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The Aston Martin Vantage is a series of hand-built
sports cars
A sports car is a car designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1900s and are currently produced by ...
from the British automotive manufacturer
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC is an English manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers. Its predecessor was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Steered from 1947 by David Brown, it became associated with ...
. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high-performance variants of their existing
GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s. The modern car, in contrast, is the leanest and most agile car in Aston's lineup. As such, it is intended as a more focused model to reach out to potential buyers of cars such as the
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 (pronounced ''Nine Eleven'' or in german: Neunelfer) is a two-door 2+2 high performance rear-engined sports car introduced in September 1964 by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a rear-mounted flat-six engine and origin ...
as well as the exotic sports and GT cars with which Aston Martins traditionally compete.
Production of the V8 Vantage ended in 2017 while production of the V12 Vantage continued until 2018. The 2005 Vantage and its variants became the most successful model in Aston Martin's history. Aston Martin unveiled the
next-generation Vantage in November 2017, and started its production run the following year.
Overview
Following the unveiling of the AMV8 Vantage
concept car
A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...
in 2003 at the
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...
, the production version, known as the V8 Vantage was introduced at the
Geneva Motor Show
The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by th ...
in 2005 for the 2006 model year. The two-seat, two-door
coupé
A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and two doors.
The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the French past parti ...
had a bonded aluminium structure for strength and lightness. The long car featured a
hatchback
A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume. ...
-style tailgate for practicality, with a large luggage shelf behind the seats. In addition to the coupé, a convertible, known as the V8 Vantage Roadster, was introduced later in that year.
The V8 Vantage was initially powered by a
quad-cam 32-valve V8 which produced at 7,300 rpm and at 5,000 rpm. However, models produced after 2008 had a 4.7-litre V8 with and of torque.
Though based loosely on
Jaguar
The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus '' Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the th ...
's
AJ-V8 engine architecture, this engine was unique to Aston Martin and featured race-style
dry-sump
A dry-sump system is a method to manage the lubricating motor oil in four-stroke and large two-stroke piston driven internal combustion engines. The dry-sump system uses two or more oil pumps and a separate oil reservoir, as opposed to a conve ...
lubrication, which enabled it to be mounted low in the chassis for an improved centre of gravity. The cylinder block and heads, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, camshafts, inlet and exhaust manifolds, lubrication system and engine management were all designed in house by Aston Martin and the engine was assembled by hand at the AM facility in
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
, Germany, which also built the
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine where two banks of six cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V12 engines are more common than V10 engines. However, they are less common than V8 engines.
The fi ...
for the
DB9 and
Vanquish.
The engine was front mid-mounted with a rear-mounted
transaxle
A transaxle is a single mechanical device which combines the functions of an automobile's transmission, axle, and differential into one integrated assembly. It can be produced in both manual and automatic versions.
Engine and drive at the ...
, giving a 49/51 front/rear weight distribution. Slotted
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
brakes were also standard. The original V8 Vantage could accelerate from 0 to in 4.8 seconds before topping out at .
In 2008, Aston Martin introduced an aftermarket dealer approved upgrade package for power and handling of the 4.3-litre variants that maintained the warranty with the company. The power upgrade was called the V8 Vantage Power Upgrade, creating a more potent version of the Aston Martin 4.3-litre V8 engine with an increase in peak power of to while peak torque increased by to . This consists of the fitting of the following revised components; manifold assembly (painted Crackle Black), valved air box, right and left-hand side vacuum hose assemblies, engine bay fuse box link lead (ECU to fuse box), throttle body to manifold gasket, intake manifold gasket, fuel injector to manifold seal and a manifold badge.
The V8 Vantage had a retail price of GB£79,000, US$110,000, or €104,000 in 2006,
Aston Martin planned to build up to 3,000 per year. Included was a 6-speed
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission (mechanics), transmission ...
and leather-upholstery for the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and shift-knob. A new 6-speed
automated manual transmission
The automated manual transmission (AMT) is a type of transmission for motor vehicles. It is essentially a conventional manual transmission but uses automatic actuation to operate the clutch and/or shift between gears.
Many early versions of t ...
