2018 Aston Martin Vantage spotted testing in Britain

I thought the Rapide was going to be discontinued in favor of the Lagonda? Outside of the Lagonda being more expensive then the Rapida, wasn't it determined that the Lagonda out shined the Rapide in every way (interior space, driving dynamics, style, exclusivity and history with the brand), even though they are both derived from the same platform? While I have always loved the Rapide, with the compromises that were/are built into it (lack of rear space being the main one [and I do understand that this could be resolved with the next generation model]), wouldn't a vehicle like the Lagonda be better suited the compete with vehicles ranging from the Porsche Panamera to the Bentley Flying Spur? Should they keep it I'm sure they can find a place for it, but for such a small company I'm sure they are concerned about over extending themselves.

I have a V8 vantage that I bought new almost 7 years ago, and I love it, so I’m very interested in this. It’s hard to tell given all the camouflage, but I think the proportions look good. I hope it doesn’t have the “roof strakes” of the DB11, and the side mirror mounts that wrap around the base of the windshield pillars makes it look like the pillars are broken at their base. PLEASE give it real instruments – the DB11’s screens are a massive let down, and so ordinary compared to the truly beautiful instruments in the current cars (and the DB10’s instruments are stunning). Most importantly: If the new V8 engine is an off-the-shelf AMG engine that differs from those in AMG cars only in its electronics and exhaust – if the engine itself is unchanged – I will NOT BUY ONE. The V8 in the current cars, while “based on” the Jaguar 4.2 V8, is IMO an Aston Martin engine – it has its own bespoke block, crank, rods, bearings, pistons, rings, heads, cams, valves, etc. Aston Martin clearly recognizes the importance of this to the marque, as evidenced by the DB11’s new V12 being a bespoke Aston engine. This is just as important for the V8 – using someone else’s off-the-shelf engine would skewer the credibility of the marque as a maker of top-tier thoroughbred cars. One major reason I didn’t buy a Bentley Continental is that underneath there’s a modified VW Phaeton platform and VW/Audi engines (however good they may be is completely beside the point). I won’t buy the next Conti either as it will again share platforms and engines with various other VW Group products. An “Aston Martin” with someone else’s engine is intrinsically wrong, just as a Ferrari with someone else’s engine would be intrinsically wrong.