RE: Aston sells racing V8 Vantage
Thursday 20th July 2006
The pair of V8 VantagesAston Martin is to sell a club racer version of the V8 Vantage, it announced at the British International Motor Show. It's based on the V8 Vantage which recently competed at the 24-hour endurance race at the Nürburgring, and will be available in limited numbers.
Aston sells racing V8 Vantage
Limited run of racing car now on sale
The pair of V8 Vantages
The factory prepared Aston Martin V8 Vantage took its place in the company’s history books after finishing 24th overall at the race, among a field of largely motorsport-homologated cars last month.
Now customers will be able to order examples of the same car, which will be built to order at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters from August.
The V8 Vantage is almost entirely production standard, including the engine and transmission. The only modifications made - for safety and pit-lane efficiency – include a full mandatory safety cage, special fuel tank and fire system, racing seat, and built-in air jacks.
As the Vantage remains production standard, it can still be made road legal, allowing customers to drive from home and race at the track – as did the Vantage which completed the 24-hour endurance race in Germany in June.
Aston Martin boss Dr Ulrich Bez said: "By finishing in the top 25 with a standard production Vantage at the Nürburgring, we showed the true capabilities of the car.
“The race marked a real achievement for both the car and the team – and to celebrate this we wanted to make the car available to customers who are motorsport enthusiasts wanting to participate in amateur racing.
“With our dedicated production and engine facilities we have greater flexibility than ever before, allowing us to consider small, special production runs - such as this project.
“One of the virtues of our company is the ability to react to what customers want and, as we demonstrate here, offer the ultimate in personalisation.”
Prices will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but are expected to be close to the price of the standard production car, which starts at £82,800.
Autographed motor
And just hours after the V8 Vantage completed the Nürburgring race, 30 Aston Martin employees marked a significant milestone for the company by taking to the wheel of another Vantage and completing 30,000 miles in 30 days finishing at the British International Motor Show in London.
As the company approached production of the 30,000th car, a unique celebration to commemorate the occasion with the youngest car in the Aston Martin range, the award-winning V8 Vantage, was planned.
Employees from all departments of the company at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon, in Warwickshire, were invited to Germany to undertake a day of driving to assist in achieving 30,000 miles in a V8 Vantage over the course of just 30 days.
Using the excellent transport infrastructure and access to the Autobahn network in Düsseldorf as well as Aston Martin’s new dealership in the region, Moll Sportwagen, employees drove the Vantage through the day and night to achieve the mileage.
Bez, who started the celebration by driving the car from the Nürburgring to Düsseldorf immediately after the 24 hours race, said: “Production of our 30,000 production car signals the pace of change at Aston Martin in recent years.
“When we launched our plans to reinvigorate the brand in 2001, Aston Martin had produced just under 20,000 cars in 87 years and now, barely five years later, we are approaching our 30,000th car.
“This exercise – in conjunction with our success at the Nürburgring – proves what we have always believed; the Vantage is a true 24-hour sports car, tough and usable, and as durable on the track as it is on the road.”
The V8 Vantage used to complete the project, signed by every participating employee, is joined at the British International Motor Show by the V8 Vantage that completed the 24-hour Nürburgring Endurance Race in June.
Discussion
cerbman said:
r988 said:
Ashok said:
The AM V8 really needs more power!
Even the new Jaguar XKR has 40bhp on the Aston! Time for blower?
It will be 500 bhp - XKR-R
fatboy b said:
cerbman said:
r988 said:
Ashok said:
The AM V8 really needs more power!
Even the new Jaguar XKR has 40bhp on the Aston! Time for blower?
It will be 500 bhp - XKR-R
XKR-R should have manual 'box available as well, possibly even the Astons gearbox (I'm guessing there but it would make sense) so what reason is there to buy a supercharged Aston over an XKR-R? The XK8 is only supposed to be 20kg heavier than an AM V8 so weight will be about the same, look similar, just a badge really
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
r988 said:
XKR-R should have manual 'box available as well, possibly even the Astons gearbox (I'm guessing there but it would make sense) so what reason is there to buy a supercharged Aston over an XKR-R? The XK8 is only supposed to be 20kg heavier than an AM V8 so weight will be about the same, look similar, just a badge really
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I understand what you are saying, but can't agree! You are paying extra for the Aston, not just for the badge (although exclusivity is part of the appeal, how many XKRs will there be on the road?)but rather the hand built unique (dare I say bespoke !!!)finish of the car, top quality leather & aluminium, hand stiched leather, hand finished paint, a fabulous design, the amazing sound etc etc.The AMv8 is also more sports car than GT.
I have test driven the last XKR & although it was fast it was a wafty GT that had zero drver involvement & a horrible whine from the supercharger every time you put your foot down. Great to waft up & down motorways though! I am sure the new XKR will be better, but I still think it will be more GT, even though it is faster, don't forget an Evo is much faster than an XKR for less than half it's price, so if speed is your only reference the XKr doesn't make sense either!
