Aston Martin Launches New Vantage, and it’s Gorgeous

This might be the prettiest Aston Martin in the long history of a company known for making pretty cars.

Aston Martin is calling the new Vantage “the successor to a true sporting dynasty.” This is a reference to the fact that they’ve been using the name off and on since the early 1970s. But this latest one is perhaps the ultimate expression of the model to date.

Where the DB11 is a large touring car, the Vantage is a proper sports machine. Based on the specs alone, this is the car we’d rather have. Of course, there’s more to it than that.

For one, it’s a stunningly beautiful shape. And while it doesn’t stray too far from Aston’s established design language, we’re glad it doesn’t share the DB11’s polarizing ‘floating C-pillar.’

At its heart lies a new all-aluminum 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, cribbed in large part from the Mercedes lineup. In Vantage configuration, the engine produces 503 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque. The engine is set low and far back in the chassis, and the 8-speed ZF gearbox is slung out back in transaxle form. Because of this, Aston claims a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. The car weighs 3,373 pounds dry, giving it a pretty decent power to weight ratio. The famed British marque claims a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds, and the Vantage will continue on to a top speed of 195 miles per hour.
 

ALSO SEE: TeamSpeed’s Exclusive Aston Martin DB11 V8 First Drive

 
Its chassis is an evolution of the bonded aluminum architecture found in the DB11. Though here, most of its components are new and specific to the Vantage. The focus was to increase strength and rigidity, as well as something Aston is calling “weight efficiency.” The rear subframe is solid-mounted to the chassis for handling purity and consistency, giving the driver a proper feel for what the rear tires are doing at all times. Speaking of tires, the Vantage makes use of specifically developed Pirelli P-Zeroes. It’s also equipped with a next-generation Adaptive Damping System, allowing Sport, Sport Plus, and Track modes of operation.

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer says “I’m enormously excited by what we’ve created: a new Vantage that’s more explicit in looks and intent, wrapping heart-pounding performance and dazzling dynamics into an everyday usable package. A true sports car with a sharper look and a keener dynamic edge, the new Vantage is the Aston Martin pure driving machine enthusiasts have been waiting for.â€�

The new Vantage is on sale now with a recommended retail price from $149,995 in the USA. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the third quarter of 2018.