“Imitation Is The Best Form Of Flattery”: Ferrari Takes A Dig At Aston Martin’s New Supercars

Aston Martin has made no secret of the fact that it is going after Ferrari, among others, with its forthcoming range of supercars and hypercars. Is Ferrari concerned? Of course not!

Talking to Autocar, Ferrari chief executive Louis Camillieri indicated that he is welcoming of Aston Martin joining the mid-engine performance car party: “Imitation is the best form of flattery. We’re flattered,” he said. Which could be interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek reference that the Brits are only now joining the fray, whereas the Italians have been doing it for a very long time.

The first new-age Aston Martin supercar that will chase after Ferrari will be the new Vanquish. Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in Vision Concept guise, the mid-engined Vanquish will directly rival the Ferrari F8 Tributo and McLaren 720S.

As development of the vehicle is still ongoing, the British car manufacturer hasn’t yet provided any specifications. However, it is expected that the production car will utilize a powerful V6 hybrid powertrain with in excess of 700 hp, putting it in the right up in the backyard of its Italian and British rivals.

However, Ferrari has long reigned supreme over this segment of the supercar market and is confident the new F8 Tributo will take over from where the 488 GTB left off and snatch the crown from McLaren’s 720S. Powering the F8 Tributo is a twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 delivering 710 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque, allowing the for a 2.9-second sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) and a top speed of 211 mph (340 km/h).

The Aston Martin Vanquish is still a few years away from hitting the streets, giving the marque ample time to develop the supercar into an industry leader. Whatever Aston Martin cooks up, however, it will sure go up against some stiff competition.