My-Dream-Cars reviews Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a supreme example of modern automotive design, a hand-crafted sports car that offers exceptional performance, outstanding agility and everyday usability. The V8 Vantage is a 2-door, 2-passenger luxury sports car, available in 2 trims, the Coupe and the Roadster.

At the heart of every great sports car is a great engine, and the V8 Vantage Coupe and Roadster are powered by Aston Martin’s 313 kW (420 bhp) 4.7-litre V8, developed for both flexibility and outright performance. The V8 also sounds spectacular and is capable of propelling the car to a maximum speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).

Design
The V8 Vantage is one of the world’s most beautiful cars: elegant, yet with a controlled aggression; perfectly proportioned, with a low, purposeful stance; modern, yet incorporating classic Aston Martin design cues. A stunning example of design purity, the V8 Vantage is, above all, instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin.

The long, low bonnet line and two-seater cabin provide the perfect balance between beauty and sporting intent. The V8 Vantage sits low and close to the road, while the front and rear overhangs have been purposely minimised. The side profile forms a simple sweep, a curved line like a bow under tension, while the rear haunches are wide and muscular, like the flanks of a powerful animal.

From the outset, Aston Martin’s engineers and designers focused on reducing size and weight, as well as optimising weight distribution, to maximise agility. At just 4380 mm (172.5 inches) long, not only is the V8 Vantage the smallest model in the Aston Martin range, but it also benefits from the inherent agility that accompanies compact design and excellent weight distribution.

Craft and technology play a crucial role. Hand-finished body panels ensure a perfect fit, while an all-alloy underbody structure – derived from aerospace manufacturing – incorporates bonded aluminium extrusions and castings for superb rigidity and minimal weight. The large side panels are single, hand-finished, steel pressings, ensuring that the side and rear three-quarter views are especially clean, with a minimum of unsightly shut lines.

Inside, traditional craftsmanship is combined with 21st century technology. Hand-trimmed using the finest materials, the cabin places the driver at the heart of an authentic sports car. The two-seater cabin offers generous space, not just for driver and passenger, but for luggage too, making the V8 Vantage the perfect ally for a weekend away. The Coupe’s rear hatchback opens to reveal a substantial 300-litre (10.6 cu ft) luggage area, offering up to three times more space than some rivals, while the V8 Vantage Roadster’s 144-litre (5.1 cu ft) luggage capacity is also class-leading. A large fuel tank means that long stretches between refuelling are easy.

Performance
The V8 Vantage offers superb all-round performance and, like all Aston Martins, delivers some impressive statistics: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds and a potential maximum speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).

Such figures do not tell the whole story, however, for the V8 Vantage represents the epitome of design and engineering excellence, most notably through the use of lightweight materials, excellent weight distribution, efficient aerodynamics and a truly remarkable engine. Aston Martin’s 4.7-litre V8 is hand-assembled at the company’s purpose-built engine facility in Cologne, Germany. A light, compact, all-alloy unit, it provides high performance, yet is responsive even at the lower end of the rev range. At 5750 rpm, the engine delivers maximum torque of 470 Nm (346 lb ft), 77 per cent of which is delivered at just 1500 rpm – barely more than idle – making the cars extremely tractable and great fun to drive. Push harder, and the V8 revs freely, delivering refined, exhilarating pace.

Power and torque are not the only reasons for the V8 Vantage’s thunderous performance. Just as important is its lightweight, all-alloy structure, which gives the car class-leading strength and rigidity. The front mid-engined layout and rear mid-mounted transmission help to provide the optimum front to rear weight distribution, as well as creating a low centre of gravity. The result is agility, inspired balance and perfect handling.

True to Aston Martin tradition, the V8 is as musical as it is muscular, an engine that entertains in every sense. The bore and stroke dimensions are optimised to provide an excellent balance between outright power and torque, while a resonance induction system improves tractability and performance, as well as contributing to that inspired engine note. Variable inlet camshaft timing also provides improved low-end throttle response and mid-range torque.

