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V8 Vantage Ready To Take Fight To 911

In the performance coupé wars, it's Ad-Vantage Aston Martin! The British firm revealed the long-awaited V8 Vantage at this week's Geneva Motor Show, and the Porsche 911 is firmly in its sights. Key to the new car's appeal is its striking looks, made even more dramatic by this stunning Cool Yellow finish.

By Matt Joy

02nd March 2005

The model is charged with boosting the company's profile, but without losing the brand's exclusive appeal. Chief executive Dr Ulrich Bez told us: "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."

The low roofline gives it an aggressive stance, and Aston fans will be pleased to see that some of the key elements from the rest of the range have been carried over - including the trademark grille, long bonnet and side vents.

At 4.38 metres long, the V8 Vantage is only fractionally bigger than a Ford Focus. The coup΃© is a strict two-seater, and its low overall weight will make for swift acceleration, while a practical boot lurks under the rear hatch.

The firm's engineers have worked hard to ensure that the new car can deliver performance to match its looks. Under the bonnet is an aluminium 4.3-litre V8. The hand-built unit has variable camshaft timing which will give impressive low-rev torque without compromising top-end power.

A dry sump oil system - usually only found on racing cars - allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis for a centre of gravity closer to the road. The powerplant delivers 380bhp and 410Nm of torque, which helps the supercoup΃© deliver a 0-60mph time of only 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 175mph.

Aston has built the Vantage on its in-house VH platform, which also forms the basis of the Vanquish and DB9. The new car comes with a six-speed manual gearbox mounted in the rear transaxle, giving the Vantage a 49:51 weight distribution for superb handling. A semi-automatic transmission is set to be offered in the future.

Inside, the car will have the same high-quality hand-finished cabin as its siblings. Luxury leather trim and unique detailing, such as aluminium dials and optional Alcantara headlining, will feature. The V8 Vantage will go on sale in Britain this summer, and is expected to cost around ΂£70,000.

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