Car pictures of the week
In this week’s car pictures from issue 287, we look at the highlights from our drive in two of Aston Martin’s most exclusive creations
The V12 has become a bastion of only the most extreme cars in 2021, with most manufacturers downsizing engines in the constant pursuit of efficiency. Yet Aston Martin’s limited-run Speedster and the one-of-one Victor have retained that iconic dozen cylinder count, and in this week’s car pictures gallery, we take a look into some of the amazing shots when Richard Meaden put them both through their paces for issue 287. To read the full story, pick up your copy in store or online now.
The shoot was held on a cloudy day at Aston’s Silverstone-based development centre, where its two flagship models sat in their respective hues of green. The curious-looking V12 Speedster is Aston Martin’s take on a screenless supercar, pairing the DBS Superleggera’s 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 with an entirely open body. Its output of 690bhp and a very healthy 555lb ft of torque help it along to a 3.4sec 0-62mph time and a near-200mph top speed.
> Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition 2021 review – Gaydon's answer to the Porsche 911 GT3?
Inspired by Aston’s heritage of open-top racing models, the V12 Speedster features a number of bespoke design elements intertwined with its modern aesthetic formed by design chief Marek Reichmann. It’s full of unique details, like the glass buttresses have been hollowed and used as both storage compartments and display cabinets for helmets underneath.
The V12 Speedster will be the rarest of the recent crop of open-body hypercars, with only 88 units set to be produced in total. Despite this, a £765,000 price tag makes it almost half the price of both the McLaren Elva and Ferrari Monza SP1/2, a relative bargain...
Yet the one-of-one Victor is an all-together different exercise, blending the track-only Vulcan and One-77 hypercar of 2009 to form an entirely bespoke and brutal Aston Martin. Built upon the Multimatic carbonfibre tub, it’s design is completely unique inside and out, yet it’s more than just a concours car.
The 7.3-litre naturally-aspirated V12 from the One-77 is what’s found under the carbonfibre skin, but Aston Martin sent it back to Cosworth for some upgrades, resulting in a staggering 836bhp and 599lb ft of torque – that’s from a naturally-aspirated V12.
With two such immensely special Aston Martins in our possession, it was a once in a lifetime experience for Dickie, so to find out just how that all translated on road and track, pick up the latest issue (287). Out now in store or online via the new evo shop.
Car pictures of the week: archive
Below are some of our favourite images from previous editions of evo car pictures of the week. Click on the pictures for the full galleries.
Gallery 1
Click below to see all the images of our first car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring the indomitable Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 and the stunning Porsche 911 re-imagined by Singer.
Gallery 2
Here we dig further back into the evo archives where we pull out some iconic images of the Ford GT slightly out of context in the European Alps, a TVR Sagaris in central London, the Audi RS2 as well as one of our most iconic twin tests between the Ferrari 599 GTO and Lexus LF-A.
Gallery 3
The previous-generation Bentley Continental GT seemed to get better with age, a notion mirrored by the Jaguar E-type when in modern ‘lightweight’ form. Both of these British icons, as well as the Aston Martin Vantage GT12 feature in gallery three.
Gallery 4
Fans might have cried fowl when Ferrari decided to turbocharge the Ferrari 488, but it’s not like Ferrari don’t have a history with turbocharged V8 engines. Here the 488 co-stars alongside the stunning F40, while elsewhere in this gallery we take a Porsche Cayman GTS to Japan for a stunning mountain blast.
Gallery 5
Italian twelve-cylinder supercars seem to be the main agenda in the fourth evo car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring four V12 Lambos and the stunning 599 SA Aperta limited edition alongside its 550 Barchetta predecessor.
Gallery 6
GT3s and GT-Rs are just the beginning for gallery number six, with the Noble M600, Aston Martin One-77 and a couple of McLaren flagships filling out our most amazing gallery yet.
Gallery 7
A gallery of new and old, here the McLaren 720S cemented its place as a truly great supercar alongside a daring night shoot with an Audi R8 LMX, pitch a Nissan GT-R and Audi Quattro against each other on Welsh mountain roads and drive the original 'Hakosuka' GT-R.
Gallery 8
Ford's RS200 in a moody dark garage is just one of many amazing shoots in our 8th gallery, click on the image for the full gallery
Gallery 9
Click on the image below for our ninth car pictures of the week gallery, including this hardcore lot!
Gallery 10
Our tenth gallery turned it up another notch, including the wettest shoot in history (apparently).
Gallery 11
The best hardcore Ferrari supercars and more feature in our 11th car pictures of the week gallery.