The exhaust system is highly effective. Each bank of cylinders features a four-into-two-into-one manifold – an arrangement more usually found on race cars – which improves breathing and therefore performance. Special bypass valves allow a quieter exhaust note at low speeds; at higher speeds these open to reduce the pressure in the exhaust system, raising the power output as well as generating a rousing aural accompaniment.

Control
The V8 Vantage delivers superb, responsive handling. Aston Martin’s unique all-alloy VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture provides an excellent backbone, while the use of lightweight alloys, magnesium and advanced composites reduces body weight and creates class-leading rigidity.

The car’s natural agility is also aided by a low polar moment of inertia and excellent weight distribution. Engineered to accommodate as much weight as possible within the wheelbase, the V8 Vantage has minimal front and rear overhangs. The engine is positioned well behind the front axle line, just ahead of the cabin, creating what is effectively a front mid-engined car. Dry sump lubrication enables the engine to sit lower in the car, dropping the centre of gravity and preventing cornering G-forces from restricting oil supply to the engine.

The transmission is rear mid-mounted forward of the rear axle line, improving weight distribution still further. The transmission is connected to the engine by a rigid, cast aluminium torque tube, housing the immensely strong and light carbon-fibre propeller shaft. A fast-shifting, six-speed manual gearbox is standard, its ratios perfectly matched to the performance of the V8 engine.

Aston Martin’s acclaimed electro-hydraulic Sportshift transmission is available as an option. Offering precision gearshifts in around 200 milliseconds, the paddle-operated gearbox brings the sporting driver even closer to the car. When the paddles are not in use, Sportshift includes a user-selected ‘Auto Drive’ mode that will automatically select the right gear for the conditions. A ‘comfort’ setting allows for more relaxed changes.

The light, strong body structure of the V8 Vantage is combined with fully independent double wishbone suspension, resulting in outstanding handling and excellent ride quality. The suspension wishbones and dampers are aluminium, while the steering rack is solidly mounted forward of the front wheels – common on race cars but rarely seen on road cars – for better control, and to provide the driver with greater feedback and response.

The optional Sports Pack consists of forged, lightweight, five-spoke alloy wheels, revised dampers with an improved dynamic response, uprated springs and, for the Coupe, a revised rear anti-roll bar. The Sports Pack option provides improved high-speed body control, greater agility and more precise driver feedback.

The rigid body structure of the V8 Vantage ensures maximum communication between road and hand, relaying the car’s behaviour faithfully and accurately, and providing an undiluted driving experience that is well mannered and predictable at any speed.

Engineering
The V8 Vantage is inherently taut and agile. Its all-alloy structure creates an immensely strong passenger cell, and further protection is provided by deformable front and rear crumple zones designed to absorb crash energy.

Excellent side impact protection is also inbuilt, thanks to the large sills, strong roof pillars, door impact beams and the substantial dashboard and footwell structures. Both driver and passenger benefit from dual-stage airbags (deployed in one of two stages, depending on the severity of the accident) and side airbags. The mid-mounted aluminium-encased fuel cell is not only safe but also improves balance and handling.

A suite of electronic safety aids helps to keep the V8 Vantage away from accidents. In addition to ABS and Traction Control, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) prevents wheel slippage or loss of traction, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) achieves optimal braking balance and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) automatically applies full braking power in an emergency situation. Positive Torque Control (PTC) also acts to help prevent the rear wheels from locking under engine braking.

Monumental braking power is provided by sizeable disc brakes – 355 mm diameter at the front, 330 mm at the rear – which are both ventilated and grooved.

Front LED indicators and side lamps are joined by rear lamps employing 360 LEDs for lights, brakes and indicators, while optional xenon dipped beam headlights are also available. The ultra-quick illumination of the LEDs provides crucial additional reaction time for the car behind in the event of an emergency stop. In a potential roll-over situation, sensors in the Vantage Roadster instantly deploy two roll-hoops from the rear tonneau cover.

