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What is it?

Well, it certainly isn’t a facelift, because despite considerable under-the-skin modifications, the exterior of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage has been left unaltered except for a new wheel design. The big news in what Aston is calling a “technical enhancement” – an enlargement of the V8 from 4.3 to 4.7 litres, with power rising to 420bhp (up 11 per cent) and torque to 347lb ft (up 15 per cent).
The chassis has been tweaked, with the coupé inheriting the improved componen...Read the full article

Plus ca change! Compared to a 911 S, the Vantage's higher cost is acceptable (economies of scale, exclusivity etc), but it's poor performance relative to engine size (4.7 litres vs 3.8), curiously greater weight (aluminium/composite/steel vs 911's ALL-steel) & thirst, still add up to a car that underperforms in all areas, aside from front/rear engine preference & looks. Surely, Aston has to start producing cars that are 'more than just a pretty face' asap?

And another thought, why re-bore the current Jag-derived V8 to 4.7 litres & not wait for Jag's new 5.0-litre V8, which will also be lighter & more fuel/CO2 efficient? Or does Tata's deal with Ford re Jag not include Aston engine supply?

this was probably developed around the same time - assuming engines take more then a year to develop. May be they don't need the 300cc extra.

Disagree with 6th replicant's view. I would love to be in the market for one of these, or a Porsche for that matter. If I was, I don't think I would really give two hoots about the performance comparisons as the figures for the Aston are fantastic in most respects (apart from the fuel economy, but at this price level I reckon most wouldn't be that fussed). It is not all about whether it can beat Porsche or whoever else round the Nurburgring, its still mega fast anyway. The fact that it is a pretty face, sounds FANTASTIC, and has a way superior interior (in terms of perceived luxury if not sportiness) would swing it for me. But I'd imagine any Aston or Porsche would be very rewarding. At this end of the market, unless you're a dedicated track day enthusiast (how many Aston enthusiasts can say that?) I think the performance differences between Aston, Porsche, or whatever else would be irrelevent to 99.99999% of potential buyers. Other than for pub bragging rights.

Julian, a point that I have been trying to press home for some time now, when Autocar and others bang on about the way a road car performs on track. Exactly right 99.999% of people are not bothered what a road car does on track and would they really be able to tell the difference if they were bothered?

And for what it's worth, even if the Aston is slower I would rather have one over a Porsche anyday. It's  not likely to happen though.

Accept your overall point, julianphillips, from an emotive POV. But it's still a matter of priciple(s) that the Vantage is the shorter car, uses more lightweight materials, has a larger engine, yet is still heavier, slower & thirstier than its main rival - and in engineering terms, surely that is a poor result? And let's not start comparing build-quality & reliability. (And no, I'm not a 911 fan - the engine is in the wrong place!) It's not simply a case of 'pub bragging rights' or track day performance: day-to-day the 911 is quicker & uses less fuel. Fact. I just think that the Vantage should at least match the 911 S - even to be as quick but use a wee bit more fuel cos of the bigger engine would be OK. The pride of British automotive engineering is at stake!!

Good point, but if only it was that simple.
Beating porsche at their own game is increadibly, unbelievably difficult, and much easier said than done. It isn't a matter of Aston's chief designer saying "hey guys, the 911 is lighter, faster and more ecomonical. Let's make the V8 vantage to match it".

Porsche is one of the richest car companies on the planet, and they have been making and refining the 911 for decades, using some of the finest engineering minds on the planet, with (in recent years) absolutely vast development budgets. It has a bespoke engine, and a bespoke chassis, desgined from the ground up to work together.

The V8 vantage was made under cash-strapped ford, and the whole car probably had the R&D budget of the 911s engine alone. It had to use a hand-me-down engine from Jaguar, and a version of the VH platform underpinning the DB9. It would have taken a miracle for them to out-do the 911, or even match it.

And the differences are pretty slim:
                    0-60      top speed       mpg     bhp/litre
Aston             4.7           180             20        89
Porsche         4.6            182            24         92

Admittedly the price is miles different, but that really can be put down to the fact Porsche makes 10 times as many 911s as Aston makes V8 vantages. Personally, if I was in that position, I'd take the exclusivity of the Aston.

Both Lotus and Noble have proven they can make cars that handle as
well as Porsche's. I think the Aston was just really made on a silly small
budget (as was said) . I know this will sound hard to believe but in all truth
the new Mondeo probably has a better chassis, and as such a small coupe
derived from it with the V8, would be better than the AMV8.

 One also gets the feeling that Aston will continue to develop with the

wing and prayer mentality it has up to now; continuing to rely on this

exact chassis for all its future iterations. And this coming from a Mr.
Richards who knows how to make the best handling road cars of all.
Imagine if Mr. R one day drover over in his prodrive designed P2 for
a little back to back drive with this V8. The V8 does look very nice
of course.