, similar to those produced by
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as ''Auto Avio Costruzioni'', the company built its first car in ...
and
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. () is an Italian brand and manufacturer of luxury sports cars and SUVs based in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The company is owned by the Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary Audi.
Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916–1993) ...
, called Sportshift was introduced later as an option.
In their 2006 readership survey, readers of Car Design News voted the Aston Martin V8 Vantage as the best current production car design. The survey results were based on over 1,000 responses, most from working automotive designers and students of industrial and automotive design. The Vantage was also voted one of Automobile magazine's 2007 "All-Stars" for its performance, road manners, and design. The V8 Vantage is also one of the only two cars to be added to "The DB9 Section", – a mini-fridge reserved for the super "cool" – on the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
's
''Top Gear'' (on which it is described as the ''baby Aston'' to differentiate it from the V12 powered DB9). The program rates cars from seriously un-cool to sub-zero. The fridge was an extra category added when the presenters deemed the
Aston Martin DB9
The Aston Martin DB9 is a grand tourer produced by Aston Martin. Available both in coupé and a convertible bodystyles, the latter being known as the Volante, the DB9 was the successor to the DB7. It was first shown at the 2003 Frankfurt Aut ...
too cool for the sub-zero category. In the 2005 awards,
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster, journalist, game show host and writer who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for the motoring programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), Top Gear'' an ...
declared the V8 Vantage as Best Sounding Car of the Year and The Coolest Car of the Year, while the award winner was actually the Porsche 911.
While the V8 Vantage was never a common car, the success of the model is highlighted by the completion of chassis number 10,000 – a specially ordered Onyx coupé delivered to a customer in the USA – during the first half of 2008. While the production of 10,000 cars is a tiny number by the standards of typical car manufacturers, it was a significant milestone for an Aston Martin – the DB9 being the only other model to have achieved that number. By the end of production in 2017, Aston Martin had produced 15,417 V8 Coupés, 6,231 V8 Roadsters, 2,551 V12 Coupés, and 501 V12 Roadsters. While strong demand for the Vantage contributed to Aston Martin's health during this period, it is equally true that the relatively low production of all Aston Martins means seeing a V8 or V12 from this generation remains a rare treat. For perspective, during the same period, Porsche was producing over 20,000 911s annually and have built more than 1 million 911 variants in total.
Design credit for the original V8 Vantage has been disputed. The design is officially credited to
Henrik Fisker
Henrik Fisker (born 10 August 1963) is a Danish automotive designer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for designing luxury cars including the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Fisker Karma, G ...
, design director of Aston Martin at the time the Vantage was introduced. However, some sources, including Callum himself, claim that
Ian Callum
Ian Stuart Callum (born 30 July 1954) is a Scottish car designer who has worked for Ford, TWR, and Aston Martin. In 1999 he became the Director of Design for Jaguar Cars, later Jaguar Land Rover, a position he held until mid 2019.
In 2019, ...
, director of design for Jaguar at the time and former director of design at Aston Martin, was responsible for creating a large amount of the design for the Vantage during his time at Aston Martin, before Fisker joined the company. In an interview with ''
Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...
'', when asked how much of the V8 Vantage was completed under his watch, Callum replies "I would say a good 80 percent. In fact, we started the V-8 first and then shelved it while we did the DB9—that’s why they’re quite similar".
Update
![2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupé, Cannes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/2010_Aston_Martin_V8_Vantage_Coup%C3%A9%2C_Cannes.jpg)
In May 2008, Aston Martin announced new technological updates for the Vantage, which included changes to the engine, transmission, suspension and appearance. New cylinder liners that were now pressed into the aluminium block instead of the original cast-in variants allow a thinner liner, which in turn allows a larger capacity of 4.7-litre. The cylinder bore and stroke was increased from to and to respectively, giving a total displacement of 4,735 cc. The
dry sump
A dry-sump system is a method to manage the lubricating motor oil in four-stroke and large two-stroke piston driven internal combustion engines. The dry-sump system uses two or more oil pumps and a separate oil reservoir, as opposed to a conve ...
lubrication system was also modified.
