2012 ELECTRIC CARS

Tesla Model S

Range: 265 miles
Price: $92,400

A new batch of electric cars is joining the big names on the market such as the Nissan Leaf. So we thought it was time to catch up on the EV scene and see how the new entrants stack up. More electric cars are coming, too, including the two-seaters Mini E, Smart ForTwo, and Audi E-tron, and four- and five-seaters Scion iQ EV, Volkswagen E-Up and E-Golf, and a Cadillac ELR version of the Volt.

Coda Sedan


Range: 88 miles

Price: $37,250



Built by a small California company using a Chinese-made version of a Japanese Mitsubishi Lancer as a platform, the Coda runs on a unique lithium-phosphate battery instead of the more common lithium-ion. EPA rates the Coda as a subcompact, though the four-door sedan will carry five people. Those who've gotten the chance to drive one have generally come away with a good impression of the EV, which gets brisk acceleration from its 134-hp electric motor.

Ford Focus EV


Range: 76 miles

Price: $39,995



The Ford Focus EV will be offered only in California, New York, and New Jersey as it is slowly released to the public. But during our drive, we found the Focus EV to be quick and quieter than a gasoline-powered model on the road. One big plus for the electric Focus is its high-capacity 240-volt onboard charger, which lets you top off the battery in less than 4 hours
 
 
 

Honda Fit EV


Range: 123 miles

Price: $36,665



We just got our first drive in the electric version of a car we really like, the Honda Fit. We expect the five-seat Fit EV to be rated as the longest-range passenger EV—the automaker says you'll get 123 miles on a charge. Honda is rolling out the vehicle conservatively; it will be sold only in California and Oregon later this year, and, like the Toyota RAV4 EV, it will have a small production run: just 1100 cars for the next three years
 
 
 

Mitsubishi i-Miev


Range: 62 miles

Price: $27,900



The bubble-shaped subcompact i-Miev is a dedicated electric car design (not a gasoline car converted to run on batteries) with its motor in the rear driving the rear wheels. The bad: It's the slowest accelerating electric we've driven, getting to 60 mph in about 15 seconds. The good: Despite the pokey acceleration, it feels lively on the road while getting a score of 112 mpge from the EPA. And it's much less expensive than a Nissan Leaf or a Ford Focus EV.

Ford/Azure Dynamics Transit Connect EV


Range: 56 miles

Price: $58,000 (est.)



Available as a small panel van or a passenger wagon, the electric version of Ford's heavy-duty front-drive tall wagon can carry up to 1000 pounds of cargo, so it's aimed at customers who need utility. The Transit Connect EV delivers that utility, but with a range just north of 50 miles and an efficiency of just 62 mpge. For comparison, a passenger car like the Ford Focus EV is rated at 105 mpge

CLEANING YOUR CAR

"Think of the surface of your car as you would your face," says Mike Schultz, head of new products at Turtle Wax. "It needs to be properly taken care of in order to have a healthy glow."

Today, it's easier than ever to do that yourself: Techniques developed by professional detailers have trickled down to passionate car enthusiasts. Auto paint has been improved from the days of lacquer covered with carnauba paste wax, and now it's more durable and shines longer than ever. That means it's okay to toss out your old cans of rubbing compound, your leather chamois, and piles of newsprint for buffing and replace them with items like blocks of paint-cleaning clay, microfiber cloths, aloe leather healer, and chemical paint cleaners.


If you're considering some DIY detailing, proceed with caution. The pro detailers who provided us with these tips are practiced with rotating buffers that clean and resurface paint with wool or charcoal-coated foam pads, and they warn that such machines are not for an amateur Saturday-morning project. But the following 10 steps will help your home detailing go smoothly. The order for detailing tasks, the pros tell us, is important, and begins with the unpainted surfaces of your car.

NOTE: When to See a Pro


When your paint has a scratch that goes down to the metal, the only way to fix it is by sanding and filling the scratch with paint using a tiny pinstriping brush. Pros can blend this type of fix with surrounding paint, but that takes experience. To find a pro, check your local car clubs and shows; usually a few names will surface. The detailer should interview you about your expectations, and then suggest how to exceed them.

