V-8 Vantage

It’s almost as if Aston has taken a page from the Porsche 911 Guide to Model Proliferation in creating the V-8 Vantage S: start with a base car, add some power, and give it the looks of a more expensive model.

In fact, this Vantage S reminds us a lot of Porsche’s new 911 Carrera GTS model, which provides Carrera S performance in a Carrera 4 body. The Aston packages a more powerful version of its V-8 with some of the V-12 Vantage’s aggressive bodywork.

 

The V-8’s Advantage

In the S, Aston’s 4.7-liter V-8 has been massaged to produce 430 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque, increases of 10 and 14. There’s a new single-clutch automatic, dubbed Sportshift II, which adds an extra ratio (for a total of seven) compared to the non-S V-8 Vantage. The new engine-and-transmission combo ought to improve on the last V-8 Vantage we tested with the six-speed Sportshift transmission, which hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. A Sport button activates a quicker shift map and increases throttle sensitivity while also keeping the exhaust’s bypass valves open across a wider swath of the rev range. The automated transmission is standard (read: no available manual) because, Aston tells us, a majority of V-8 Vantage buyers opt for the paddle-shifted Sportshift automatic already.

Chassis changes include a steering rack that’s quicker (15:1 versus the non-S car’s 17:1), and a suspension that has been recalibrated with new springs and dampers. The front brake discs are larger and now feature six-piston calipers.

 

Looks Fast, Top-Down Version

The Vantage S, which is available as a coupe or roadster, patterns its side sills, rear deck, rear bumper, and carbon-fiber front fascia after those of the V-12 Vantage. A new 19-inch V-spoke wheel design is standard, while lightweight 10-spoke wheels are optional. The rear wheels are a half-inch wider than those of the non-S V-8 Vantage, and all four wheels are wrapped in new Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tires that are 10 mm wider than the base car’s.

With a base price of $139,615 for the coupe and $152,615 for the roadster, the V-8 Vantage S isn’t a huge price leap up from a Sportshift-equipped “base” coupe ($126,365) or droptop ($139,365); those who want a manual transmission will have to settle for the non-S Vantage or trade up to the stick-only $183,535 V-12 Vantage. The Vantage S is available for order now, with U.S. deliveries scheduled to begin in early summer.

While the Vantage lineup still doesn’t hold a candle to the 22-car (and counting!) menu that is the 911 order guide, it shows that Aston Martin is committed to getting everything it can out of its models. When the results end up like this, you won’t hear any complaints from us.