RE: Revealed: Aston Martin Vantage S
Wednesday 26th January 2011
Aston Martin has popped a cherry on the top of its V8 Vantage range-cake in the form of this, the new V8 Vantage S.
The new automated manual transmission is apparently 20 per cent quicker to shift than the original Sportshift 'box, while the extra gear permits shorter ratios, to help keep the car closer to the engine's optimum torque. Aston also reckons there are inherent benefits of a single-clutch system in that it reduces complexity and weight over a dual-clutch transmission.
The dynamic stability control (DSC) system has been specifically tuned to the Vantage S, while the car also gets a new brake module that includes Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA).
Revealed: Aston Martin Vantage S
V8 Vantage range gets new flagship model
Intended, says Aston, to 'bridge the gap between road car and race car', the new Vantage S gains only a modest 10bhp and 15lb ft over the regular car, bringing peak poke of the 4.7-litre V8 to 430bhp at 7300rpm, and torque to 361lb ft at 5000rpm. Mind you, there are plenty of other performance-oriented tweaks to justify the 'S' tag.
Most significant is the introduction of a brand-new seven-speed transmission, dubbed Sportshift II, which has been specifically designed for the Vantage S with short ratio gears to 'deliver the most engaging and intense driver involvement'.
Dynamic revisions to the Vantage S include a quickened steering rack ratio of 15:1 (compared with 17:1 on the standard car), larger diameter front brake discs with new six-piston front brake callipers, new springs and dampers and wider rear wheels (complete with a set of bespoke Bridgestone tyres).
Visual tweaks involve a new lower front bumper with a larger air intake finished in carbon fibre. The splitter, meanwhile, combined with the extended bootlid 'flip', provides increased downforce at speed. New 19-inch 'V' spoke wheel styles are also standard, with an optional 10-spoke lightweight forged wheel available as an alternative. Oh, and there's a new rear bumper and side sills.
Specification
Body:
- Two-seat, two-door coupe or soft-cover convertible top body style
- Extruded bonded aluminium VH body structure
- Aluminium, magnesium alloy, composite and steel body
- Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
- Halogen projector headlamps (main beam)
- High Intensity Discharge headlamps (dipped beam)
- LED rear lamps
- Clear rear lamps
- Carbon fibre front splitter and rear diffuser
Engine:
- All-alloy quad overhead camshaft, 32-valve 4735 cc V8
- Front mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
- Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
- Compression ratio 11.3:1
- Maximum Power 321 kW (430 bhp / 436 PS) at 7300 rpm
- Maximum Torque 490 Nm (361 lb.ft) at 5000 rpm
- Acceleration 0-60 mph tbc; 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) tbc
- Maximum Speed 189 mph (305 km/h)
Transmission:
- Rear mid-mounted ‘Sportshift II’ 7-speed single clutch automated manual transmission
- Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
- Limited slip differential
- Final Drive Ratio 4.182:1
Steering:
- Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 2.6 turns lock-to-lock
- Column tilt and reach adjustment.
