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Introduction
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a supreme example of modern automotive design, a hand-crafted sports car that offers exceptional performance, outstanding agility and everyday usability.
At the heart of every great sports car is a great engine, and the V8 Vantage Coupe and Roadster are powered by Aston Martin’s 313 kW (420 bhp) 4.7-litre V8, developed for both flexibility and outright performance. The V8 also sounds spectacular and is capable of propelling the car to a maximum speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).
Design
The V8 Vantage is one of the world’s most beautiful cars: elegant, yet with a controlled aggression; perfectly proportioned, with a low, purposeful stance; modern, yet incorporating classic Aston Martin design cues. A stunning example of design purity, the V8 Vantage is, above all, instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin.
The long, low bonnet line and two-seater cabin provide the perfect balance between beauty and sporting intent. The V8 Vantage sits low and close to the road, while the front and rear overhangs have been purposely minimised. The side profile forms a simple sweep, a curved line like a bow under tension, while the rear haunches are wide and muscular, like the flanks of a powerful animal.
From the outset, Aston Martin’s engineers and designers focused on reducing size and weight, as well as optimising weight distribution, to maximise agility. At just 4380 mm (172.5 inches) long, not only is the V8 Vantage the smallest model in the Aston Martin range, but it also benefits from the inherent agility that accompanies compact design and excellent weight distribution.
Performance
The V8 Vantage offers superb all-round performance and, like all Aston Martins, delivers some impressive statistics: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and a potential maximum speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).
Such figures do not tell the whole story, however, for the V8 Vantage represents the epitome of design and engineering excellence, most notably through the use of lightweight materials, excellent weight distribution, efficient aerodynamics and a truly remarkable engine. Aston Martin’s 4.7-litre V8 is hand-assembled at the company’s purpose-built engine facility in Cologne, Germany. A light, compact, all-alloy unit, it provides high performance, yet is responsive even at the lower end of the rev range. At 5750 rpm, the engine delivers maximum torque of 470 Nm (346 lb ft), 77 per cent of which is delivered at just 1500 rpm – barely more than idle – making the cars extremely tractable and great fun to drive. Push harder, and the V8 revs freely, delivering refined, exhilarating pace.
Control
The V8 Vantage delivers superb, responsive handling. Aston Martin’s unique all-alloy VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture provides an excellent backbone, while the use of lightweight alloys, magnesium and advanced composites reduces body weight and creates class-leading rigidity.
The car’s natural agility is also aided by a low polar moment of inertia and excellent weight distribution. Engineered to accommodate as much weight as possible within the wheelbase, the V8 Vantage has minimal front and rear overhangs. The engine is positioned well behind the front axle line, just ahead of the cabin, creating what is effectively a front mid-engined car. Dry sump lubrication enables the engine to sit lower in the car, dropping the centre of gravity and preventing cornering G-forces from restricting oil supply to the engine.
Engineering
The V8 Vantage is inherently taut and agile. Its all-alloy structure creates an immensely strong passenger cell, and further protection is provided by deformable front and rear crumple zones designed to absorb crash energy. Excellent side impact protection is also inbuilt, thanks to the large sills, strong roof pillars, door impact beams and the substantial dashboard and footwell structures. Both driver and passenger benefit from dual-stage airbags (deployed in one of two stages, depending on the severity of the accident) and side airbags. The mid-mounted aluminium-encased fuel cell is not only safe but also improves balance and handling.
Craftsmanship
Starting an Aston Martin is a moment to savour. Sit behind the three-spoke steering wheel and set the multi-position, electrically adjustable seats. Feel the quality of the hand-stitched leather rim and sense the intuitive layout of the primary controls.
The driver’s first interaction with the powerful V8 engine is a blend of tradition and high technology, with a touch of theatre. The ignition is controlled by a stainless steel and glass ECU (Emotion Control Unit), designed to be as tactile and refined as a fine timepiece. The ECU is inserted into a special docking station set within the traditional clear glass starter button. Pressing the ECU fully into the starter button fires the engine. After pressing once again to stop the engine, the ECU rises slowly out of its slot within the button so that it can be removed.
The instrument pack is carefully crafted from aluminium and has a three-dimensional profile for easy reading. To maintain a clear, simple design, with the warning lights hidden behind the aluminium mesh faces, becoming visible only when illuminated. The central message displays use organic electroluminescence (OEL) – a process pioneered by Aston Martin – making them easier to read than conventional LCDs.
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