Aston Martin Vantage S revealed
Aston Martin is a name synonymous with performance cars and of course James Bond. As the British marquee celebrates 100 years in of building some of
By Ameya Naik
Aston Martin is a name synonymous with performance cars and of course James Bond. As the British marquee celebrates 100 years in of building some of the gorgeous vehicles known to mankind, they thought they’d give it another go.
This time around the Aston Martin gazed upon the Vantage and said, ‘Hmm, that’s interesting. Lets take that and make it lighter and faster’ and the result is in front of your eyes – the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S. Replacing the outgoing V12 Vantage, the new Vantage S not only gets a letter added to its name but a marked improvement in horsepower, top speed and torque.
The black and yellow are too seductive but its what under the hood that will blow your mind away. An improved 6.0 liter V12 now makes its way into the Vantage S. This takes the power quotient to 565bhp (11 more than the outgoing version) while the torque figures lie at 620Nm. Aston Martin says that the new AM28 powerplant is designed to not only go very quickly but also improve on low and mid-range power.
The engine is mated to a rear mounted gearbox. Aston’s Sportshift III AMT 6-speed gearbox, borrowed from the company’s race division is 25 kgs lighter and shifts in under 70 milliseconds. Top speed is said to be limited at 330km/h but Aston Martin has not yet divulged the 0-100km/h timings but we think if the outgoing Vantage takes 4.2 seconds, this one could clock it in perhaps 4.
Inside you get new-style seating with Sport and carbon fibre Lightweight seat options, revised stitching and welt detailing, two leather grade options - Luxmill and semi-aniline - plus the possibility to include Alcantara, present V12 Vantage S buyers with an exciting array of trim choices.
The optional carbon fibre interior pack, which adds the material to the car's facia and door pulls, plus the availability for the first time in a Aston Martin V12 Vantage S of black pedals, further enhances personalisation options for those in search of a truly bespoke sports car.
Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO Aston Martin said, "The new V12 Vantage S is our most extreme Vantage to date - engineered to bring race car performance and technology to the open road. It is our most powerful engine in a beautifully tailored suit. It is elegant, yet brutal, and it is at the same time easy to control. It has everything that sums up Aston Martin: power, beauty and soul!"