Wheels & tyres
- 19” V-Sspoke cast alloy silver painted wheels with diamond turned finish
- Front8.5J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza RE050 245/40 R19
- Rear 10.0J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza RE050 285/35 R19
Suspension:
- Front Independent double wishbones incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers
- Rear Independent double wishbones with anti- squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers
Brakes:
- Front Ventilated and grooved two-piece floating discs, 380mm diameter with six piston calipers
- Rear Ventilated and grooved steel discs, 330mm diameter with four piston calipers
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
- Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
- Positive Torque Control (PTC)
- Hill Start Assist (HSA)
- Traction Control
Interior:
- Full grain leather interior
- Weave Alloy facia trim
- Iridium Silver centre console outer finish and Graphite inner finish
- Leather-trimmed sports steering wheel
- Embroidered ‘Vantage S’ seat logo
- Embroidered ‘Vantage S’ carpet logo
- Electrically operated Sports seats with side airbags
- Dual-stage driver and passenger front airbags
- Heated rear screen
- Automatic temperature control
- Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
- Trip computer
- Cruise control
- Bluetooth telephone preparation1
- Glass ECU
- LED map lamps
- Rear parking sensors
- Powerfold exterior heated mirrors
- Tyre-pressure monitoring
- Alarm and immobiliser
- Remote-controlled central door locking and boot release
- Tracking device (UK only)3
- Anodised black ‘S’ theme tread plates
In Car Entertainment:
- 160 W Aston Martin audio system with six-CD autochanger
- Integrated Apple iPod® connector4
- USB connector with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility
Exterior Options:
- V-Spoke cast alloy graphite painted wheels with diamond turned finish
- 10-Spoke forged alloy silver painted wheels with diamond turned finish
- 10-Spoke forged alloy graphite painted wheels with diamond turned finish
- Bright finish grille
- Carbon fibre side strakes
- Magnum Silver bonnet and side stake meshes
- Alternative brake caliper finish – black, red, silver
- Front parking sensors
- Delete ‘Vantage S’ model badging
- Delete protective tape
Interior Options:
- Lightweight seats with six-way electrical adjustment (does not include side airbags; not available in USA or Canada)1
- Memory front seats and exterior mirrors (three positions)
- Heated seats (included as standard with Lightweight seats)
- ISOFIX and fixed height passenger seat (Sports seats only)
- Alternative facia trim finishes – Prism Alloy, Piano Black, Piano Black Interior Pack
- Alcantara trimmed steering wheel
- Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
- Auto dimming interior rear view mirror with garage door opener1
- Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system1,2
- 700 W Aston Martin Premium Audio system with Dolby® Pro Logic II®
- 1000 W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system with ICEpower®technology
- Satellite radio system (USA and Canada only)
- Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
- Tracking device1,3
- Second glass ECU
- Delete embroidered ‘Vantage S’ seat logo
- Delete embroidered ‘Vantage S’ carpet logo
- Personalised sill plaques
- Wind deflector (Roadster only)
- First aid kit
- Ashtray and cigar lighter
- Boot mounted umbrella
Dimensions:
- Length 4385 mm (172.6”)
- Width (excluding mirrors) 1865 mm (73.5”)
- Width (including mirrors) 2025 mm (80.0”)
- Height (Coupe) 1260 mm (49.6”)
- Height (Roadster) 1270 mm (50.0”)
- Wheelbase 2600 mm (102.5”)
- Front Track 1570 mm (62.0”)
- Rear Track 1590 mm (62.6”)
- Turning Circle 11.38 m (37.3 ft) (kerb to kerb)
- Boot Capacity (Coupe) 300 litres (10.6 cu ft)
- Boot Capacity (Roadster) 144 litres (5.0 cu ft)
- Fuel Capacity 80 litres (17.6 UK gal/21.1 US gal)
- Kerb Weight (Coupe) 1610 kg (3549 lb)
- Kerb Weight (Roadster) 1690 kg (3726 lb)
Fuel Consumption5 litres/100 km (mpg):
- Urban 19.2 (14.7)
- Extra-urban 9.3 (30.4)
- Combined 12.9 (21.9)
Gas Mileage (North America only)
- City 14 mpg
- Highway 21 mpg
CO2 Emissions5
- 299 g/km
1Not available in all markets
2Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) in Continental Europe
3Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK
4iPod® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries
5Data not applicable to North American market
Discussion
Shame Prodrive have no performance kit for the 4.7 as they do for the 4.3.
I didn't see any mention of LSD, I presume is still has one fitted?
Also the options list misses out HID main beam, IMO this is invaluable (considering the availability of these systems) on a performance car driven on the better roads in this country at night.
I do like NA engines but there's surely a deal to be done with Jagaur for the supercharged engine, but I expect that would be too attractive a package.
I didn't see any mention of LSD, I presume is still has one fitted?
Also the options list misses out HID main beam, IMO this is invaluable (considering the availability of these systems) on a performance car driven on the better roads in this country at night.
