Aston Martin V12 Vantage confirmed for 2022

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage will make a comeback next year, as what's expected to be a farewell for the Vantage in its pre-facelift form.

Spied in recent months on Germany's Nurburgring race track, the new V12 Vantage marks a return of the 12-cylinder engine to the Vantage nameplate for the first time since 2012 – with the 2022 model to be produced in limited numbers, as a "final edition" send-off (though what it's farewelling remains unconfirmed).

Released alongside the confirmation is a brief clip of the V12 Vantage's exhaust note, which is reminiscent of the 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 powering Aston Martin's larger DB11 and DBS sports cars, along with the ultra-exclusive V12 Speedster, which is loosely based on a Vantage chassis.

In the Speedster, the engine develops 515kW and 753Nm – shy of the 533kW/900Nm produced by the engine in the DBS – sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

That's a significant upgrade over the current Vantage, powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo Mercedes-AMG V8 quoting outputs of 375kW and 685Nm in the standard model, or 393kW and 685Nm in the limited-run F1 Edition. Whether the V12 Vantage's outputs would soar as high as the Speedster remains to be seen.

Spy photos indicate the enlarged engine will be joined by more aggressive styling, with larger front air intakes, new alloy wheels, wider wheel arches and a deeper rear diffuser.

Aston Martin cryptically notes the V12 Vantage "[is] not just a Limited Edition, it’s a Final Edition" – suggesting the new sports car will mark some form of send-off, though likely just for the Vantage in pre-facelift form, given an extensive facelift is due in 2022 or early 2023.

It's also possible the V12 Vantage could mark the final iteration of Aston's 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, which is under increasing pressure from emissions regulations – though with a similar facelift planned for the V12-powered DB11 and DBS, it's likely the engine will continue on for a few more years.

Stay tuned to Drive for more details on the 2022 Aston Martin V12 Vantage, as its launch approaches.