The "Sportshift"
automated manual transmission benefited from a software update, while a lightened
flywheel
A flywheel is a mechanical device which uses the conservation of angular momentum to store rotational energy; a form of kinetic energy proportional to the product of its moment of inertia and the square of its rotational speed. In particular, ass ...
was introduced for both the
manual
Manual may refer to:
Instructions
* User guide
* Owner's manual
* Instruction manual (gaming)
* Online help
Other uses
* Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ
* Manual (band)
* Manual transmission
* Manual, a bicycle technique similar to ...
and the Sportshift versions. Aston Martin also stiffened the suspension and updated them to use Bilstein dampers. An optional sports pack was offered with stiffer springs for better handling and all-new 5-spoke alloy wheels. Sportshift-equipped models also received a new dual throttle mapping update which allows the driver to choose from the default sport mode or comfort mode, meant to provide more comfortable shifts and throttle input for drivability. Combined European fuel economy and emissions were also improved by 13%. For the 2012 model year, Aston Martin replaced the 6-speed Sportshift with the 7-speed Sportshift II first utilised in the V8 Vantage S.
New wheels were also part of the update including 20-spoke alloy wheels and new 5-spoke aluminium wheels for the sports pack. The interior changed slightly, using an updated console similar to the
Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS is a grand tourer produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited from 1967 to 1972.
From 2007 to 2012 the DBS name was resurrected for a new model, the Aston Martin DBS V12.
DBS (1967–1972)
The DBS w ...
and the
DB9.
The update provided the Vantage with a power increase to at 7,000 rpm (an 11% increase) and a peak torque of at 5,750 rpm (a 15% increase), providing the car with additional reserves of mid-range performance and an improved top speed of . Following the updates, the Vantage is able to accelerate from 0 to in 4.7 seconds. In a road test conducted by ''
Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...
'', the Vantage accelerated from 0 to in 4.3 seconds and ran the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds at a speed of .
Variants
Through the course of its production run, Aston Martin made 24 variants of the Vantage which are:
* V8 Vantage Coupé
* V8 Vantage Roadster
* V8 Vantage S Coupé
* V8 Vantage S Roadster
* V8 Vantage N400 Coupé
* V8 Vantage N400 Roadster
* V8 Vantage N420 Coupé
* V8 Vantage N420 Roadster
* V8 Vantage N430 Coupé ''(Europe only)''
* V8 Vantage N430 Roadster ''(Europe only)''
* V8 Vantage GT Coupé ''(USA and Australia only'')
* V8 Vantage GT Roadster ''(USA and Australia only)''
* V12 Vantage Coupé
* V12 Vantage Roadster ''(Europe only)''
* V12 Vantage S Coupé
* V12 Vantage S Roadster
* Vantage GT12 Coupé
* Vantage GT12 Roadster
* Vantage GT8
* Vantage GTS Coupé ''(USA only'')
* Vantage GTS Roadster ''(USA only)''
* Vantage AMR
* Vantage AMR Pro
* Vantage V600
Roadster
![2013 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster rR](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/2013_Aston_Martin_V8_Vantage_Roadster_rR.jpg)
At the 2006
Greater Los Angeles Auto Show
The Los Angeles Auto Show is an annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in early December. The LA Auto Show is an OICA sanctioned international exhibition. It is open to the public for ten days each year, filling of exhibit s ...
, Aston Martin officially unveiled the V8 Vantage Roadster. With a kerb weight of the Roadster is heavier than the coupé, but Aston Martin claimed both cars would have identical performance. To compensate for the loss of the roof a new, super-stiff cross-member was added to the frame. The soft top could be raised or lowered electronically in 18 seconds and could be operated at speeds up to .
It had the same 4.3-litre
V8 from the
coupé
A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and two doors.
The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the French past parti ...
version producing at 7,000 rpm and of torque at 5,000 rpm along with having a maximum speed of . It would accelerate from 0 to in 4.9 seconds. The 2009 Vantage Roadster features swan wing doors, a leather and
alcantara interior and a zinc alloy centre console and a crystal-capped key fob. It also featured the updated 4.7-litre V8 which produces and of torque, and can accelerate from 0 to in 4.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of . When fitted with the Sportshift transmission, the Vantage Roadster accelerates from 0 to in 4.9 seconds, and has a kerb weight of .
