Aston Martin V8 Vantage

While it may not seem so today, Dr. Ulrich Bez was every bit the high stakes gambler when he proposed the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. The storied British car maker was enjoying its first substantial success in years with the stunning DB9, and yet the Aston CEO wanted to develop a car that would target the 911, one of the best-selling sports cars in the world. For a company that had weathered so many storms, it must have seemed madness to take on the teutonic automaker and its most legendary car.

It’s easy to see now that Dr. Bez held a “full house.” His “baby Aston” melds traditional British attributes of style, craftsmanship and handling with the best German engineering and dependability.

When Bez and company unveiled the prototype in Geneva during 2005, the sports car was an instant hit. The taut, sensuous body continues to win accolades for its beauty while the magnificent 4-cam V8 and sophisticated chassis has astonished the world press.

In his statement at the Swiss launch, Dr. Bez said, “The V8 Vantage is a true Aston Martin, built with the same high integrity and passion as all of our cars. This is the more affordable Aston Martin and its design and agility should help to widen our appeal and attract younger customers to our marque.”

Initially available only as a coupe, the V8 Vantage completed the Aston Martin line of British sports cars, which includes the DB9 and Vanquish. Just as the stunning coupe began to trickle into American dealers, a roadster version was introduced at the LA Auto Show in November 2006.

The V8 Vantage is a rare jewel nicely loaded at around $120,000, and with only 3,000 cars built each year, this Aston tops the “most wanted” list for motorists worldwide.

“The V8 Vantage is an elegant, sophisticated sports car that merges superb British design, finish and charm with the dependability traditionally associated with fine machinery from Porsche, Audi, BMW and Mercedes,” said Aston Martin of Dallas co-founder John Eagle. “The coupe has been a smash hit and the new V8 roadster will offer an equally exciting motoring experience. Like all Astons, only a few V8 Vantages will find their way into the hands of a few exclusive Americans.”

Heart Stopping

The V8 Vantage is simply one of the most beautiful cars in the world. Henrik Fisker penned a long bonnet and sleek stance, minimal front and rear overhangs and wide track. The uncluttered lines flow through to a distinctive tail with rear haunches that are wide and curvaceous.

A Solid Foundation

The V8 Vantage is the second model to use Aston Martin’s VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture, which underpins the DB9. The unique architecture provides an excellent backbone, while Aston used a combination of aluminum, steel and advanced composite exterior panels to keep the car svelte. With a radical bonded frame, the V8 Vantage is one of the most sophisticated and advanced sports cars in the world.

The car is much lighter than the DB9 and Vanquish, but still weighs 3,461 pounds, or 330 pounds more than a Porsche Carrera S. Even though the 911 has a better power-to-weight ratio, the 20,000 lb-ft of torque required to generate one degree of flex in the V8 Vantage frame makes it far more rigid than anything in its class, including the Ferrari F430.

Heart of a Lion

The heart of this sports car is an aluminum 4.3-liter V8 that develops 380 horsepower and 302 lb-ft. of torque. Within the high-tech motor, Aston even incorporated a racing style dry-sump lubrication system to lower the engine in the body and drop the center of gravity. As the V8 sits behind the front axle, this is very much a front-midengined car. This approach also enhances engine durability by maintaining lubrication under extreme cornering and braking.

“The V8 engine is unique to Aston Martin,” said Jeremy Main, product development director of Aston Martin. “Every significant part of it is unique, from the specification of the cylinder block to the cylinder heads, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, camshafts, inlet and exhaust manifolds, lubrication system and engine management.”

Initially, the V8 Vantage was only offered with a six-speed manual transmission; the same sport-tuned automatic transmission available in the DB9 was introduced as an option with the 2007 model. With the manual gearbox, the V8 Vantage zips from 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds and can reach a mind-boggling 170 mph.

The Perfect Balance

Driving any Aston is a special experience and the V8 is an entirely new, exotic indulgence. The Aston appears surprisingly small in person; to put it in perspective, the V8 Vantage is three inches shorter than a 911 on a wheelbase that is ten inches longer and a track three inches wider.

