Aston’s V8 Vantage S

Faster, lighter and more thrilling... that’s Aston Martin’s S express! This is the new V8 Vantage S, which bridges the gap between the ‘entry’ model and the mighty V12 Vantage. 

Under the bonnet is an uprated version of the familiar 4.7-litre V8, boosted by 10bhp to 430bhp at 7,200rpm. Peak torque also rises 20Nm to 490Nm at 5,000rpm. The improvements are brought about by a revised intake system, which lets in more air at higher engine speeds, plus more precise management of how the spark plugs ignite the fuel. 

The tweaked engine drives the rear wheels through a new seven-speed version of the Sportshift automated manual transmission. Despite having an extra ratio, this weighs 24kg less than the old six-speeder. Aston says the first six gears sit closer together, allowing seventh to be longer, for more relaxed motorway cruising.

Add all this together, and the Vantage S is expected to complete the benchmark sprint from 0-60mph in less than 4.5 seconds – that’s three-tenths quicker than the standard car. It goes on to a top speed of 189mph. 

To match the increased punch, Aston has beefed up the Vantage’s looks with a carbon fibre splitter, wider sills – inspired by the GT4 racer – and a larger rear spoiler with a fresh diffuser. Other upgrades include revised 19-inch V-spoke alloys. There’s also a new hill-hold system.

The Vantage S is on sale now, in coupé or roadster form, and starts at £102,500 – an increase of just over £10,000.

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