Aston
Martin V8 Vantage
 The
Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a hand built sports car
from the British manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston
Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name
on high performance variants of their existing GT
models, notably on the Virage-based supercar of the
1990s. The modern car, in contrast, is the leanest
and most agile car in Aston's three-model lineup.
Following the unveiling of the AMV8
Vantage concept car in 2003, the production V8 Vantage
was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005 for
the 2006 model year. The two seat, two -door coupé had
a bonded aluminium structure for strength and lightness.
The 172.5 inch (4.38 m) long coupé featured
a hatchback-style tailgate for practicality, with a
large luggage shelf behind the seats. In addition to
the coupé, a convertible was available known
as the V8 Vantage Roadster.
The V8 Vantage was powered by a 4.3
L (4300 cc) quad-cam 32-valve V8 which produced 380
hp (280 kW) at 7,000 rpm and 302 ft·lbf (410
Nm) at 5,000 rpm. Though based loosely on Jaguar's
AJ-V8 engine architecture, this engine was unique to
Aston Martin and featured race-style dry-sump lubrication,
which enabled it to be mounted low in the chassis for
an improved center of gravity.
The engine was front mid-mounted with
a rear-mounted transaxle, giving a 49/51 front/rear
weight distribution. The V8 Vantage could accelerate
to 60 mph (97 km/h) in a manufacturer claimed 4.7 seconds
(62 mph (100 km/h), 4.9sec) and reached a 178 mph (285
km/h) top speed. Slotted Brembo brakes were also standard.
In their 2006 readership survey, readers
of Car Design News voted the Aston Martin V8 Vantage
as the best current production car design. The survey
results were based on over 1000 responses, most from
working automotive designers and students of industrial
and automotive design. The Vantage was also voted one
of Automobile magazine's 2007 "All Stars" for
its performance, road manners, and design. The V8 Vantage
is also one of the only two cars to be added to "the
fridge" – reserved for the super-"cool" – on
the BBC's Top Gear (on which it is described as the
baby Aston to differentiate it from the V12 powered
DB9). |