Prodrive V8 Vantage
![Prodrive V8 Vantage Rear](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Prodrive_V8_Vantage_Rear.jpg)
In 2007,
Prodrive
Prodrive is a British motorsport and advanced engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races automobile, cars for companies and teams such as Aston Martin, Bahrain Raid Xtreme and Team X44. Its advan ...
released a tuning package for the V8 Vantage, which consists of four separate packages that can be installed in stages. These four packages are for the engine, suspension, wheels, and aerodynamics.
The engine package includes an
engine control unit
An engine control unit (ECU), also commonly called an engine control module (ECM), is a type of electronic control unit that controls a series of actuators on an internal combustion engine to ensure optimal engine performance. It does this by re ...
remapping and minor engine modifications that increase power on the 4.3-litre engine by , and torque by . Throttle control is also remapped. Also included is an exhaust modification which allows the driver to leave the by-pass valves in three separate settings. The suspension package replaces portions of the car's suspension system with Bilstein and Eibach parts, which are claimed to make the vehicle more responsive and accurate through the corners.
The tyre and wheel package replaces the stock wheels with lighter twin-7 spoke alloys from Prodrive Japan. The wheels are similar to those on the
DBR9, and each wheel weighs less than their stock counterpart.
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. S.p.A. is a multinational tyre manufacturer based in Milan, Italy. The company, which has been listed on the Milan Stock Exchange since 1922, is the 6th-largest tyre manufacturer and is focused on the consumer production of tyre ...
P-Zero tyres are used, and the rear wheels are widened to . The aerodynamic package adds a
carbon fibre
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
front splitter and rear lip spoiler, which together reduce lift by up to 45%.
Packages could be ordered direct from Prodrive or from an Aston Martin dealer, though all packages are installed by Prodrive. 0 to acceleration times are claimed to drop by 0.5 seconds to about 4.3 seconds and 0- times are improved by 0.9 seconds.
N400 ''(2007)''
![Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Aston_Martin_V8_Vantage_N400.jpg)
To commemorate the company's racing successes at the
Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
, Aston Martin released the limited edition N400 at the
2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. The N400s 4.3-litre V8 was tuned to produce hence the name, and the car also featured a sports pack which included lightweight graphite-finished wheels, uprated springs and dampers and a new rear anti-roll bar. The N400 was available in three special paint colours; Bergwerk Black, Lightning Silver and Karussell Orange. Each N400 came with perforated leather trim, including a map of the
Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
stitched on the center armrest, and a numbered plaque.
Aston Martin tested the car at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit where it was able to complete a lap in under eight minutes. The N400 package was available as either a coupé or Roadster with a total of 480 examples (240 coupes, 240 Roadsters) being built, in note of the fact that there are 480 seconds in 8 minutes.
N420 ''(2010)''
![2011 AMV8 Vantage N420](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/2011_AMV8_Vantage_N420.jpg)
The N420 became the successor to the special edition N400 of 2007, based upon the standard 4.7-litre V8 Vantage and available either a coupé or roadster and with either the 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed Sportshift transmission. The motorsport-inspired V8 Vantage N420 came with the Sports Pack suspension as standard, a new sports exhaust system, and many carbon-fibre components which resulted in a weight saving over the standard car. In addition, the N420 has distinctive Aston Martin 'Race Collection' paint schemes available as an option although any other colour could be specified. Along with that, the N420 has the extended N400 sills, a carbon-fibre front splitter, side strakes, and diffuser along with 10-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels with gloss black finish, black mesh vents, and 'Graphitic' tailpipe finishers. The N420 was available as either a coupé or Roadster.
V8 Vantage S ''(2011)''
![Aston Martin V8 Vantage S](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Aston_Martin_V8_Vantage_S.JPG)
On 25 January 2011, Aston Martin unveiled the V8 Vantage S, a more potent version of the V8 Vantage available in both coupé and Roadster body styles and designed to create a more sporty experience than the standard V8 Vantage. The engine is the same 4.7-litre
''AJ37'' V8 found in the base Vantage. The 4.7-litre V8 engine has been modified to deliver a peak power of at 7,300 rpm and torque of at 5,000 rpm representing an increase of 10 bhp and 20 Nm respectively. The modifications allowed for improved acceleration time of 0 to in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of for both the coupé and Roadster. Bushings, springs, and dampers were stiffened for the S model and the steering rack is quicker than in the base model. The aerodynamic enhancements include a deeper front bumper with carbon fibre splitter, larger side sills, a carbon fibre diffuser and a larger tailgate lip designed to sharpen the handling on the road. Additional visual differences include new wheels.