 
 
Start with Compressed Air and Stiff Scrub Brushes on Your Carpets




many of the cars our Detroit-area pro detailer Brandon Hagaman works on wind up at local car shows—some are concours winners. The first step, he advises, is to fire up the air compressor and blow dirt from the nooks and crannies of your car's floor onto the middle of the carpet, where you can easily vacuum it up. Stiff brushes also loosen dirt from the carpets and upholstery. If you've got leather seats, use a conditioner with aloe.

Duct Clean to Keep that New-Car Smell




Compressed air from a small, portable compressor is an easy way to blow dust and dirt out of heating and air-conditioning ductwork. The trick is to aim the high-pressure air at the walls of the ducts behind the vent grilles, where dust and dirt stick and cause musty smells. If your car has a cabin air filter you can change it, or remove it and blow the dust and dirt out.

Use Non-Acid-Based Tire Cleaners




Pros use specially mixed acid solutions to clean dirty tires and to strip residue from new tires, as well as to get stubborn brake dust off wheels. But Hagaman says that weekend DIYers should use a nonacid product. Acid-based cleaners can cause bare alloy wheels to oxidize and pit, and they can damage wheels painted with color or clear coatings.



Use a degreaser on wheels, but avoid detergents because they can damage paint if splashed. Again, our pro says, remember to go in the correct order: Wheels and tires should be cleaned before you clean and protect your car's paint.

The Best Carwash is a Hand Wash




"We recommend hand washing," says Mike Pennington, director of training at auto-surface-products giant Meguiar's. "Our customers enjoy doing it. It's not a chore." Hand washing gives you a chance to experience the tactile shape of your baby, and it's also a great way to inspect and familiarize yourself with the car's surfaces.



But, Pennington says, don't be like the 60 percent of the population that uses dishwashing detergent when washing the car. It gets the car clean, but strips any protective wax coatings, exposing the vehicle to possible nicks, scratches, and stains. A carwash solution will preserve your car's finish.



When water evaporates, it leaves minerals and dirt on the surface of your car. So when you're done with the wash, dry the surface with a rubber-blade squeegee. One example is the California Water Blade, a large silicone squeegee that some of our photographers use to dry cars quickly during photo shoots.

 
 
Clean Paint is Bright and Shiny




Often it takes more than just a wash to get your paint clean. Bird droppings and man-made pollutants settle on the paint and, after a while, can saturate through wax and clear coatings into the color coat underneath. With your car still out of the sun, run your dry hand across the surface of the paint. If it feels rough, it needs to be cleaned.



There are two ways to clean contaminants, as well as stained and scratched old wax, off your paint: chemically or physically (though Pennington says it usually requires a combination of the two). Paint cleaners are liquids that remove wax, and also clean the top layer of the paint by removing unwanted environmental chemicals that have bonded to the paint. Cleaners can also remove small scratches called swirl marks from the paint.



The second method is to clean paint by rubbing a small block of paint-cleaning clay lubricated with a liquid cleaner wax. "It's a safe way to remove contaminants," Pennington says. "You don't need a trained person or a machine." Just make sure you don't use a piece of clay if you have dropped it on the floor.

. Polish to Smooth Out Paint



The purpose of polish is to smooth the surface of the paint, which will make it shine and help your car look newer. (Some polishes contain wax, which also protects the paint, but the wax doesn't smooth the paint itself.) When you polish your paint, you can use an oscillating polishing machine. The pros use a rotating polishing machine, which works faster but will harm the paint if you're not careful. For DIYers new to detailing, oscillating buffers are more forgiving.



The pros have a trick to measure their results: Hagaman tells us that they can hold a ruler perpendicular to the surface of the car and see how far its reflection stretches. The higher the number they can read in the paint, the glossier the paint.

Protect Paint with Wax



You car had a new clear coat when it left the factory, but that coat wears off over time and leaves the paint to fend for itself against the elements. That's where wax comes in. Wax is sacrificial and will wear off over the course of a few months, but in that time it will absorb stains and small scratches before those hazards make it to the paint. We're told older folks prefer paste wax, while younger ones like liquids. The choice is simply personal preference—both products do the job equally well. Finally, the pro detailers usually use two coats of wax; the purpose of the second coat is to cover areas that the first might have missed. Just don't waste your time trying to apply additional coats for added protection. They don't adhere and will be wiped off with buffing.

