The reason is supposedly connected with the safety levels of the car. First of all, the V12 transplant in the front has occupied most of the space which was used for crumple zones in the “regular” V8 Vantage. Second of all, the optional carbon fiber bucket seats wrapped in Alcantara can't be fitted with side airbags.
In other words, the V12 Vantage would most likely fail the required crash-tests before arriving on American shores, so Aston Martin will not import a single model. Naturally, we realize that from the 300 to 500 models to be built every year, only around 100-200 would have potentially arrived in the US, most of them being bought by speculators for a better resale.
So, to all seven possible US customers reading this news and shaking their fists at the screen, boo hoo. There is still no word on US availability from the other three new Aston Martins to be released this year, so there is still hope we guess. Along the V12 Vantage, this year's Geneva Motor Show should also bring the Volante version of “Bond's” DBS and the first full reveal of the still unsold-out One-77. The production version of the Rapide four-door coupe is also expected in 2009.
Powered by the 5.9-liter V12 pumping no less than 517 hp and found in the DBS also, the V12 Vantage is currently Aston Martin's fastest model, at least from a 0 to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds point of view, although its 51/49 weight distribution ratio isn't too shabby either.
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