When we road tested the current generation of Aston Martin Vantage in 2024, we concluded by wondering where it could go from there. This thorough update of the car that was all-new in 2018 was an improvement across the board, with more performance, poise, and predictability, yet a more docile feel at a cruise.
The engineers can’t stop tweaking, which is just as well because a lowish-volume sports car like this can’t just be left to run its five-year model cycle with no attention; there have to be new versions and special editions to lure customers back to the configurator, and hopefully the showrooms.
The AMV 8 numberplate on our test car has graced Aston Martin press cars for a long time. I came across it in a road test of the V8 Vantage from 1977. $20,356, 0-60mph in 5.4sec, and 13.5mpg, if you were wondering.
So the Vantage is the latest car to get the S treatment, after the DBX and the DB12. The formula is fairly straightforward, and the same as for all the 21st-century S models: a smidgen more power, some sportier visual details, and a more focused chassis, although Aston claims they don’t come at the expense of compliance and refinement.
Although the standard car remains on sale, the Aston Martin Vantage S promises simply to be like a better Vantage. Time to find out if it is.
View Price on AmazonThe fundamentals of this generation of Vantage go back to the car that was introduced in 2018 as part of Aston’s ‘second century’ plan, with a new bonded aluminum architecture and a generous helping of Mercedes-AMG technology.
Back then, the big step forward was the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, which has only got more powerful since 2018. In the current standard Vantage, it already makes 656 horsepower without the use of any electrification. The Vantage S bumps this up to 670 horsepower by way of some calibration changes. Torque remains at 590 lb-ft. Together with optimized launch control, this drops the 0-60mph time by 0.1sec. The throttle pedal gives slightly more resistance than before.
Power still goes to the rear wheels only through the familiar ZF eight-speed torque converter, which was developed exclusively for Aston to work in a transaxle configuration with an electronic limited-slip differential.
Aston Martin takes its badges seriously. One company, Vaughtons in Birmingham, makes both the Aston Martin wings and the S badge by hand, the latter from forged brass and glass enamel. Alloys are the same as on the regular Vantage, but these 21in Y-spoke forged wheels are available with a red graphic on the S.
On the chassis side, the Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers have been recalibrated and the geometry has been changed to give more front-end grip and response. The rear subframe is now hard-mounted instead of on rubber bushes. To counter the harshness this might bring and enhance low-speed ride quality, the rear spring aid has been made softer and the transmission mount is 10% softer.
Visual alterations for the S are subtle. Aston scholars will spot the new blades in the bonnet vents and the pinstripe around the lower spoilers. This doesn’t have to be red – you can have it in a subtler color – but it goes nicely with the red glass enamel badges on the front wings.
A new rear spoiler lip adds 44kg of downforce at top speed, while new underbody aero such as a deeper front air dam and venturi vanes balance that out with 67kg of downforce at the front.
Elsewhere, the Vantage remains largely as it was. Despite the aluminum architecture, it’s not a particularly light car. Aston quotes a dry weight, but we weighed our car at 1750kg (only 5kg of fuel load and coffee cups adrift of our 2024 road test car), which compares rather unfavourably with the 1607kg of the hybrid Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. The weight is at least distributed exactly equally across the axles.
Suspension is by double wishbones at the front and a multi-link at the rear. Steel brakes are standard, with 400mm discs at the front and 360mm discs at the rear.
Source: autocar.co.uk