Wax Every Season




Between paint cleanings and wax applications, you'll find you've picked up stains and scratches. Using liquid spray wax that can touch up these spots between waxings is a good idea but not a substitute for a real wax coating. Because there is no definitive way to tell when wax has worn off, stick to a schedule: Give your car a wax job every season if the vehicle spends every day outdoors.



Pennington says to forget the old tricks for telling when your car needs a wax, such as tossing a terry towel at the car and seeing if it will slide off. "Too many people take beading water to equal protection," he explains. "If you go to a paint shop, pull a car right out of the paint room, and spill water on it, it will bead like crazy, but there's not one layer of protection on it."

Make the Glass Shine




Clean the glass last, because it will have grime and dirt from the other steps. And find a glass cleaner without ammonia, which most household glass cleaners contain. Ammonia is bad for vinyl upholstery and the instrument panel. Plus, it stinks.



You'll get the best look if you buff glass with a microfiber cloth, which does a great job of getting rid of cleaner residue. That residue, as well as oils from your skin, causes streaks and spots on the inside of windows. Clean glass also looks great. Pro tip: To reach the inside of the rear window on sedans and coupes, use the back of your hand with the microfiber cloth and you'll find you can get much farther down the glass.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-tips-to-clean-and-detail-your-car-like-a-pro.html?page=10

12 more new cars worth waiting for in 2013

By Michael Frank - Popular Mechanics
 
Go back a few years and every new car shouted about mpg and economizing. This year, fuel efficiency is still important, but style is back for the new cars sporting 2013 and 2014 model years. Sportiness is taking center stage once more, and a fierce competition is about to happen between $20,000 and $30,000—so if you can't afford the next $100,000 Viper, fear not. Here are 12 cars we're waiting for over the next year or so.



2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

When: Late summer 2012
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $23,000

Right now, the Veloster lacks the performance cred to back up its killer looks. But that will change once this 201-hp version hits the streets. The 45 percent boost in horsepower has most folks taking a second look at the Veloster, and hoping this Turbo is a signal that Hyundai is getting as serious about performance as it has been about quality and design over the last few years.
So far, though, signs remain cloudy—the stonking 1.6-liter motor with dual exhaust notwithstanding. Word is the Veloster Turbo gets the same suspension, which is disappointing. The stock Veloster is fun but stiff-kneed and less refined when compared to better-bred sporty cars like VW's GTI—or the Subaru BRZ, which is only somewhat costlier than what we're expecting to see from the Veloster Turbo. Also, ask Mini engineers about controlling torque steer in a 200-hp car with a short wheelbase. That, too, has probably made Hyundai sweat.

Even if the Veloster Turbo isn't perfection out of the gate, we hope it's a sign of better-performing Hyundais (and Kias) to come.


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2013 Dodge Dart R/T
When: October 2012
How Much: $23,290

Most of the new front-wheel-drive Dart models go on sale this summer, and we like what we've driven so far. But the fastest of the breed, the R/T, holds off for a fall launch.

Like its less muscular brethren, the R/T rides on a Fiat chassis borrowed from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, with a fully independent suspension. We expect that suspension to be a little lower and stiffer in the R/T. The car will get the most horsepower of the lot, with a 184-hp 2.4-liter four under the hood.

At this point it's unclear if the R/T will come with only a six-speed manual or with a dual-clutch automatic as well. We do know that the R/T, like the Sonic RS, is going to face stiff competition from slightly pricier models, including the Ford Focus ST, the expected Fiesta ST, and the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. Even if these sporty cars are bunched around $25,000, slightly above the Dart R/T, their performance chops could put a pinch on sales of the Dodge.
    
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2013 SRT Viper
When: December 2012
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $100,000

With a 640-hp V-10 and a body made of magnesium, aluminum, and carbon fiber, we're expecting greatness from Chrysler's supercar. And at 100 grand, it'd better be great—there's already a Corvette ZR1 in this price range that can eat Ferraris, and the C7 will only up the ante. Plus there's a certain new Mustang that's far cheaper and should be mighty impressive too. And even if the Viper is faster than the Ford or Chevy in a straight line, it must improve its handling over the outgoing model. While SRT folks are claiming a scorching 0-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds and a 206-mph top speed for the new car, the last Viper was time-warp-fast too—and also saddled with unpredictable handling and frequent maintenance headaches.