The V8 Vantage underwent an extensive testing and development programme, during which 50 prototypes were vigorously tested over more than half a million miles. Over 12,000 miles of desert driving, including maximum speed runs, were carried out in Dubai, where the ambient temperature regularly hit 48 degrees C and the bodywork of the cars reached 87 degrees C. Some 37,000 miles of high-speed testing were conducted at the Nardo test track in Italy, as well as on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany, the world’s most daunting motor racing circuit. Cold-weather endurance testing was undertaken in Sweden, in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees C.

Craftmanship
Starting an Aston Martin is a moment to savour. Sit behind the three-spoke steering wheel and set the multi-position, electrically adjustable seats. Feel the quality of the hand-stitched leather rim and sense the intuitive layout of the primary controls.

The driver’s first interaction with the powerful V8 engine is a blend of tradition and high technology, with a touch of theatre. The ignition is controlled by a stainless steel and glass ECU (Emotion Control Unit), designed to be as tactile and refined as a fine timepiece. The ECU is inserted into a special docking station set within the traditional clear glass starter button. Pressing the ECU fully into the starter button fires the engine. After pressing once again to stop the engine, the ECU rises slowly out of its slot within the button so that it can be removed.

The instrument pack is carefully crafted from aluminium and has a three-dimensional profile for easy reading. To maintain a clear, simple design, with the warning lights hidden behind the aluminium mesh faces, becoming visible only when illuminated. The central message displays use organic electroluminescence (OEL) – a process pioneered by Aston Martin – making them easier to read than conventional LCDs.

The V8 Vantage is hand-assembled and hand-finished. Only craftsmen can deliver the design details and level of finish that Aston Martin engineers and designers demand, creating a quality that is simply not possible in high-volume manufacture. Machines can stitch leather, for example, but they cannot do it with the same degree of care as experienced craftsmen.

The use of hand-crafted processes and finishing not only means painstaking attention to detail, inside and out, but also gives Aston Martin’s designers freedom to produce the perfect form, avoiding the unsightly solutions generated by the inflexibility of mass production. Mass-produced cars frequently need plastic finishers to hide awkward production line joins, but such cosmetic make-up is unnecessary at Aston Martin. For instance, the shut lines on the bonnet of the V8 Vantage run all the way to the front of the car without the need for a separate nose cone, creating a cleaner, crisper design. Hand-finished metal mesh grilles and trims are used instead of plastic alternatives, while the single aperture cuts for the headlamps in the front wings of the V8 Vantage could not be matched by any machine.

There is no rush with hand assembly; the over-riding concern is always quality. That is why all Aston Martins are built by hand, and it is why all the world’s finest luxury goods, from suits to watches, are still hand-made. When low volumes are desirable, and exclusivity is demanded, it is quite simply the only way to achieve the best finish. Integrity is a key cornerstone of Aston Martin and we believe that everything has to be right.

iPod Integration
The V8 Vantage features a complete integration package for iPod personal digital media players from Apple, allowing the iPod to be seamlessly incorporated into the dashboard display and electronic systems.

The iPod range is integrated into the V8 Vantage via a specially designed interface, bringing the functions of this award-winning range of digital media players into the car’s in-dash display. Finger-tip controls replicate the innovative menu structure of the iPod to ensure that your hands need never stray from the wheel in the search for the perfect accompaniment.

The iPod is docked with the V8 Vantage via a cable located in a compartment in the centre arm-rest, which also provides the iPod with power. There is ample space available, allowing all types of iPod, including the iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod classic, to be used in conjunction with the car. A power socket, auxiliary input and USB interface allow the connection of other media players.

Once docked with the cable connection, the iPod menus are replicated on the V8 Vantage’s main display. The driver can use either the selector wheel or two steering wheel buttons to replace the iconic click wheel interface of the iPod, allowing one to safely navigate through the music on the iPod without the need to take your hands off the wheel.

