Photographs courtesy of Prodrive

Prodrive who runs  the Aston Martin Racing team in partnership with Aston Martin has developed a range of parts for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, to give owners the option of a car with enhanced performance and dynamics.

Prodrive has tuned the 4.3 litre V8 engine to raise peak power, as well as making it more responsive throughout the rev range.  It has also developed the car’s suspension, including uprated Eibach springs and driver-adjustable Bilstein dampers, to give owners the option of an even greater sports-oriented driving set-up. Unique forged wheels are available for the car and also discreet carbon composite spoilers.

Prodrive and Eibach  jointly unveiled the new range of parts at the Essen Motor Show on the 30th November 2006.  The parts will be available from early 2007 as a post-registration fitment, enabling existing V8 Vantage owners to upgrade their cars. I might add that the warranty for the engine work is picked up by Prodrive and supplants the warranty supplied by AM.

Key features of the upgrades available are

• The 4.3 litre V8 engine increases in power from 283 kW (380 bhp) to 317 kW (425 bhp), as well as increasing peak torque from 410 Nm (302 lbft) to 440 Nm (325 lbft). This is at a cost of £6259 inc VAT.

• 0-100 km/h time reduced from 5.0 secs to 4.7 secs (est) and increases the top speed by 13 km/h to 293 km/h (est).

• modified exhaust system with a low back pressure sports catalyst and a driver-controlled switch to manually override the V8 Vantage’s exhaust valve. Quiet mode =  valve is permanently closed;  auto = as on the standard car; Sport mode = valve is permanently open.

• A new driver-adjustable suspension by Bilstein and Eibach with a switch in the cockpit allows the driver to choose between normal and sports mode. £5581 inc VAT.

• discreet Prodrive designed and manufactured carbon composite front lip and trunk spoilers to reduce lift by 45 per cent. £2937 inc VAT.

• 14 spoke 19" forged wheels made by Prodrive Japan; almost 9 kgs lighter than the standard wheels. Complete with Pirelli P-Zero tyres, £3995 inc VAT.

I finally saw a Prodrive Vantage in the accessories hall at the Geneva Salon 2007. Unfortunately, the light quality in that hall is not ideal so these pictures below are the result.