A major difference in the Vantage S is the inclusion of the Sportshift II transmission, a 7-speed automated manual gearbox, as standard. The Sportshift II is lighter than the 6-speed Sportshift fitted on the standard Vantage. This contributes, along with other weight-saving parts, to a total vehicle kerb weight of .
Later in 2013, a special model was unveiled named the SP10 as a celebration of Aston Martin's success in the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race. Available as both in coupé and roadster body style, the SP10 features the same 4.7-litre V8 engine developing and of torque. The car remains almost identical to the V8 Vantage S but includes a 6-speed manual transmission as standard with the Sportshift II transmission available as an option. Other bespoke features included a special Ceramic Grey body colour with the soft top of the roadster in Titan Grey, 19-inch cast aluminium wheels with V-shaped spokes finished in high gloss black colour with black brake callipers, a front splitter and rear diffuser made from carbon fibre and clear tail lamps.
N430 ''(2015)''
![Aston Martin Vantage N430 (30839688636)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Aston_Martin_Vantage_N430_%2830839688636%29.jpg)
The N430 version of the V8 Vantage was announced just a few weeks ahead of the
2014 Geneva Motor Show, following on from the previous and desirable N400 and N420 editions. This new model is mechanically based on the standard V8 Vantage but with the addition of the 'S' 430 bhp V8 engine, 'S' suspension and some unique styling features, together with either the regular 6-speed manual or the Prodrive developed 7-speed Sportshift II transmission with paddle shift. The N430 was available in both coupé and Roadster body styles.
GT ''(2015)''
Announced on the eve of the
New York Auto Show
The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan in late March or early April. It is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Su ...
in April 2014, the V8 Vantage GT is what is in effect, the US version of the Vantage N430. This new North American and Australian-only model is mechanically based on the standard V8 Vantage but with the addition of the 'S' 430 bhp engine, 'S' suspension and some unique styling features, together with either the regular 6-speed manual or the Prodrive developed 7-speed Sportshift II transmission with paddle shift. The GT was available as either a coupé or Roadster.
Vantage GT8
![FoS20162016 0624 182302AA (27274144204)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/FoS20162016_0624_182302AA_%2827274144204%29.jpg)
In 2017, Aston Martin announced a limited, track-focused iteration of the V8 Vantage: the Vantage GT8.
The company would only manufacture 150 cars, 50 more than the GT12. The GT8 features the same 4.7-litre V8 as found in the base Vantage but with power now increased to , and has a top speed of . The GT8 is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed Sportshift II automated manual transmission, and has a kerb weight of , a reduction over the V8 Vantage S.
V12 Vantage
![Salon Privé London 2012 (7956668908)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Salon_Priv%C3%A9_London_2012_%287956668908%29.jpg)
On 11 December 2007, as part of Aston Martin's opening of their own design studio, the company unveiled a concept car based on the V8 Vantage. The car, known as the V12 Vantage RS, featured the ''AM11''
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine where two banks of six cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V12 engines are more common than V10 engines. However, they are less common than V8 engines.
The fi ...
from the
DBS and produced and of torque. The power along with the kerb weight of allows the car to accelerate from 0 to in 4.2 seconds and achieve a top speed of .
Other additions include a new rear diffuser, a retractable rear-wing which can be raised or lowered, and carbon-ceramic brakes. The boot-lid and vented bonnet are also made from carbon-fibre to help decrease the car's weight. In early 2008, Aston Martin's CEO confirmed production of the V12 Vantage RS for mid-2009.
Development prototypes of the V12 Vantage RS appeared in April 2008 before Aston Martin unveiled the production version, simply called the V12 Vantage, in 2009.
On the finale of the 13th series of
''Top Gear'', presenter
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster, journalist, game show host and writer who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for the motoring programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), Top Gear'' an ...
drove the car, opining, "It's wonderful, wonderful, wonderful".
