Aston Martin unveils ‘fastest’ Vantage in model’s 74-year history with 200mph top speed & unique changes
ASTON Martin has unveiled the all-new Vantage, said to be the “fastest” in the model’s 74-year history, with a top speed of 200mph and some unique design changes.
The luxury British brand is looking to rival Porsche’s 911 lineup with an overhaul of its sports car offerings.
The new car was dramatically unveiled from beneath a Union Jack in an introductory clip posted to X, while the manufacturer also released a glossy promo video featuring F1 legend Fernando Alonso.
By the looks of things, the new vantage is set to be just as comfortable on a track as it is on the open road, with a roaring double-turbocharged V8 engine and pinpoint handling blasting it around corners at daring speed.
That’s actually a reduction on the formerly V12 Vantage, but promises equal power thanks to the engineering modifications, boasting a whopping 656 horsepower.
When all that is blasted down onto the tarmac, it puts out a 3.5s 0-60mph time and a top speed of just a tick over 200mph.
Aston also promises a “more visceral and more vocal character” to the motor, with a more aggressive torque output meaning drivers can feel every drop of acceleration under their feet.
The ride has also been revised, with the rear end now a precise 29% stiffer than before.
This gives the car more of a hard edge and better handling quality, with comfort maintained by a smart dynamics system that can measure and react to force across six dimensions.
Inside, the designer emphasised “sporting ambience” combined with “supreme luxury”.
The Vantage borrows Aston’s patented infotainment system from the latest DB12, with support for Apple and Android devices, “intuitive” sat nav and digital dashboard.
It also features a bespoke Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system that was specifically engineered for the model.
As a complete package, the new Vantage is hailed as a “quintessential Aston Martin sports car” and “an authentic, unadulterated celebration of pure performance”.
It will debut in hardtop spec first, with a convertible Volante version expected to follow it in the near future.
No official pricing structure has been released, but Autocar reports that the new model will start at £165,000.
The company said: “The latest in an iconic bloodline, Aston Martin is proud to introduce the new Vantage…the most driver-focused and fastest in the famous nameplate’s 74-year history.
“A design refocused through a contemporary lens, Vantage champions the qualities that have gripped enthusiasts for generations but are increasingly hard to find in today’s sports car market.
“This new Vantage reflects the most dynamic period in Aston Martin’s 111-year history.”
Five things to know about the Aston Martin Vantage
- The Vantage name first appeared in 1951, attached to the DB2 Model
- It was first produced as a standalone model in 1972
- A 1977 V8 Vantage was driven by Timothy Dalton in Bond film The Living Daylights and also appeared in 2021’s No Time To Die
- Examples have been owned by stars including Rowan Atkinson and David Beckham
- A limited edition V12, released in 2022, remains on sale – if you can get hold of one of the 249 ever made
And the brand’s chief executive Amedeo Felisa added: “As we enter a period of pivotal change in the world of high-performance cars it is essential to remain true to those qualities upon which a legendary marque has been built.
“Any car bearing the Vantage name has much to live-up to, which is why this newest model makes an unwavering commitment to high-performance in its purest and most explicit form.
“Class-leading power and speed establish its credentials, but it is through expert application of the latest technologies to the Vantage’s perfectly balanced front-engine rear-drive chassis that we have created a sports car with addictive capability.
“Together with assertive styling, all-new interior and state-of-the-art infotainment, Vantage is world-class in every respect.”
It comes after Jeremy Clarkson added a modified sports car to his extensive collection following the latest Grand Tour episode.