Haunted by those ghosts of Vipers past, Chrysler engineers started over. They lowered the car's weight by about 140 pounds and made its chassis 50 percent stiffer. (That alone tells you how far Chrysler had to go to make a Viper that's world class.) The Tremec-supplied six-speed manual (no automatic, at least not yet) is said to have far lower clutch effort, while bringing tighter ratios and more precise feel. The suspension is entirely new, again with the aim of more predictable handling. And there's a multi-setting stability-control system with a full-off mode for the track. That could be great, but only if the car doesn't actually need the electronic assist to handle like a supercar.

That will be key. This Viper is designed to challenge cars that can reach nine tenths of their potential without technological guardrails. The SRT needs to get in that ballpark to be a real winner.


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2013 Ram 1500

When: Late 2012
How Much: Starting at around $22,000

There is an upside to the game of catch-up Chrysler is playing in so many segments: It gives the company an opportunity to try bold remakes that leap-frog the current benchmarks. We think the automaker chose wisely by doing this to its flagship Dodge pickup.

The Ram was due for a facelift, but rather than giving it a superficial makeover, Chrysler went for so many smart updates that Ford and GM will be chasing for their own answers. Start with aerodynamics, where Chrysler has altered the front wheel openings and given the truck's grille active shutters said to reduce drag by 3 to 5 percent. It added an eight-speed automatic transmission too, tied in electric power steering, and brought in start/stop technology to save gas in traffic.

All of these changes are included with any of the available engines, although the Ram's V-8s—the aging 4.8-liter and the 5.7-liter Hemi—are less noteworthy than the 3.6-liter V-6 that'll punch out 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. Ford's EcoBoost V-6 is still more powerful, pumping out 365 hp and 420 lb-ft in the F-150. But the Pentastar engine, used already in the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee and now available in the Ram, could be the more fuel-efficient choice, especially when combined with all the other tech Chrysler has brought to bear. And because most of the Ram's torque is available nearly from idle, at just 1800 rpm, load-haulers won't miss the V-8 unless they tow serious weight.

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2013 Chevy Sonic RS

When: Late 2012
How Much: TBD

Our Guess: No higher than $22,000 (any higher and the Sonic RS would bump up against more serious sports cars like the Subaru BRZ and probably the Ford Fiesta ST, which is still to come but should cost around $22,000)

The RS is a sportier Sonic with an affordable sticker. Yeah, we wish Chevy would cram its 2.0-liter Ecotec under the hood of the Sonic, but barring that, we'll get the Sonic RS with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four borrowed from the Chevy Cruze and good for 138 hp.

Still, this car gets more than just a mild exterior makeover. The six-speed manual has closer ratios and the suspension has been stiffened. The stock Sonic is already one of the tautest-handling cars in the "B" segment. Adding 17-inch rubber and a slightly lower suspension is going to make the RS a rip to drive.

There are also new rocker moldings and a new rear spoiler, but more important for the driver, the car gets sportier, firmer front buckets. The RS will be the only Sonic to get four-wheel discs as well as four-channel ABS with electronic brake-force distribution.

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2013 Subaru WRX

When: Early 2013
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $27,000 to $28,000

Recently the blogosphere has been alive with chatter that the next-gen Subaru WRX will get the FA motor developed for the Subaru BRZ, and this is one instance when there's logic behind the rumor. The FA engine can sit a lot lower in the car because it's more compact. A lower engine has many advantages, chief among them the ability to shove the mass farther rearward in the car for better balance. Better still, Subaru engineered the FA for higher compression from the start, so it should tolerate the amount of forced induction required to take it from 200 hp in the BRZ to the expected benchmark of 265 hp. And let's just say here that we'd bet Subaru designed its latest Impreza chassis with the WRX (not to mention the STi) in mind, and we'd bet the newest WRX will be lighter and more nimble as a result. A bonus: Fuel economy should jump a good 15 percent.



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2014 Jaguar F-Type Roadster

When: Summer 2013
How Much: $50,000 to $60,000

Jaguar's C-X16 concept from 2011 makes its production debut as the new F-Type with a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 that should make 380 hp. Expect at least one turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder derived from the Range Rover Evoque, but that powerplant probably won't be sold in the U.S. Both engines will be mated to eight-speed automatics with start–stop technology.