Full iPod functionality comes as standard, meaning one can browse through up to 160GB of music on the move, switching between artists, albums, playlists or simply shuffling random tracks as the mood takes you. With up to 40,000 songs at your disposal, the perfect combination of road and soundtrack are never more than a few clicks away.
iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc.

SPECIFICATIONS

Body

• Two seat, two door coupe or soft cover convertible top body style
• Bonded aluminium structure
• Aluminium, magnesium alloy, composite and steel body
• Extruded aluminium door side impact beams
• Halogen projector headlamps (main beam)
• LED rear lamps

Engine

• All alloy quad overhead cam 32 valve 4735cc V8.
• Front mid-mounted engine, rear wheel drive
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves.

Maximum Power

• 420 bhp (313 kW / 426 PS)

Maximum Torque

• 470 Nm (346 lb.ft)

Acceleration

• 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds
• 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.9 seconds

Maximum Speed

• 180 mph (290 km/h)

Transmission

• Rear mid-mounted six speed manual gearbox. Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft. Limited slip differential. Final Drive Ratio 3.909:1

Steering

• Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock. Column tilt and reach adjustment.

Suspension

• Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers
• Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti- squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers

Wheels

• Front: 8.5J x 19”
• Rear: 9.5J x 19”

Tyres

• Bridgestone Potenza
• Front: 235/40 ZR19
• Rear: 275/35 ZR19

Brakes

• Front: Ventilated and grooved steel discs, 355 mm diameter
• Rear: Ventilated and grooved steel discs, 330 mm diameter
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Traction Control
• Positive Torque Control

Dimensions

• Length: 4380mm (172.5 in)
• Width: 1865mm (73.5 in) (excluding mirrors)
• 2025 mm (80 in) (including mirrors)
• Height (Coupe): 1255 mm (49.5 in)
• Height (Roadster): 1265 mm (50 in)
• Wheelbase: 2600 mm (102.5 in)
• Front track: 1570 mm (62.0 in)
• Rear track: 1560 mm (61.5 in)
• Turning circle (kerb to kerb): 11.1m (36.5 ft)
• Boot capacity (Coupe): 300 litres (10.6 cu.ft)
• Boot capacity (Roadster): 144 litres (5.0 cu.ft)
• Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres (17.6 UK Gal / 21.1 US Gal)
• Weight (Coupe): 1630 kg (3595 lb)
• Weight (Roadster): 1710 kg (3770 lb)

Interior

• Full grain leather interior
• Alcantara headlining
• Alloy facia trim and Graphite centre console finish
• Electrically adjustable seats
• Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Front Airbags
• Side Airbags
• Heated rear screen
• Automatic temperature control
• Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
• Trip computer
• Glass ECU
• LED map reading lights
• Rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring*
• Alarm and immobiliser
• Remote-control central door locking and boot release
• Battery disconnect switch
• Tracking device (Standard in the UK only)

In Car Entertainment

• 160W Aston Martin audio system with six-CD autochanger
• Integrated Apple iPod5 connector
• USB connectors with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility

Options

• Sportshift4 automated manual transmisson
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system*+
• High Intensity Discharge Headlamps (dipped beam)
• Satellite Radio system (USA only)
• Piano Black facia trim
• Personalised sill plaques
• Auto dimming interior rear view mirror*
• Auto dimming interior rear view mirror with garage door opener
• Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
• Memory seats and exterior mirrors (3 positions)
• Heated seats
• Front parking sensors
• Tracking device**
• First aid kit
• Ashtray and Cigar Lighter
• Cruise control
• Bluetooth telephone preparation
• Powerfold exterior mirrors
• Front parking sensors
• Battery conditioner
• Boot mounted umbrella
• 700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System with Dolby® Pro Logic II®

*Not available in all markets
+Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) capability in Continental Europe
**Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK
4 Sportshift trademark is used under license from Prodrive (Holdings) Ltd
5 iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries

My-Dream-Cars reviews Aston Martin V8 Vantage