“I can’t help feeling that cars like this will soon be consigned to the history books. I have this horrible, dreadful feeling that what I’m driving here is an ending…” J Clarkson, reviewing the V12 Vantage in 2009.

The boss’s words ring loud in my ears as the V12 Zagato crests the Furka Pass and the Alps yawn out beneath us. A mile and a half above Europe, the Aston’s venerable V12 beats a tattoo off the cliffs, warm morning sun flashing over aquamarine bodywork, and I am struck by a happy thought: JC was wrong. Three years since he delivered his epitaph to the finest modern Aston, here we are, atop Switzerland in a car that shows the V12 Vantage to be far from dead. The big-engined, beautiful GT is alive and wearing a new Italian suit.

Words: Sam Philip

Pics: Lee Brimble

This feature first appeared in the September issue of Top Gear magazine