In early 2008, Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez confirmed that production of the V12 Vantage would commence in mid 2009, although with the 510bhp engine shared with Aston Martin's other 12-cylinder models rather than the Vantage RS prototype's 580bhp dry-sump racing unit.

The classic hot-rodding technique of shoehorning a big engine into a small car is a well trodden route to increased performance, and so it was with the V12-engined Vantage RS prototype, which combined Aston Martin's largest engine with its most compact model.

Built in just four months by Aston Martin's Special Vehicle Operations department, the first prototype was unveiled by Dr Bez at the official opening of the British manufacturer's new design studio at Gaydon, Warwickshire on 11th December 2007.

Dr Bez promised that a production version would be considered should there be sufficient demand; the result was a deluge of enquiries from enthusiasts eager to get their hands on what promised to be Aston Martin's fastes...