Not long after the new Vantage won over Jay Leno, The Smoking Tire’s Matt Farah was given the chance to drive the new Aston along California’s finest mountain roads.
Interestingly, this is actually the second 2019 Vantage which Farah has driven. The first was reportedly an early pre-production model and crippled with issues, including a host of error codes. With these rectified, Aston Martin offered Farah another Vantage to drive and it was much better than the first.
The most obvious difference between the new Vantage and the car it replaces is the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine from Mercedes-AMG. Tuned to deliver 503 hp and 505 lb-ft (685 Nm) of torque, this engine is mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and allows the Vantage to reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in a rapid 3.5 seconds and hit a 195 mph (313 km/h) top speed.
However, it’s not just the engine that makes the new Vantage much better than its successor.
For example, the rear subframe is now mounted solidly to the chassis and the car comes with adjustable dampers, two changes that drastically improve the handling and driving dynamics of the Vantage, making it a much better all-around sports car.
As for the car’s design, it has split opinions. Many love the Vantage’s new aggressive lines and menacing appearance, while others prefer the more flowing and curvaceous lines of the previous-generation car. Whether you like the design or not, you can’t deny that the new Vantage certainly has presence.