Aston Martin has taken the covers off the all-new Vantage and we can hardly contain ourselves. For decades, the Vantage nameplate has been worn by some true icons. First used in 1951 on an engine option for the DB2, Vantage was eventually established as a model in its own right. Highlights include the William Towns-designed V8 Vantage, the twin-supercharged V600 Le Mans and the much-loved V8 Vantage. Now there’s an entirely new iteration which, rather interestingly, is powered an AMG-derived engine.
Design highlights on the new Vantage include minimal front and rear overhangs, muscular flanks and broad haunches. The headlights now are quite small although the rear taillight is truly spectacular.
The heart of the Vantage is an AMG-derived 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. It is set low and as far back in the chassis as possible for perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
Paired to a rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, this new engine develops 510bhp at 6000rpm and 685Nm of torque between 2000-5000rpm.
The performance figures are just as impressive as the look of the car. The Vantage does 0-100kmph in 3.6 seconds before hitting a top speed of 314kmph.
For the first time on an Aston Martin, the new Vantage features an electronic rear differential. Unlike any conventional LSD, it can go from fully open to 100 per cent locked in a matter of milliseconds.
The chassis is an evolution of the bonded aluminium structure first seen on the DB11, though some 70 per cent of the structure’s components are new for the Vantage.
Highlights of the chassis include a solidly mounted rear sub frame, Pirelli P Zero tyres developed specifically for the new Vantage and adaptive dampers.
The Vantage includes keyless start/stop, tyre pressure monitoring system, park assist and front and rear parking sensors and an 8-inich infotainment screen.
The options list, meanwhile, includes sports seats, sports steering wheel, full leather interior, alternative seat belt colours and different design and material for various trim pieces.
The new Vantage is now on sale in the UK, Germany and in the US. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2018.
