“The V8 Vantage is the most successful car in the history of Aston Martin.” With these words, Ulrich Bez, the company’s CEO, introduced the most recent model designed by this English company, which throughout its long tradition has been associated with luxury sports cars, with good taste and of course, with the adventures of James Bond, the English secret agent who has used an Aston Martin as his principle car in more than twenty of his films.
Ulrich Bez is well qualified to make such a statement. After all everybody knows that the V8 Vantage’s most important feature is the excellence of its engine which underwent many improvements in order to guarantee that experienced Aston Martin drivers as well as those new to the brand, would enjoy a car that is at the same time comfortable as well as cutting edge.
This explains why at first glance, the V8 probably does not appear to offer many significant changes from its siblings the DB7 and the Vanquish. However, moving beyond first impressions and focusing in on the car’s engineering reveals a number of surprises to those who take the time to look.
The first surprise is the completely revamped V8 engine that is not installed in any other Ford model. It is manufactured out of aluminum; it’s naturally aspirated with a capacity of 4.3 liters. Power distribution locates on the double overhead camshaft within the cylinder head, with 4 valves per cylinder. So what does this mean? Quite simply, this enables the engine to produce 385 bhp at 7,300 rpm. It also means the car can easily reach 288 kph, accelerating from 0 to 96 kph in just 4.7 seconds. And this, ladies and gentlemen is power! To this we can add a 13% reduction in CO2 emissions, which is good news for the planet.
Another feature of the V8 engine is the dry sump, which protects it against potential lubrication problems when faced with fierce lateral acceleration. The engine also incorporates a new crankshaft, light weight pistons, larger inlet valves, as well as further improvements to the lubrication system.
Moving on from the engine, the V8 Vantage is equipped with a six speed transmission, which comes in a manual version for the coupé, while on the convertible the Sportshift automatic version is standard. The transmission is also lighter with quicker shift times, stability control and technology that reduce the amount of force needed to depress the brake pedal, guaranteeing greater comfort and a smoother drive.
The suspension system has benefitted from adjustments that guarantee better low speed performance and greater stability under acceleration. The suspension system is 11% firmer at the front and 5% at the rear. The Bilstein shock absorbers counteract the effects of this adjustment. The list of improvements ends with the steering, which has been revised to provide optimal response to the vehicle’s new mechanical characteristics and to guarantee that the driver will experience precise and direct handling.
The surprises embodied in Aston Martin V8 Vantage as outlined here, ensured that it received many accolades at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Although the car’s design did not undergo any radical changes, it did not pass without comment. The principle reason was that it faithfully retains the unique, classical lines of the brand. However, it also represents a stroke of genius that has worked really well in the past: to work with a recognized fashion designer who has placed his own personal imprint on the car’s design.
The chosen designer was Kilgour of Savile Row, who contributed the color of the V8 Vantage’s external paint, inspired by the Morning Frost tone which appeared in his most recent collection. His creative spirit is also in evidence in the Midnight Blue leather of the car’s seats and the rounded curves of the car’s dashboard, which have become its trademark. Without any shadow of a doubt, Kilgour was highly delighted with the outcome, as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage accompanied his models on the runway at the unveiling of his Spring-Summer collection in Paris.
While this was something completely new to visitors to the fashion show, it was certainly not the first time for the car. After all if it wants to be in the fashion capital of the world, surrounded by beautiful women, living in the lap of luxury and featuring in new adventures the Aston Martin V8 Vantage has no need for Kilgour. For this it has James Bond, agent of Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
The V8 Vantage in summary
Dimensions: 4.3 meters long, 1.8 meters wide and 1.2 meters high. It is smaller than a Ferrari 430 (4.5 meters long) and a Porsche 911 (4.4 meters long).
Weight: 1,570 kilos.
Motor: 4.3 liter V8
Power: 385 bhp at 7,300 rpm.
Manufactured in Gaydon, United Kingdom. Its engine comes from a plant in Cologne, Germany. |
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