Gaydon, England  - British sports car maker Aston Martin will unveil its V12 Vantage car at the Geneva Motor Show in a limited run of 1,000 units after preview concept designs of the super car at several previous shows.

Based on the V8 Vantage, the sporty credentials of the V12 are underlined by larger air-intakes on the front skirts, and a rear spoiler lip for better road holding at high speed. The six-litre engine produces 510 horsepower with a top speed of over 300 kilometres. Acceleration is from zero to 100 km/h is 4.2 seconds.

"This is the ultimate performance car of the Vantage range, combining our most agile model with our most powerful engine," says Aston Martin chief executive Ulrich Bez.

Engineers managed to achieve what the car maker describes as a "near-perfect weight distribution" with a transaxle-mounted gearbox which sees 85 per cent of the weight positioned between the front and rear axles. The engine is positioned as far back and as low as possible to contribute to the 51/49 weight distribution.

While the external dimensions of the V8 remain unchanged, the front structure of the V12 has been moved in front of the suspension towers to house the large engine, brake-cooling system and twin air intake system, said the car maker.

Drivers can opt for one of two driving modes. The default "normal" is suitable for everyday driving in urban areas and heavy traffic while the "sport" mode delivers a sharper throttle response with a sportier exhaust note. (dpa)