An aluminum body will keep weight down but price up. Expect this Jag to compete with the Porsche Boxster as well as with the Audi TT-RS. The platform may also underpin a forthcoming XF sedan replacement.


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2014 Audi A3

When: Mid-2013
How Much: $30,000 and up

The forthcoming A3 will be based on the VW Golf. It would be nice if the U.S. got the hatch, but that's unlikely. We probably will get a diesel A3, though, and the four-door sedan will come in a hotter S3 version that's also a possibility for North America, though an über-powerful RS3 is highly unlikely.

Hopefully the chassis that underpins the new Audi will be more modular than previous versions. That would allow integration of hybrid tech and front-drive or AWD setups that could shave weight on various Audis and Volkswagens, helping engineers to increase fuel economy while downsizing displacement.

 
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Chevrolet Corvette C7

When: Fall 2013
How Much: $50,000 and up

We know more about the next Vette than we did just a few months ago. Gone are thoughts of a split rear window, a turbocharged V-6, or a midengine design. It now appears that the C7 will debut at this coming winter's North American auto show in Detroit with a 5.5-liter V-8 that still uses pushrods. However, thanks to direct injection and higher compression, it's reasonable to expect the new Corvette to put out 440 hp, so it could match or best the outgoing 6.0-liter.

The car will be visually arresting for certain. Inspiration will come at least in part from the present Camaro. One sure bet—GM will finally, praise heaven, give its $50,000 Ferrari slayer an interior that's gorgeous, and with seats that hold the driver comfortably on track day.

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2014 Jeep Liberty

When: Mid-2013
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: $22,000 to $24,000

Jeep has a real conundrum on its hands. Diehard off-roading loyalists want every Jeep to be capable of conquering mule paths and mud bogs. But the RAV4, CR-V, and Santa Fe buyers that Jeep would like to entice don't care about rock-crawling prowess. They care about modern amenities such as hitting 70 mph highway speeds with low noise and vibration and little harshness; carlike handling; and reliability. All-wheel drive is fine if it gets you out of the driveway on a snowy morning, but that's as much Trail Rating as they need.

We think that means Chrysler is going to push back against those sensitive Jeep fans, hard. That translates to a Liberty that is a Jeep in name but carries the same chassis that undergirds the new Dodge Dart. Expect a fully independent suspension and 4WD but no low range, even if hill-descent control is an option. There's also rumor of an all-new V-6 (the outgoing 3.7-liter V-6 was anemic, unrefined, and thirsty), and a ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic. That would mean a whopping five more forward gears than the outdated four-speed auto in the old Liberty (pictured above). The base Liberty could have the same 1.4-liter turbo deployed in the new Dart, and, though it is sacrilege to some Jeep fans, front-wheel drive.


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2014 Porsche Macan

When: Mid-2013
How Much: Low $40,000s

Porsche loyalists, look away. You might cry foul over this latest VW Group tie-up with Porsche, but Porsche can't hear you over the ka-ching of all those dollars, euros, yen, and yuan.

We actually have high hopes for the Audi Q5–based Macan. The reason: The Q5 could be much more capable than it is, but while we don't foresee Audi bringing us an R-edition Q5, we can believe Porsche would go there.

At first, we expect Porsche to go for improved handling, the way it built the Cayenne to be a more capable high-speed machine than the VW Touareg. AWD will be a given, as will two Audi-derived engines, the 237-hp 2.0-liter turbo four and the 288-hp V-6. Rumors suggest that a manual gearbox could be possible, but we're betting on a seven-speed auto, though there's still hope it could come in a dual-clutch arrangement.


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2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA

When: Late 2013
How Much: TBD
Our Guess: As high as $45,000 for the AMG, mid-$30,000 range for later CLAs

Mercedes has been toying with bringing Americans a compact Benz since Harry Truman was in the White House. Okay, not quite, but it seems that way. Think of how much money Mercedes hasn't made while BMW brought the 1 Series, and then several hundred thousand Minis, to the U.S.

Now Mercedes is finally pulling the trigger. What the CLA promises, Mercedes says, is something slicker than we've seen on American shores, and the first A-Class to grace the New World will arrive as an AMG with a muscular 300-hp turbocharged four-cylinder fed to all-wheel drive. It's even possible we'll see a double-clutch, seven-speed automatic.

