Aston Martin V12 Vantage S gets a 7-speed manual gearbox

British sports car maker Aston Martin has ushered in its 2017 MY range by offering its V12 Vantage S with a manual gearbox. At a time when manual gearboxes have almost entirely disappeared in sports cars, the manual V12 Vantage S can be deemed very special indeed. 

This new V12 Vantage S is no ordinary manual sports car as the 7-speed unit features a classic dog-leg first gear position; an echo from the past that will be welcomed by driving enthusiasts. This dog-leg configuration also ensures the gears used most frequently are located in a double ‘H‘ pattern like that of a conventional 6-speed manual.

The manual gearbox also features what Aston Martin calls AMSHIFT. The system uses clutch, gear position and propshaft sensors, together with the engine management, to mimic the technique of heel-and-toe downshifts by blipping the throttle while braking and changing gear. 

The manual V12 Vantage S is a series production model and can be had as a no-cost option over the regular car. Both versions are otherwise mechanically identical, sharing the same chassis and the glorious sounding 6-litre V12 engine.

Aston Martin has announced that the first deliveries of the manual V12 Vantage S are scheduled to begin during the third quarter of 2016.