The next Aston Martin Vantage will have "more than 500hp and 505lb ft of torque" when it is revealed on the 21 November.
Aston Martin dynamics chief engineer Matt Becker revealed the statistics and also that the Vantage will have a dry weight of 1530kg in a new promotional video (below), which features Red Bull Racing ace Max Verstappen.
2018 Aston Martin Vantage revealed
Verstappen has provided Aston Martin engineers with feedback on the car as part of the brand's partnership with the Formula 1 racer's team. Part of his stint in the car, which will use the Mercedes-AMG V8 engine recently launched in the DB11, is shown in the video.
The Vantage's 4.0-litre twin turbocharged V8 is supplied as part of a technical collaboration between Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG and will use the former’s software. In the V8 DB11, it's good for 503bhp, suggesting the Vantage could produce the same.
That extra power over the existing 430bhp in the current V8 Vantage is set to help undercut the outgoing 0-62mph time of 4.8sec, edging the car closer to 4.0sec. The top speed will exceed 190mph. Aston Martin is expected to offer the new Vantage with a choice of a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Becker also confirms that the car's wheelbase is 100mm shorter than the DB11 in the video. The new car's aluminium structure is based on the one used by its larger sibling, but will be engineered to offer enhanced agility and adjustability.
The car featured in the video is a second-phase development model, having come after the first mule and with two more cars due to follow. Although the Vantage's design is yet to be finalised, the current test car offers a good insight to how it'll look.
It sports a cleaner front end with a far more prominent grille than on the DB10, to which it has in the past been compared in terms of styling. Patent images that more clearly show the exterior's design (they first appeared on Autoguide) also reveal a large rear diffuser, and subdued styling, with the lights occupying a thin strip on the car's top trailing edge.
The car will feature a full-length rear light strip - a fashionable design trend that's also applied to models such as the new Porsche 911.
Like the current Vantage, a V12 variant is also due, using the same 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged engine found in the V12 DB11. A hardcore AMR-branded track car and GTE racer are also likely to be on the agenda.
The V8 Vantage will cost slightly more than the current car’s £94,995 starting price.
As part of a new model blitz, all of Aston Martin’s key cars will be refreshed and joined by an all-new DBX SUV and Lagonda. The electric RapidE was also confirmed earlier this year as a limited-run model to enter production in 2019.
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150 kilos more than
a Porsche 911 is just sad. This car is simply too heavy. Simple issue is not enough funds for a high strength matrix of metals or carbon in the chassis. Still using decade old AL tech that wont cut it. Sad that even with MB money the car is largely just an electronics and engine update.
jl4069 wrote:
I think the V8 sitting up front will account for a fair amount of extra weight, and where are you getting your information about using old tech? I think its probably time to find a new source...
150 kilos more than
a Porsche 911 is just sad. This car is simply too heavy. Simple issue is not enough funds for a high strength matrix of metals or carbon in the chassis. Still using decade old AL tech that wont cut it. Sad that even with MB money the car is largely just an electronics and engine update.
A reasonable argument, but...
A reasonable argument. On the other hand… I think Ford’s theft of Aston Martin’s grill is 1) criminal and 2) casts doubt on the ability of Ford’s design team to create good design without stealing it from someone else. I don’t think Aston should feel compelled to alter something so iconic and that has been such an important part of their design for so long because Ford stole it (nor do I know that’s the reason they did alter its shape). IMO, the best implementations of Aston’s grill are those on the DB4/5/6, the original Vanquish and the current Vantage. Aston design should be about elegance as well as sportiness, with the very aggressive stuff left for more extreme versions of their models and the very limited edition cars. To me, the new version of the grill, which is widest across the bottom, loses much of the elegance and grace of the original shape (which tapers in toward the bottom). BTW, I think the messing around with the also-iconic wing vent with the strake through it should be left alone -- it looks best as originally designed.