Only the sedan version of the smallest Benz will come to America, probably because the hatch versions of the 1 Series and the Audi A3 haven't sold well here. After the CLA AMG debuts, though, we will see more fuel-efficient CLAs with smaller engines, possibly a diesel, and front-wheel drive.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/12-more-new-cars-worth-waiting-for.html?page=12


follow @wheelsnrims





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Cars for the Rich

Koenigsegg Agera R

Koenigsegg has never made a sane car in its entire history – it has Veyron-matching performance but with only two driven wheels. The 2012 Agera R has hollow carbon-fibre wheels (which would be terrifyingly expensive if you kerbed one) more power – 1,124bhp – and a claimed top speed of 273mph. Hardly surprising this level of lunacy costs money; expect to start negotiations at around £1.25million.

Bentley Flying Star

If you’re in the market for a Bentley then it’s fair to assume that you don’t mind paying extra to get exactly what you want, but sometimes even your demands may make the Crewe folk scratch their collective heads. If more space is what you want then try the Flying Star, just 20 examples of which will be built by design house Touring Superleggera. With a two-metre loadspace and an electric tailgate, prices are “according to the buyer’s demands” – so you’ll need over £100,000 just to get started.

Pagani Huyara

The Pagani Zonda is no more, with the even more crazy Huyara to go in its place. More carbon fibre, more power and active aerodynamics to improve performance. It doesn’t go on sale until 2013 but that still might not be enough time to save; £880,000 is only enough for the standard version…

Brabus GV12 800
If you’ve not heard of Brabus, think of them as the evil twin of Mercedes performance brand AMG. They specialise in stuffing unfeasibly powerful engines into already-powerful AMG models – if it’s improbable and outrageous then they’ll have a go. The GV12 800 inserts the twin-turbocharged V12 under the bonnet of the G-Wagen 4x4 to give 789bhp and a limited maximum torque of 811lb.ft. This kind of madness starts at a trifling £364,000.

Mansory GTC

What is it about Bentleys that seem to attract those with questionable taste? If a regular GTC isn’t to your taste then there are plenty of firms that will load it up with extras, like Mansory. There’s a carbon-fibre bodykit, massive 22in wheels, an extra 100bhp brought about by engine tweaks and as for the cabin, essentially anything goes. With the standard car costing £150,000, you can easily spend half as much again – or more.

Disco Volante 2012


Those crazy folk at Touring Superleggera are at it again. This time they will create for you a homage to a classic 1952 Alfa C52 Disco Volante, but before they do that you have to hand over your Alfa 8C. That will have cost you £100,000 to start with, then Touring Superleggera will spend six months fitting a hand-crafted aluminium and carbon-fibre body. Don’t expect change out of £100,000.

Maybach 57S




The end is officially nigh for the Maybach, as Mercedes-Benz has decided that its super-luxury saloon isn’t the sales success that it could have been. Still, it took to the stand at Geneva as one of the most expensive production cars that money can buy. £318,620 gets you that rarefied name and the most luxurious cabin, but unfortunately it doesn’t buy you class.

Rolls Royce Phantom II




Meanwhile the Maybach’s arch-rival over the Rolls-Royce stand has plutocrats forming an orderly queue. The Phantom II has a few minor exterior tweaks but the overall shape remains just on the right side of imposing, while underneath there’s a new gearbox and small efficiency improvements. Not that this will bother you if you can run to the expected price of almost £300,000.

 
 
Range Rover Autobiography




Is there such a thing as a sensible car for the super-rich? Well if any car can be such an oxymoron it’s the Range Rover Autobiography. It’s as classy and impressive as it’s always been (bar the slightly garish LED lights) and in Autobiography form has the mighty supercharged V8 under the bonnet. It’s loaded with kit as standard but you can add to the £87,000 list price to your heart’s content.

Aston Martin Zagato



It’s not unreasonable to expect an Aston Martin V12 to cost serious money, but even fans of the brand would wince at the sticker price of this particular version. Based on the Vantage V12, the Zagato adds a bespoke aluminium body and a whole heap of money to the asking price. A regular V12 Vantage costs £135,000, but the Zagato is almost £400,000.