Discounting the Cygnet (which is really a Toyota product retrimmed in Gaydon), every model in the Aston Martin range is (or can be) powered by the same 6.0-liter V12. That includes the DB9, Vanquish and Rapide - as well as the discontinued DB7, DBS, Virage and the previous Vanquish. And it includes the Vantage. Typically powered by a smaller V8, Aston slotted its twelve-pot into the Vantage in 2009. Production was initially limited to 1,000 units, but after Aston brought it to America, it lifted the production restrictions.

Over the past four years, Aston has produced 1,200 V12 Vantage coupes, plus another 101 roadsters and another 20 or so V12 Zagatos, which were essentially rebodied versions of the same. Now word has it that Aston is discontinuing the model. The report comes from enthusiast site aston-martin.com that dealers have been told to stop taking orders – for the coupe, anyway. The Zagato is another matter entirely, and the roadster (which was just introduced) appears unaffected. There are also rumors of an imminent Centenary Edition of the V12 Vantage coupe which could usher out the model, but we'll have to wait and see.