I do like NA engines but there's surely a deal to be done with Jagaur for the supercharged engine, but I expect that would be too attractive a package.
Edited by slikrs on Wednesday 26th January 12:37
slikrs said:
Shame Prodrive have no performance kit for the 4.7 as they do for the 4.3.
I didn't see any mention of LSD, I presume is still has one fitted?
Also the options list misses out HID main beam, IMO this is invaluable (considering the availability of these systems) on a performance car driven on the better roads in this country at night.
I do like NA engines but there's surely a deal to be done with Jagaur for the supercharged engine, but I expect that would be too attractive a package.
The HID headlamps are standard.I didn't see any mention of LSD, I presume is still has one fitted?
Also the options list misses out HID main beam, IMO this is invaluable (considering the availability of these systems) on a performance car driven on the better roads in this country at night.
I do like NA engines but there's surely a deal to be done with Jagaur for the supercharged engine, but I expect that would be too attractive a package.
Edited by slikrs on Wednesday 26th January 12:37
Paint me cynical (just don't paint the seat inserts body colour matching blue... oh whoops) but given the minor nature of the changes to the car over the standard model, and the recent official pictures and pricing announcement of the somewhat controversial Cygnet, I wouldn't be surprised if Aston Martin had this model ready in anticipation to deflect any criticism that might have been generated towards THAT car. (Last week: "Hi, here's our little fashion statement / fleet-average-fuel-economy busting city car, and by the way, here's another Vantage to show we make real cars as well so don't worry purists")
Incidentally despite my critique I fully understand the reasons for the Cygnet and think the IQ quite a cool little car anyway, and if you regard the Cygnet as an equally interesting looking but more luxurious IQ, and not as a statement that you own an Aston Martin (and people don't realise it cost you 29 thousand pounds which is silly money for what maybe at best could be classed an A1 or Polo Competitor) then enjoy your city transit, says I
Incidentally despite my critique I fully understand the reasons for the Cygnet and think the IQ quite a cool little car anyway, and if you regard the Cygnet as an equally interesting looking but more luxurious IQ, and not as a statement that you own an Aston Martin (and people don't realise it cost you 29 thousand pounds which is silly money for what maybe at best could be classed an A1 or Polo Competitor) then enjoy your city transit, says I
bogie said:
very nice ...a few more changes than I expected...shame they cant do 100bhp a litre and make it 470bhp though
..wonder what price premium is though?
Prices start at £102,500 apparently. So around £10,000 extra but with more standard equipment i guess...wonder what price premium is though?
Doesn't the Prodrive engine modifications give the 4.3 vantage 425bhp, seems like the 4.7 engine has more potential but they don't want to make it any more powerful
mikey k said:
Now if they "acquired" Jaguars 5.0 supercharged engine 
Indeed - current car wouldn't see which way an XKR went 
80K car - 25K badge. For everyone that wants too be considered a James Bond a-like. More Moneypenny than sense, there's plenty better offerings at this price point and below
305 clicks out of 430 horses
My A...Edited by FWDRacer on Wednesday 26th January 14:33
Its an Aston - whats not to like. Would have thought the bhp would have been increased a bit more than a mere 10bhp. I would have expected at least double that to make it a more worthwhile purshase of the standard. I guess they will have to rely on the Extras mentioned in the article.
georgetuk said:
How very yawn-tastic styling wise, they all look the same. Its beyond matching of styles of other manufacturers.
There is an Aston dealer near here in Walton and there is so little that is special and standout in their range.
Good cars, just need to be more exciting.
Aston's are for class my friend, Ferrari's are for flash.There is an Aston dealer near here in Walton and there is so little that is special and standout in their range.
Good cars, just need to be more exciting.
The styling is perfect, the V12 Vantage is one of the greatest cars of my generation the looks, the performance and a badge to die for.
I had to laugh a little at comparing the jagdeo with the Aston, come on guys.
Are you really saying you'd rather have an XKR over an Aston Martin, regardless of badge, the Jag will never stir something inside of you like the Aston will.
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