To say that Aston Martin has a lot riding on the Vantage is a bit of an understatement. Developing a car to fill the shoes of the previous-gen sports car, which was one of the prettiest and most characterful vehicles ever made, was always going to be a difficult task. Despite the mountainous venture that Aston had on its hands, it looks like the British automaker actually managed to pull it off.
Carfection got to sample the new Vantage on the road and track recently and, surprisingly, came away bewildered at how good the sports car really is. I say surprisingly here, because when Aston first unveiled the car towards the end of last year, there were a couple of things that caused enthusiasts to do a double take.
The first thing is the price. The car, at least in the United States, starts at about $150,000. That’s a fair amount more than what the previous generation of the Vantage with a V8 cost, which was around $135,000. Then, there was the issue with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 from AMG that powers the car.
The issue isn’t with its performance, as the motor generates 503 hp (375 kW) and 505 lb-ft (685 Nm) of torque. It also wasn’t about sound, as the engine makes all of the right cracks and pops. It’s more of a thing of principle – like Aston should’ve taken the time and money to develop and build its own engine.
Lastly, there was an issue about its looks. Some don’t like it, while others love it. Personally, I’m in the camp that loves it. No, it’s not as elegant as the previous generation, but it’s still a looker.
As Henry Catchpole outlines in the video below, we didn’t have to worry about a thing because Aston nailed it. The engine fits the character of the vehicle perfectly, the car has plenty of grip for the track or a windy road, and the balance is on point.
The Vantage is a car that’s surprisingly good to drive, which, if you’re a fan of the way it looks, makes it the complete package. Well done Aston.