Aston Martin Vantage Review

The latest Aston Martin Vantage showcases a design that verges on erotica. It’s enough to get the pulse racing and sets the car apart from other sports machines on British roads, writes Tim Barnes-Clay.

The two seater’s silhouette boasts a more commanding stance. It is now 30mm wider, which doesn’t make it look fat – oh no, this Aston is sculpted in the right places – and the width is all muscle – not lard.

The new Vantage’s ‘face’ is refined with cooling intakes beside the grille, drawing attention to the Aston’s cut-from-granite sinewy lines. The addition of an integrated splitter, designed with a broader and lower look, not only heightens the car’s lip-licking appeal but also hikes aerodynamic performance – improving stability at speed.

At the rear, the latest Aston Martin Vantage doesn’t disappoint in looks – or the drama department, either. It vaunts a wider bumper incorporating side vents and huge quad exhaust tailpipes, ensuring attention is received from every angle.

Furthermore, the Vantage features Aston Martin’s own infotainment unit, first used in the DB12. This bespoke system includes an app, enabling you to interact with the sports car via your phone.

The Vantage boasts a highly advanced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, the most powerful of the nameplate’s esteemed heritage. Alongside an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, the model offers 202mph and accelerates to 60mph in 3.4 seconds.

There are several drive modes that allow you to tweak the Vantage’s engine response, steering, suspension, and exhaust sound. They are controlled by a dial and include Sport, Sport+, Track, and Individual modes. There is also a Wet mode, and you can customise your settings within the Individual mode.

The Vantage’s handling is spot-on – taking corners like it was on rails. The setup is stiff – but at every point in every journey, the car talks to you – telling you what the wheels are doing on the tarmac.

It sounds like Rod Stewart with its rasping yet tuneful vocals – and insane potency is only ever a millisecond away. It is a car that’ll make you good at self-control – because if you lose it, you may lose more than your licence.

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