Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005 - )

The AMV8 Vantage concept was greeted with universal acclaim - a true Aston Martin destined for great things and sometimes considered a direct competitor for the Porsche 911. And in showing the concept car a full two years before the actual production car, Aston Martin created a huge demand for an, as yet, un-driven car. The production ready car was finally unveiled in March 2005 at the Geneva salon.

Some estimate by the time the car was first shown, some dealers had as much as a three year waiting list for the Vantage such has been the interest. Certainly, you would be very lucky indeed to have such a car on your driveway before the end of 2006 unless you have already placed a very early order with your dealer.

Series production of the Vantage began in the Autumn of 2005 at a rate of approaching 3000 annually on a second assembly line within the Gaydon factory, with approximately 70% going outside of the UK.  Deliveries of the V8 Vantage to customers in the UK and Europe were a little late in October; customers in North America and the rest of the world started getting their V8's early in 2006..

The V8 Vantage is the second Aston Martin production car based on the VH architecture as already seen on the DB9, but it is the first to use a new 4.3 litre quad cam 32 valve dry sumped V8 engine.  Power has been quoted at 380bhp @7000rpm and torque of 302 lb ft @ 5000rpm. This should allow the 1570kg machine a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 and  0-100 mph in 10.7 with the standard 6 speed Graziano manual gearbox.

The engine is unique to Aston Martin but uses a Jaguar sourced block with unique internal dimensions. It is handbuilt alongside the V12 at the Aston Martin Engine Plant in Cologne, Germany.

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The cars at the Geneva salon featured seven spoke 19 inch wheels which is technically an option but was fitted as standard and at additional cost to all early production cars. Later cars should be fitted with 10 spoke 18 inch diameter rims as standard. The V8 Vantage features the swan doors as first seen on the DB9. But unlike any other car in it's class it has a useful hatchback. The first AM with this feature was the DB2/4

Standard trim features technical grain leather with Quantum fabric centre panels on the seats. Full natural grain leather is optional. The Vantage is strictly a 2 seater but does have a decent boot and plenty of space behind the seats. 

I think this picture fully illustrates the term 'front mid mounted' as the engine is well under the base of the windscreen.

You will no doubt notice that the colour of the yellow car appears different in each picture. Indeed, when seen in the flesh, the colour did appear to change between a lemon yellow and  full on custard. I can only put this down to the fact that the paint was pearlescent and not solid as it appears. A quick look at the colours available on the AM stand shows that this yellow (Cool Yellow as AM call it) isn't a standard colour, but it should be available at extra cost on later cars.

This set of pictures was taken with the kind assistance of Aston Hire.

In early 2006, the first noticeable changes were made to the Vantage. Known as the 06.5MY, these cars can be identified by a white LED display replacing the previous yellow. More recently, 07MY cars have received wider redesigned seats.

At the 2006 Paris Salon, AM announced the option of a two pedal paddle shift gearbox option known as 'Sportshift'. Whilst it is not available until the second quarter of 2007, I think it's a very much updated version from the Vanquish. AM are so confident of this option that they claim that gear changes can occur in just 200 m/s which I think means 0.2 seconds and thus the 0-100km (0-62mph) dash can be achieved in 5.0 seconds.

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  Page Updated Sunday February 17, 2008