Vulcan Vantage Point

What we like:

Fresh styling

very good chassis

that AMG-sourced engine

that soundtrack

Decent boot

What we dislike:

No external boot lid release

Plush interior materials aside

the Vantage does not feel as accurately stitched together as compared to its German rivals

Awkward blank area under the PRND buttons

The new Aston Martin Vantage comes in at an important time for the brand. The previous Vantage was growing quite long in the tooth, and a new car was long due. With a fresh injection of funds from having their business listed on the FTSE, there are certainly many more to please. Though it did become evident that the listing was a “Dr.No” for them, when their listed price did not perform to what they expected. But that really is another story.

The Vantage is priced below $700,000 before laying on the COE and optional extras, making this the most reachable “Aston” in their current lineup; and it looks to be the car to see them through in sales; before the launch of their very first SUV, the DBX, which will go up against the likes of the Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus.... which is again another story…

The new car which rolls out of the Gaydon factory carries on it distinctive design influence taken from the track only Vulcan, and also the bespoke “Bond car”, the DB10, developed specially for Spectre. Both cars feature what Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman dubs, a ‘single line under tension’. A singular crease in the side sheet metal, where visually, other lines on the car’s side profile dynamically flow around. Its new side gill design is also a break-away from the traditional sleek cuts in the front fender, which Aston Martin says, bleeds air pressure out from the front wheel arches. And speaking about design break-aways, future Aston Martins will begin to look different, and more easily distinguishable from each other. The buzzword within the walls of the Gaydon is “No More Russian Dolls”, a sweeping statement made by Reichman himself.

Front and rear overhangs are also minimal, and at 4,465mm, the Vantage is 284mm shorter than the 2+2 seater DB11, and 34mm shorter than the Porsche 911. The 20” ‘Y’ spoke wheels with front 255/40/20 and rear 295/35/20 Pirelli P Zero tyres are carry-overs from the DB10.

Up in the front, squinted headlights and an angry scowl, formed on the bonnet, and an aggressively angled signature front grille communicates unbridled ferocity, are reflective of the car’s performance. At the rear end, the parting gift of for those it leaves behind, a collection of muscular bulges, with a strip-style tail light cluster and functional diffusers at the base of the rear bumper.

The only carryover from the previous Vantage, are those recessed door handles, everything on from the ground up is new.

Underneath its skin, like the DB11, the Vantage utilises adhesive to bond its aluminium underframe to steel panels. Not only is it light, but it offers the rigidity required to build upon all that compontry to deliver that dynamic drive. In-fact, the Vantage’s bonded structure is 70% new, versus the DB11.

Within its opulent leather stitched interior, one can find bits and bobs of Mercedes-Benz equipment. Even the leather surround does little to hide that trackpad taken straight from the German brand’s parts bin. The play on material use is also seen in the frosted air-conditioning vents which are made of aluminium. There is also the option of glass buttons, if you do wish to add that little bit of added sparkle within the cabin.

The clear PRND gear change buttons are arranged in an inverted “V” formation, as opposed to the horizontal layout, which are sited below the air-conditioning vents in the old car; making them easier to single out.

There is however an unfortunate void between the shift buttons and the rest of the tunnel, until I realised that it was just the ideal spot to place my half-eaten cupcake. The space was initially seen as a resting slot for the car keys during prototype stage.

Once in the driver’s seat, the low-seating position, paired with the high-waisted window line would mean that all-round visibility from within the car is not the best, and the optional Blind Spot Monitoring system would be highly recommended.

Cargo room is wide enough to hold your golfing gear. At 350 litres, and for a car, doing what it is built to do, it is really quite practical. A small detail though, for those who would often store things in the rear, Aston Martin had decided this time, to omit the boot lid release on the outside.

Powered by the mighty Mercedes-AMG sourced 4.0 V8 M177 engine fed with twin turbochargers, which is widely used in their range of cars. The V8 is managed by a Bosch ECU, and is mounted far-back in the engine bay, helping to deliver a perfect 50:50 balance. Aston Martin has also introduced a Slimline wet sump system, allowing the engine to be mounted further down in the chassis for an overall lower centre of gravity. Power is rated at 503Bhp at 6,000rpm, while its 686Nm peak torque, available from 2,000 to 5,000rpm.

Twist is transferred to the rear wheels via a rear mid-mounted ZF 8HP75 8-speed transmission (also found in the G30 5-Series BMW), which is rated to handle 750Nm… excess is always good! We also hear that for the Vantage only, Aston Martin will also be fielding a seven-speed “joystick” for some satisfying left-handed manliness.

The Vantage has also adopted Aston Martin’s Skyhook adjustable suspension, which is adjustable from ‘Sport’, ‘Sport+’ and ‘Track’ modes, allowing the car to be extremely flexible in drive delivery

I personally like the burble from the German V8, as the car walks itself through its gears. Acceleration is brisk, with the Vantage hitting 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds. Punch that V8 hard, and you will get rewarded with a wild soundtrack within the cabin, with plenty of that delicious soundtrack coming from the rear.

Compared to the DB11, the Vantage presents itself as not only a more untamed car, but it feels even more precise around the turns; and more reactive due in-part to the shorter wheelbase. The Vantage is also the first in their range to receive an E-Diff (Electronic Differential). The unit is able to operate outside the parameters of a mechanical LSD, being able to react at a blink of an eye, and not only works during cornering, but ensures improved straight-line stability.

While it is quite squarely aimed at the 911, the Vantage does however lose out due to the lack of those +2 seats; but it does however have quite a decent boot.

Styling-wise, the new Vantage departs from predictable design, with an aggressive demeanor not seen previously in the brand. In this car, you’d feel a little more Bruce Wayne (when he does not feel like being The Batman) than James Bond… and Na Na Na I certainly do not mean Adam West.

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