THE Vantage nameplate has been the heartbeat of Aston Martin’s purest models for seven decades and has been worn by some true icons, as well as a trademark to James Bond movies.
First used in 1951 on a high-output engine option for the DB2, Vantage was quickly established as a model in its own right, including the William Towns-designed V8 Vantage, spectacular twin-supercharged V600 Le Mans and the much-loved V8 Vantage.
Unveiled recently in Manila, Aston Martin is poised to hit new heights with the introduction of the all-new Vantage. Pure, sculptural forms create an athletic, predatory stance, while the minimal front and rear overhangs, muscular flanks and broad haunches express the agility and dynamism inherent within the car. New head and taillights form dramatic new signatures, giving the Vantage unmistakable road presence and contribute to a strong and individual identity within the growing Aston Martin model range.
“We are extremely excited to finally launch the all-new Aston Martin Vantage in Manila. From its successful predecessor, we have something entirely new, signifying the new era of Aston Martin,” said Aston Martin Manila President Marc Tagle.
Aerodynamic performance was central to the Vantage design concept—the front splitter directs airflow underneath the car, where a system of fences channels cooling air where it is needed, and also ensures the rear diffuser is fed with clean airflow. The design of the diffuser creates an area of low pressure air, while simultaneously preventing turbulence generated by the rear wheels from disrupting the flow of air exiting centrally from beneath the rear of the car. Together with the new side gills, which have been integrated into the body surface and bleed air pressure out from the front wheel arches, and the pronounced upswept rear deck lid, the Vantage generates a significant level of downforce—a rarity on any production car and a first for a core production Aston Martin model.
“What I like with the new Vantage is the power and you can just feel it as soon as you turn on the engine,” said Tagle. The heart of the Vantage is Aston Martin’s potent new alloy, 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. Set low and as far back in the chassis as possible for optimal center-of-gravity and perfect 50:50 weight distribution, this high-performance, high-efficiency engine returns a CO2 figure of 245g/km yet develops 510 hp at 6000 rpm and 685 N-m of maximum torque from 2000-5000rpm.
Inside the Vantage features a high level of standard equipment, including keyless start/stop, tire pressure monitoring system, parking distance display, park assist and front and rear parking sensors. The interior is every bit as dynamic—a true and purposeful sports car interior that is a departure from the flowing lines and central waterfall console that has previously defined Aston Martin interiors. Instead, the Vantage cockpit is dominated by a compact, focused console that shrink wraps the technical architecture—that’s to say the areas of switchgear, such as the new PRND transmission switches, which are now positioned in a triangular formation. The In-Car Entertainment system—controlled and viewed via an 8-inch LCD screen, which is comprised of the Aston Martin Audio System, Bluetooth audio, phone streaming, iPod, iPhone, and USB playback and an integrated satellite navigation system.
The new Vantage also features a high level of craftsmanship, evidenced by flawless paintwork, luxurious Alcantara and leather upholstery through the use of tactile natural materials of the highest quality. There is also extensive scope for personalization via a generous choice of options.
“Beautiful won’t be tamed perfectly,” encapsulates this car, with its predatory stance, muscular flanks and broad haunches—it shows its incredible agility and performance through its design. Aston Martin’s dedicated craftsmanship is unmistakable on the new Vantage,” added Tagle.
For the first time on an Aston Martin, the new Vantage also features an Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff). This differential is linked to the car’s electronic stability control system, so it can understand the car’s behavior and react accordingly to direct the engine’s power to the relevant wheel.
Matt Becker, chief of vehicle attribute engineering, said, “We’ve really ramped up the feeling of agility, response and excitement with the Vantage. Key to this is the new Electronic Differential, which works with Dynamic Torque Vectoring and the car’s Dynamic Stability Control to make the car feel more responsive in slow and medium corners, but more stable in high-speed turns. We’ve put a huge amount of effort into the calibration of these electronic systems so the car feels natural and connected. It’s incredibly quick across the ground, but the speed doesn’t come at the expense of feel and enjoyment. It’s a proper driver’s car.”
Now, with the introduction of the new Vantage, a fresh chapter of this legendary model is about to begin.