New 2018 Aston Martin Vantage makes Geneva debut
Aston Martin’s brand new Vantage has been unveiled with a 503bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 and prices set to start at £120k
The brand new Aston Martin Vantage has taken to the stage at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, with a price tag of £120,000. The new Vantage is said to be faster, have more power and weigh less, potentially justifying the £25,000 premium it commands over the model it replaces - and also over the Porsche 911 GTS.
The Aston is the second of seven new core models that the British brand will be unveiling before 2023 – the first having been the DB11. While it may appear expensive, the new 2018 Vantage is a completely new car, and not just a tweaked version of the old model.
• New Aston Martin Vantage review
The latest Vantage shares almost nothing with its predecessor and makes use of Aston’s new aluminium architecture, which already underpins the DB11. However, Aston says that 70 per cent of the structure’s components are new for the Vantage. It tips the scales at 1,530kg, almost identical to its main rival, the 911.
The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the DB11 is also new. It delivers 503bhp and 685Nm of torque, and is paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Aston claims the car has a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 195mph. Perfect 50:50 weight distribution has also been achieved by placing the engine as far back in the chassis as possible. Economy stands at a claimed 26.8mpg and it emits 245g/km of CO2.
Aston has paid particular attention to the Vantage’s aerodynamic performance as well. Its front splitter works in tandem with a new rear diffuser to help direct airflow beneath the car and increase downforce. Side gills have been added behind the front wheels to cut pressure in the wheelarches at speed, while a prominent boot lip increases downforce.
Other new technology includes the electronic rear differential (a first for Aston), while adaptive dampers, a torque-vectoring system and bespoke Pirelli P Zero tyres come as standard on all models. Heated and ventilated leather seats, 20-inch alloys and a premium sound system feature, too.
Visually, the new Vantage is also a big departure from today’s model. The styling has been heavily influenced by the DB10 that featured in the 2015 James Bond blockbuster Spectre; the clamshell bonnet, slim LED headlamps and gaping grille are clear similarities. The Vantage also affirms the promise from boss Andy Palmer that all future models will have their own “identity”, and won’t feature “Russian doll styling”.
In the near future, convertible and more focused performance versions of the Vantage will also be launched. First deliveries are expected in the middle of 2018.
What do you think of the new Aston Martin Vantage? Let us know in the comments section!