In September 2009, the V12 Vantage was confirmed for the United States market and then-CEO
Ulrich Bez
Ulrich Helmut Bez (born 7. November 1943 in Bad Cannstatt, Germany) is a German businessman and was, until the end of 2013, CEO of Aston Martin motorcars when he stepped down to serve as non-executive chairman.
Life
Bez holds a doctorate in engin ...
personally confirmed that homologation in the United States was underway. This was in response to the decision of expanding the production run beyond 1,000 units.
On 24 August 2011, Aston Martin announced that they were developing a
GT3 version of the V12 Vantage, to replace the
Aston Martin DBRS9
The Aston Martin DBRS9 was a racing car built by Aston Martin Racing to be a cheaper alternative to the Aston Martin DBR9, both of which are based on the Aston Martin DB9. The DBRS9 was introduced in 2005 and has since been replaced with the ...
. The race car was expected to be delivered by early 2012.
Aston Martin unveiled a convertible version called the V12 Vantage Roadster which was a limited production of 101 units in 2013. It has a larger rearspoiler and ventilation carbon openings in the bonnet. With a kerb weight of the Roadster weighs more due to chassis stiffening modifications, and because of the additional weight the Roadster accelerates from 0 to in 4.5 seconds, but retains the coupé's top speed of .
V12 Vantage S
![Aston Martin V12 Vantage S - przód (MSP15)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Aston_Martin_V12_Vantage_S_-_prz%C3%B3d_%28MSP15%29.JPG)
On 28 May 2013, Aston Martin announced the V12 Vantage S – a sportier version of the V12 Vantage that preceded it.
The V12 Vantage S produces at 6,750 rpm and at 5,750 rpm of
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
from a revised
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine where two banks of six cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V12 engines are more common than V10 engines. However, they are less common than V8 engines.
The fi ...
called the ''AM28'', which would be used as a base for future engines. The power is transferred to the rear wheels using a new 7-speed Sportshift III automated manual transmission, which weighs less than the Sportshift II, with no option for a
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission (mechanics), transmission ...
. With a total kerb weight of , the V12 Vantage S is lighter than the standard V12 Vantage and features new three-stage adaptive damping for the suspension system, new carbon-ceramic brakes, and a unique track-mode for improved track performance for the drivers who want to take their car to the track. The V12 Vantage S is claimed to be able to accelerate from 0 to in 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of , making it the fastest production Aston Martin at the time alongside the One-77.
The exhaust on the V12 Vantage S was developed from the company's own
One-77
The Aston Martin One-77 is a two-door, two-seater flagship sports car built by the British car manufacturer Aston Martin. The car was first shown at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, although it remained mostly covered by a "Savile Row tailored skirt" ...
. Styling and aerodynamic changes include a carbon fibre front grille, black roof and rear grille, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and new finishes on the interior seats, doors and controls.
Aston Martin also launched a convertible version in 2014 called the V12 Vantage S Roadster. With a kerb weight of the Roadster is heavier than the coupé. Due to the added weight the Roadster accelerates from 0 to in 4.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of .
In April 2016, the V12 Vantage S was announced to be produced with a 7-speed
dog-leg manual transmission, unusual for its day and age. The shift pattern was engraved on the door sill. Only 100 were produced for the United States.
V12 Zagato
:''See
Aston Martin V12 Zagato
The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is a British sports car/endurance racer made by Aston Martin in collaboration with Zagato to celebrate a fifty-year partnership since the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. Introduced in Lake Como, Italy at the Concorso d ...
for the full article''
![Red Aston Martin V12 Zagato fr IAA 2011](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Red_Aston_Martin_V12_Zagato_fr_IAA_2011.jpg)
At the 2011
Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este () is a Concours d'Elegance event in Italy for classic car, classic and vintage cars. It takes place annually near the Villa d'Este (Cernobbio), Villa d'Este hotel in Cernobbio, on the western shore of Lake Como ...
a racing concept by
Zagato
Zagato is an independent coachbuilding company and total design centre located northwest of Milan in Terrazzano, a small village near Rho, Lombardy, Italy. The company's premises occupies an area of 23,000 square metres (250,000 sq ft)- 11,000 of ...
based on the V12 Vantage premiered celebrating the 50th anniversary of the
DB4 GT Zagato. It was awarded the competition's "Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes" which was also awarded to the
One-77
The Aston Martin One-77 is a two-door, two-seater flagship sports car built by the British car manufacturer Aston Martin. The car was first shown at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, although it remained mostly covered by a "Savile Row tailored skirt" ...
two years ago. The car then was brought to
Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
where it had its racing debut during the 53rd
ADAC
ADAC, officially the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (), is Europe's largest motoring association. ADAC is the largest club (Verein) in Germany with around 21 million members. It would be more aptly described today as an individual mobi ...
