AutoExpress in their 7th December 2005 issue has hinted at a more powerful lighter version of the V8 Vantage. What they had suggested eventually materialised as the Nürburgring racecar. Shortly after it's success at 'The Ring' AM announced that they would be building a limited number of road going replicas eminently suitable for trackdays and race series such as VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring, the Britcar endurance series, the Dutch Supercar Challenge, the Australian GT Championship, the European Endurance Championship and of course, AMOC Club Racing. In addition, the Vantage N24 is also very eligible for the new European GT4 series, the Grand-Am Cup and SCCA Touring Car Class in the USA. The production car was eventually unveiled at the Autosport International Show at the Birmingham NEC on the 11th January 2007, as a guest car on tyre partner, Yokohama’s, stand.

The Vantage N24 is based on a standard European specification production V8 Vantage, but fastidiously hand built in a dedicated facility within Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters (Special Vehicle Operations). The N24 is striped bare with a huge 250kg weight loss over the standard car (down to 1330kg). Gone is most of the interior trim, air bags, air-con and entertainment system.

Key specifications of the N24 are

• Engine modified to enhance throttle response and performance; including lightning and balancing of the crankshaft, conrods and pistons

• Cylinder heads re-profiled to optimise compression ratio and gas flow

• Engine management system calibrated for race use.

• Free flow exhaust system and catalysts plus improved air filters and secondary air injection

• Power output of 410bhp (305KW) at 7500rpm

• 6-speed manual transmission with Valeo twin plate cerametalic racing clutch and lightweight flywheel

• Facia moulding re-trimmed in Alcantara.

• Console and door casings replaced by lightweight mouldings

• Full high strength steel roll cage

• Recaro Pole Position competition shell drivers seat

• Passenger seat with safety harness is an optional extra

• A suede-trimmed steering wheel with a quick release mechanism

• Schroth six-point safety harness with a push button release.

• Lifeline Zero 360 gas extinguisher system.

• Underframe and body discreetly modified to save weight

• Tapping plates to accommodate the use of pneumatic jacks

• Motor sport towing eyes attached to the chassis.

• Side and rear windows in clear polycarbonate - sliding opening on the driver's side

• Quick release bonnet and tail latches

• Larger diameter front and rear anti-roll bars

• Adjustable ride height aluminium dampers

• Single rate flat ground springs with separate helper springs

• Modified front subframe with extra camber and castor

• Speedline cast magnesium front and rear wheels with high performance Yokohama AO48 tyres

• Brakes uprated with Pagid RS 29 race pads

• Dynamic stability control, traction control, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution carried over from the standard car

• Modified sill panels with carbonfibre inserts. Grille with less horizontal slats, lightened wing vent brightwork.

An alternative to the standard V8 as a roadcar? I personally think the N24 is a little too extreme as regular road transport but it is wonderful to see a production AM perfectly equipped for the track and a worthy successor to the DB4GT. Although, strictly speaking, the N24 is a racecar, AM Works Service or dealers are happy to make your N24 road legal under the single vehicle type approval rules with a few modifications. To do this the N24 will need number plates with lights, indicators, a horn, a proper handbrake, steering column with steering lock, fuel filler restrictor, catalytic converter mods to comply with noise and emission regs and a normal drivers window to replace the fixed Perspex type with sliding panel. This process is estimated to cost around £9,000.

Production of the N24 begin during early 2007. This particular car had already been purchased by a customer when it went on display at the Geneva Salon, March 2007.