Aston Martin V12 Vantage won't make it Stateside

Dropping big engines into small sportscars is as American as apple pie, but the British are equally adept. Proof came yesterday in the form of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, revealed ahead of its pre-production debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Only 1000 examples will be made, but unfortunately none of them will be making the transatlantic voyage to these shores (not legally, anyway). After speaking with a member of the U.S. Aston team last night, we discovered there are some problems with the overstuffed front end passing U.S. crash tests, and the airbag-less optional Alcantara-wrapped carbon-Kevlar bucket seats are completely out of the question, making the Nardo-verified 190-mph supercar persona non grata on these shores.

Disappointing though that may be, the V12 Vantage is only one of four anticipated new launches from Aston Martin this year. We've already seen the first official shots of the Rapide four-door coupe, the DBS convertible is tipped to bow at Geneva alongside the V12 Vantage, and despite economic conditions, Aston is still said to be going ahead with the launch of the first model in its revived Lagonda line (to say nothing of the full reveal of the One-77.)