Aston Martin V8 Vantage Looks Rather Racy On Strasse Wheels

The outgoing Vantage served for a long time as Aston Martin’s entry level road car, but it also was the basis of the British brand’s racing program for years – and this example seeks to bridge the gap between the two.

Showcased by Strasse Wheels, this 2008 V8 Vantage is done up in pearl white with a competition-like livery featuring the logos of sponsors like Cars & Coffee Palm Beach.

It rides on a set of Strasse’s R10 Performance Series alloys, measuring 20 inches (by nine up front, 10.5 at the back). Brushed spokes and hubs are complemented by a polished rim for a tone-on-tone finish.

This particular Aston is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 which in 2008 replaced the previous 4.3-liter version. Left unmolested, the V8 produces 420 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque – an increase of 11 and 15 percent, respectively, over the previous version.

That same engine featured in the V8 Vantage S to the tune of 430 hp, and in the GT8 version with its output increased to 440 hp – all naturally aspirated, with no turbochargers to get in the way of its response and soundtrack.

With the new Vantage packing a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG, that naturally aspirated engine is now being consigned to history. That’s a bit of a shame, especially considering how good that engine sounded in its unadulterated, unboosted form.

But such are the times in which we find ourselves, when turbochargers provide automakers with a compelling compromise to the struggle between higher output and meeting stricter consumption/CO2 emissions regulations that the naturally aspirated engine is going the way of the dodo.