the Porsche 911 Turbo, but at Dh827,000 the V12 is flapping in the deep end with the fierce Italians - the Lamborghini LP-560-4 and the Ferrari F430 Scuderia.
Even though the V12 Vantage develops a neat 510bhp, it's a substantial 50bhp less than the Gallardo. It matches the Ferrari, but the Maranello car is lighter, which makes it quicker to 100kph. That isn't good news for the Aston.
IS IT A SUPERCAR?
Considering that it isn't unfeasibly powerful and the engine's not in the middle, the V12 Vantage isn't a supercar per se. The cabin's comfortable and even though there's a notable lack of equipment, it's a nice place to be. There's enough room for Rosie O'Donnell, the AC works fine and you don't have to be a contortionist to get in and out. Granted, the Mercedes SL65 AMG does all that and more, but the V12 Vantage thrashes it when it comes to badge appeal and driver involvement.
Underneath its aluminium and carbon fibre body lies an honest-to-goodness car, built for one thing, and one thing only - to deliver maximum driving thrills. And that's what it does.
DIRTY DOZEN
Fire up the engine with the crystal key and the V12 awakens with a loud whoop.
At full flight its roar will make a pride of angry lions sound like a bunch of quarrelling pre-teen girls at a Hannah Montana movie. The DBS sounds great, but the V12 Vantage is on a different level of brashness.
Of course, having a 6.0-litre lump in a car the size of a Honda City helps too. It shakes and vibrates, barely able to contain the fury of over 510 rampaging horses trying to get out. This means that one thing you won't be left wanting for is performance. Slide the gear into first, build up the revs and dump the clutch. Hold on to the alcantara clad steering wheel as the massive 19in rear Pirellis scramble for grip and the car leaps forward like a scalded alley cat.
With a good start it will demolish the 100kph mark in just 4.1 seconds. That's properly quick, but still slower than the 3.8 seconds mark of its rival LP560, and over half a second off the time of the forthcoming 911 Turbo and Ferrari F458 Italia.
Still, straight line speed isn't this Aston's party piece - it's the ability to devour corners. Unlike the DBS, which has adaptive dampers, the V12 Vantage has a simpler suspension set-up and normal dampers. Although the ride's firm, it never skims over the road unnervingly.
It's sure-footed, so unlike a mid-engined supercar that'll splatter you all over the central reservation if you take one liberty with it, the Vantage is virtually idiot-proof.
Charge towards a bend at what you consider an insane-speed, put the carbon ceramic brakes to work - which, by the way, are fantastic and can take plenty of abuse without fading - turn in and plant the power on the way out. The Vantage darts out of corners with the nose pointing the right way, every time. Unlike a four-wheel-drive GT-R, you don't get the feeling that computers are sorting everything out for you. The V12 feels mechanical, like an old school racecar. Its puppy dog enthusiasm encourages you to push it hard. It's fantastic.
The six-speed manual transmission isn't brilliant but it does the job well enough. The clutch is light and the biting point is perfect for quick sport shifts, as well as in traffic. You can pootle around at 20kph in sixth gear, no problem at all. The V12 is a great engine but it really comes to life in this Vantage. It's one of those iconic pairings that set you thinking, "Why didn't they do this sooner?"
Unfortunately, there are some niggles. If you park it in the sun for too long - which will most likely be the case in the UAE - the metal gear lever gets so hot, it'll singe the skin right off your hand if you as much as touch it. Furthermore, if you're vertically-challenged like me, your elbow will hit metal bits on the transmission tunnel every time you change gear enthusiastically.
And these are all things that you have no choice but to live with because the V12 Vantage is only available with a manual gearbox.
VERDICT
Despite suitably outlandish looks, a deliciously loud V12 and a penchant for giving you third-degree burns every time you change gear, the ultimate Vantage isn't a mad supercar at all. Unlike a feisty Italian thoroughbred it's easy to live with everyday, it has space for your shopping and most importantly, it won't wrap you around a tree if you drive it fast. A supercar, it's not. And in this instance, that's a good thing.