Slipping inside, the Aston has a roomy driving position with ample adjustment for the deep buckets and stylish steering wheel. The gauges, start button and switchgear are as elegant as the exterior. Offered in a broad combination of leathers, contemporary fabrics and aluminum, one can choose from an extensive choice of colors for the sumptuous interior as well as the sensuous body.

A pure two-seater, it has a hatchback for access to the luggage compartment, much like the legendary DB4. It has enough space for a set of golf clubs or skis in a roomy rear luggage area that is an impressive 10.6 cubic feet of cargo room, which dwarfs the 4.76 cubic feet in the 911’s front compartment. This makes it equally suitable for daily commutes to the office or weekend trips to the coast.

The value of the V8’s taut, compact dimensions is apparent once the car is under way. The ride is quite comfortable and not nearly as stiff as expected from a pure sports car. And though this is officially the most sporting model offered by Aston, it actually rides as well as a DB9.

Once the gear box is properly warmed up, it is a joy to row through the gears. Push the car hard and it always feels composed with a neutral, sweetly balanced feel. While the car does not have the grunt of a Ford GT or a Vanquish S, the pleasure of its poised handling, responsive engine and thrilling exhaust note stirs the soul more and more as the miles accumulate. And with almost 400 tractable horsepower, it will move into high speed with just a tip of the throttle or idle in the worst traffic.

As the V8 uses a transaxle in the rear of the car, the front mid-mounted engine is connected to the transmission via a cast aluminum torque tube and carbon fiber prop-shaft. This results in a 49:51 weight distribution for outstanding handling and excellent capabilities.

That balance is apparent at every corner. The Vantage turns in crisply with an agility that demonstrates the thousands of hours of testing that went into the car. The nicely weighted steering is exceptionally communicative and linear; it never feels heavy or disconnected on the road.

While it seems that electronics too often disconnect the driver from their car, Aston Martin nicely integrated its traction- and skid-control systems. While they can be turned off, it’s rarely necessary as Aston dialed in enough leeway to break the tail and counter steer a bit before the engine controls cut in, even with the electronics engaged.

This particular V8 Vantage sports nineteen-inch rims wearing 235/40ZR19 (front) and 275/35ZR19 (rear) tires. The brakes, with four four-piston calipers and vented, grooved steel discs bring the car to a stop in an instant and are easy to modulate. While these components are individually impressive, they contribute to the handling prowess and stopping power that make the car a pleasure to pilot in any condition.

“The Vantage is the best executed total package in the world,” explained Sonny Morgan, managing partner for Aston Martin of Dallas during the initial test drive. “The engine is strong in any gear, the chassis is responsive, the brakes are like anchors and the exhaust note is perfect. Aston’s goal was to build a balanced car that is superb in every way and I believe they have delivered.”

The Ownership Experience

Owners of the new V8 Vantage are typically treated to extraordinary customer service. From deliveries in bank vaults to complimentary pick and delivery, most dealerships have created unusual ways to enhance the ownership experience.

Ownership includes membership in the dealership’s luxurious private club. Available for owners twenty-four hours a day, it is far more than complimentary refreshments; the club allows members to enjoy Internet access, satellite TV on plasma screens, a full kitchen and a private conference area. This amenity is offered by many Aston dealerships across the country.

The Verdict

Could Aston improve the V8 Vantage? There are a couple of small items that could enhance ownership, such as wringing another fifty foot-pounds of torque from the engine and slicing off a hundred pounds from the chassis.

Rumor has it that the famous racing company Prodrive will introduce optional bits to boost power, trim some weight and sharpen the handling through Aston dealers sometime in 2007. If so, this would allow more sporting V8 owners to “tune” their car a bit more to their liking.

Overall, this rare car is the perfect balance of agility, power, elegance and old world craftsmanship. Aston Martin will be among the featured marques at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours, which is certainly the perfect venue to celebrate the V8’s amazing capabilities and parade its beauty. The new V8 is equally suited for motoring from San Francisco to Carmel, touring the Texas Hill Country, slipping to a jazz concert or slicing through Virginia International Raceway. It’s a rare gem that is destined to take its place as an automotive icon.