ADVANTAGE ASTON?(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 124

Vantage. An evocative name for a magnificent bloodline of thoroughbred sports cars. For eight decades, the heartbeat of Aston Martin's purest models, the Vantage nameplate has been worn by some of its most memorable designs - and this is another of them, now considerably improved with more power, sharper handling and a new cabin design. If you think you know what an Aston is and can be - and you haven't tried this enhanced Vantage, then you might need to think again. As with the brand's other models, you might still buy it because of the way it looks or because it makes you feel like James Bond. We think though, that you'll simply want one because it's a very, very good sports car.

Background word count: 149

For the last few decades, the Vantage has been the entry-level Aston Martin - the one you chose if you couldn't quite stretch to one of the brand's slightly larger and faster models. This car took a step up-market with the launch of the modern era version in 2018, which got detail changes in 2021. In early 2024, this design was much more significantly updated to create the faster, smarter and more luxurious Vantage we look at here. There's been a shift of emphasis here. Where the original version of this current Vantage design targeted Porsche 911 Carrera S and Audi R8 performance opposition, this one has its sights set little higher - on much faster super coupes like the Porsche 911 Turbo S and the latest Mercedes-AMG GT 63S. Can it really justify those expectations? And the exalted pricing that goes with them? Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience word count: 232

An awful lot has gone on with the engineering here. Yes, the Mercedes-AMG-sourced twin turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine up-front is basically the same, but now it develops an awful lot more power - 656bhp, 153bhp more than before. It's now very much a bespoke Vantage engine, with larger turbos, higher boost pressures, reprofiled camshafts and an optimised compression ratio. Drive is still sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed auto transmission mounted on the rear axle alongside an electronically-controlled limited slip differential. That gearbox has been toughened up, recalibrated and gives a shorter final drive for greater in-gear punch and a higher top speed (now rated at 202mph). 0-62mph takes 3.5s (0.2s faster than before), the same as the old limited-run V12 Vantage S. There are lots of changes beyond the engine too. The springs have been recalibrated and the dampers tweaked too, now working with a more sophisticated integrated vehicle dynamics system. As before, there's an adaptive damping system which incorporates Skyhook technology and offers the choice of Sport, Sport Plus and Track modes. Aston claims a 30% increase in stiffness across the rear axle. And reckons that an improvement in steering feel is the first thing drivers will notice about this improved model, achieved thanks to a new non-isolated steering column. The car was developed on UK roads and uses grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 5S tyres bespoke-developed for it.