The Aston Martin Vantage has been given a bit of a mid-life makeover, and by makeover we mean loads more power
Ollie Kew
EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
This is the new 656bhp Aston Martin Vantage – and the big question is, has it been stuffed with too much power? The ‘baby’ Aston has taken a massive leap up from 500bhp, gaining a DB12-style interior revamp on the way.
Aston’s decided every car it makes should be the most powerful in its class, so it’s had a good look at the new Mercedes-AMG GT (577bhp), Ferrari Roma (612bhp) and Porsche 911 Turbo S (641bhp) and whacked the 4.0-litre twin-turbo AMG V8 up by over 150bhp.
Besides bigger turbos, 50 per cent more cooling and new camshafts, Aston has signed a new agreement with AMG that allows it more engine tweaking. Now you have proper supercar pace, with 0–60mph in 3.4 and a top speed of 202mph. You’ll get there more seamlessly because the 8spd auto doesn’t just have slender new paddles that turn with the wheel instead of sitting stubbornly on the column – the software is new, the shifts faster. Shorter final drive too.
That power means the front grille is larger and there are more effective vents in the bonnet. The rear track is a chunky 30mm wider too, to cope with the poke. Hence wider, bespoke tyres. New suspension with sharper performance on track. A recalibrated electric rear diff. Stronger steering mounts and revised mapping that worked wonders on the DBS 770 Ultimate. And more bracing up front, across the rear, and along the floor.
Everything’s changed for the better inside, thanks to a dash borrowed shamelessly from the DB12. The digital dials are clearer and cleverer. There’s the new Aston touchscreen, which works, a Porsche-like console with physical buttons for suspension, exhaust and traction control settings, and a stubby gearlever instead of the irritating old ‘PRND’ buttons. You even get a glovebox. It’s not perfect: the Aston key is still as huge as a computer mouse and visibility all round is rubbish. You’ll have to hope everyone hears you coming, thanks to the quad-pipe exhaust, now standard.
Options include all of the carbon fibre in the known universe, ceramic brakes that save 27kg in unsprung weight, and forged wheels. Select all of the weight saving bits like bucket seats and you’ll manage to trim the overall weight down to around 1,700kg – this isn’t a light car, but it is now one that’s extremely powerful.