ACAS H&R-Cup
VLN race on 28 May and competed in the
2011 24 Hours of Nürburgring driven amongst others by
CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
Dr. Ulrich Bez
Ulrich Helmut Bez (born 7. November 1943 in Bad Cannstatt, Germany) is a German businessman and was, until the end of 2013, CEO of Aston Martin motorcars when he stepped down to serve as non-executive chairman.
Life
Bez holds a doctorate in engi ...
.
Powered by the same ''AM11'' V12 engine with and of torque found in the DBS and V12 Vantage, the concept features a new handcrafted aluminium body with a front similar to the one of the Vantage and a heavily modified middle, roof and rear section uniting design language used by both companies. Other features include an endurance racing fuel tank carrying up to 120 litres of fuel. Though being a racing concept Aston Martin produced a limited number of street legal examples as well.
Vantage GT12
![2015 Aston Martin GT 12 (19840782999)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/2015_Aston_Martin_GT_12_%2819840782999%29.jpg)
Aston Martin confirmed the production of the
Aston Martin Vantage GT3
The Aston Martin Vantage is a series of hand-built sports cars from the British automotive manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high-performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the ...
special edition unveiled at the
2015 Geneva Motor Show. The company would only manufacture 100 cars of the GT3 special edition. After a complaint from
Porsche
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, usually shortened to Porsche (; see #Pronunciation, below), is a German automobile manufacturer specializing in high-performance sports cars, SUVs and sedans, headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany ...
over the use of the "GT3" moniker, the car was renamed the Vantage GT12. The Vantage GT12 features a new iteration of the 5.9-litre ''AM28'' V12 that produces and of torque. It has a kerb weight of , and can accelerate from 0 to in 3.5 seconds.
Vantage GT12 Roadster
![FoS20162016 0624 132610AA (27274280104)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/FoS20162016_0624_132610AA_%2827274280104%29.jpg)
The Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Roadster is a one-off project created by Aston Martin's Q division on a special customer request. The Vantage GT12 Roadster was officially revealed at the 2016
Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual motorsports festival featuring modern and historic motor racing vehicles taking part in a hillclimbing, hill climb and other events, held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, in l ...
. It is mechanically similar to the Vantage GT12 and features a full carbon-fibre body. The roadster was completed in a period of nine months and features the coupé's front splitter, bonnet, front spoiler, and rear diffuser. The 7-speed Sportshift III automated manual transmission is also retained from the coupé but with a lower final drive ratio, reducing the top speed to . The carbon-ceramic brakes, ABS and traction control found in the GT12 coupé have been reconfigured for the roadster. The GT12 Roadster weighs less than the V12 Vantage S Roadster.
Vantage AMR
In 2017, Aston Martin launched the AMR editions of its V8 and V12 Vantage. Production is limited to 300 cars split between 200 V8 vehicles and 100 V12. The 4.7-litre V8 AMR produces the same 430 bhp as the regular V8 Vantage S.
Vantage AMR Pro
![2017-03-07 Geneva Motor Show 1155](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/2017-03-07_Geneva_Motor_Show_1155.JPG)
At the
2017 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin revealed the AMR Pro model as a new addition to the ever-expanding Vantage line. The AMR Pro is designed to be a "civilian" accessible race car and to slot under the Vulcan track car. The AMR Pro features many design traits from both the Vantage GT3 and GTE race cars, including a massive rear wing, larger front splitter, and exposed carbon fibre. It also features unique styling touches like a black mesh grille and unique black wheels. The AMR Pro uses a variant of the GT4 race car's V8 racing engine, and it puts out . Only seven Vantage AMR Pro were built.
