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A patent application discovered by AutoGuide.com could reveal the design for the next Aston Martin Vantage.

The filings, which were submitted with Japan’s patent office this week, show a design sketch for a small, two-door, front engine Aston Martin sports car. To us that only means one thing: it’s the new Vantage. It’s impossible to say for sure and often times these patent filings never materialize into real-world product, but the current Vantage has been with us since 2005, so the clock is ticking for Aston to finalize a design for the new model.

Aston seems keen on this particular design, having first filed a patent application with the European patent office for it around this time last year. The design is reminiscent of other recent Aston models, with a frowning front-end that reminds us of the track-only Vulcan and thin taillights similar to those seen on the DB11. A vented hood an aggressive rear diffuser are evidence of its sporting aspirations.

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The next-generation Vantage will ride on a shortened version of the DB11’s lightweight aluminum platform. It will also share an engine range with the larger grand tourer, with the V12 Vantage using the DB11’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 and the V8 version using its AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Both automatic and manual transmissions will likely be on offer, with Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer once telling Car & Driver the brand “would love to be the last car manufacturer providing stick shifts in the U.S.”

An official debut date for the next-gen Vantage is not yet known, but according to Autocar, it could be unveiled later this year. No matter when it’s destined to arrive, it seems likely that this patent filing has given us a pre-screening of its exterior styling.