Vantage V600
![2018 Aston Martin Vantage V12 V600 (42706920684)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/2018_Aston_Martin_Vantage_V12_V600_%2842706920684%29.jpg)
The Vantage V600 is the last production variant of the V12 Vantage built as a tribute to the Virage V600. The car is the result of a special customer request of a bespoke and more powerful V12 Vantage. The customer ordering the car has agreed-upon limited production of the car and thus 14 units will be built. The car features many unique bits that set it apart from the outgoing V12 Vantage. The Vantage V600 uses the ''AM28'' V12 engine found in the Vantage GT12, which has a power output of and of torque. The engine is coupled to a 7-speed manual transmission exclusive to this variant only. Deliveries of the Vantage V600 are scheduled to begin in late 2018.
Personalisation
In addition to the specific packages above, all variants of the Vantage series were offered with a wide range of personalisation options, particularly in the interior where several different shades of leather – and even stitching – may be chosen to complement or contrast each other and the body (and, in the case of the convertible, the roof). The "N400" engine modifications and/or sports chassis are also available individually for those owners who would like to combine the increased power or handling of the special edition with the more subtle original body, interior, and badging – much like the "POW" Vantages of the 1980s. Many thousands of choices of colour, trim, and options combined with the in house "customisation" available through Works Service make it possible for a Vantage owner to configure a unique individual car to his or her specifications.
Motorsport
N24
:''See
Aston Martin Vantage N24
The Aston Martin Vantage N24 is a race car introduced by Aston Martin in 2006, based on the V8 Vantage road car. In late 2008, Aston Martin debuted an updated version of the N24, with the newer Aston Martin Vantage GT4, which featured a larger ...
for the full article''
![Sebastian Vettel - 2007 Race of Champions 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Sebastian_Vettel_-_2007_Race_of_Champions_3.jpg)
During the 2006
British Motor Show
The British International Motor Show is an annual motor show held by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders between 1903 and 2008 in England, and as The British Motor Show since 2021 by Automotion Events.
Initially held in London at T ...
in London,
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing is a British auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston ...
revealed a near-stock version of the V8 Vantage that would compete in the
Nürburgring 24 Hours
The Nürburgring 24 Hours is a 24-hour annual touring car and GT endurance racing event that takes place on a combination of the Nordschleife ("North Loop") and the GP-Strecke ("Grand Prix track") circuits of the Nürburgring in Rhineland-Palat ...
endurance race. The car, now known as the V8 Vantage N24, was driven by Aston Martin CEO
Dr. Ulrich Bez
Ulrich Helmut Bez (born 7. November 1943 in Bad Cannstatt, Germany) is a German businessman and was, until the end of 2013, CEO of Aston Martin motorcars when he stepped down to serve as non-executive chairman.
Life
Bez holds a doctorate in engi ...
, development engineer Chris Porrit, development driver Wolfgang Schuhbauer and German journalist Horst Graf von Saurma-Jeltsch in the 24‑hour race. The car finished 4th in class and 24th overall, before being driven home on public roads after the race. While essentially much like the existing coupé, the N24 had a front splitter and extended door sills for aerodynamic efficiency, a full
roll cage
A roll cage is a specially engineered and constructed frame built in (or sometimes around, in which case it is known as an exo cage) the passenger compartment of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured or killed in an accident, pa ...
, a racing fuel tank, and other modifications necessary to make the car race-worthy. Other modifications include the removal of most of the interior, including all seats, replaced by a lone
Recaro
Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...
drivers' seat.
Later in 2006, Aston Martin confirmed that they would offer the V8 Vantage N24 to customers as a track car similar to a
Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a high-performance homologation model of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is a line of high-performance models, which began with the 1973 911 Carrera RS.
The GT3 has had a successful racing career in the one-make national ...
Cup. The N24 specification complies with
FIA GT4 European Cup
The GT4 European Series is a sports car championship created and organised by SRO Motorsports Group. It is a pro/am championship which followed a formula similar to the FIA GT3 European Championship, which was itself derived from the FIA GT Cham ...
, German
VLN series,
Grand-Am Cup
The Michelin Pilot Challenge is a grand touring and touring car racing series run by the International Motor Sports Association. Originating from the Canadian Motorola Cup, the series was taken over by Grand-Am in 2001 to become the Grand-Am Cu ...
, and various other national series' requirements.
The V8 Vantage N24 was featured in the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
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...
television series ''