Anyway after depreciation is taken into account, maybe the XKR won't be cheaper at all!
Having said all this, I am sure as others have said, Aston will soon be bolting a supercharger on the Vantage, it can't hurt!!!
r988 said:
fatboy b said:
cerbman said:
r988 said:
Ashok said:
The AM V8 really needs more power!
Even the new Jaguar XKR has 40bhp on the Aston! Time for blower?
It will be 500 bhp - XKR-R
XKR-R should have manual 'box available as well, possibly even the Astons gearbox (I'm guessing there but it would make sense) so what reason is there to buy a supercharged Aston over an XKR-R? The XK8 is only supposed to be 20kg heavier than an AM V8 so weight will be about the same, look similar, just a badge really
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
Not so sure about the Aston looking like the Jag - I love the looks of the Aston (got one on order) but the Jag looks awkward and somewhat "cheap" to me. Can't quantify it, but the lines just don't flow like they do on the V8. I agree that the Aston *feels* down on power (actually down on torque as it's the midrange urge that's slightly lacking) but a car that can go head to head with a 911 round the 'ring and come 25th outright in near standard spec can't be all that bad.
Quite frankly with modern congestion and the quality of the roads I think the Aston will be fast enough. If I want to scare myself I can take the Radical on track...
grant3 said:
r988 said:
XKR-R should have manual 'box available as well, possibly even the Astons gearbox (I'm guessing there but it would make sense) so what reason is there to buy a supercharged Aston over an XKR-R? The XK8 is only supposed to be 20kg heavier than an AM V8 so weight will be about the same, look similar, just a badge really
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I understand what you are saying, but can't agree! You are paying extra for the Aston, not just for the badge (although exclusivity is part of the appeal, how many XKRs will there be on the road?)but rather the hand built unique (dare I say bespoke !!!)finish of the car, top quality leather & aluminium, hand stiched leather, hand finished paint, a fabulous design, the amazing sound etc etc.The AMv8 is also more sports car than GT.
I have test driven the last XKR & although it was fast it was a wafty GT that had zero drver involvement & a horrible whine from the supercharger every time you put your foot down. Great to waft up & down motorways though! I am sure the new XKR will be better, but I still think it will be more GT, even though it is faster, don't forget an Evo is much faster than an XKR for less than half it's price, so if speed is your only reference the XKr doesn't make sense either!
Anyway after depreciation is taken into account, maybe the XKR won't be cheaper at all!
Having said all this, I am sure as others have said, Aston will soon be bolting a supercharger on the Vantage, it can't hurt!!!
Aston have been brought down into Jaguar territory, I doubt if production figures are much different between the DB9, V8 and XK8/XKR. All this means is that Jaguar and Aston Martin are rivals and so I know and believe that Jaguar are being restricted on how sporty they are allowed to be. I strongly believe if Jaguar were given the freedom they deserve we would see a real successor to the E-type.
cerbman said:
grant3 said:
r988 said:
XKR-R should have manual 'box available as well, possibly even the Astons gearbox (I'm guessing there but it would make sense) so what reason is there to buy a supercharged Aston over an XKR-R? The XK8 is only supposed to be 20kg heavier than an AM V8 so weight will be about the same, look similar, just a badge really
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I understand what you are saying, but can't agree! You are paying extra for the Aston, not just for the badge (although exclusivity is part of the appeal, how many XKRs will there be on the road?)but rather the hand built unique (dare I say bespoke !!!)finish of the car, top quality leather & aluminium, hand stiched leather, hand finished paint, a fabulous design, the amazing sound etc etc.The AMv8 is also more sports car than GT.
I have test driven the last XKR & although it was fast it was a wafty GT that had zero drver involvement & a horrible whine from the supercharger every time you put your foot down. Great to waft up & down motorways though! I am sure the new XKR will be better, but I still think it will be more GT, even though it is faster, don't forget an Evo is much faster than an XKR for less than half it's price, so if speed is your only reference the XKr doesn't make sense either!
Anyway after depreciation is taken into account, maybe the XKR won't be cheaper at all!
Having said all this, I am sure as others have said, Aston will soon be bolting a supercharger on the Vantage, it can't hurt!!!
Aston have been brought down into Jaguar territory, I doubt if production figures are much different between the DB9, V8 and XK8/XKR. All this means is that Jaguar and Aston Martin are rivals and so I know and believe that Jaguar are being restricted on how sporty they are allowed to be. I strongly believe if Jaguar were given the freedom they deserve we would see a real successor to the E-type.
The new xk is a direct successor of thr e-type. The e-type was a gt through and through, the new xk could be considered too sports car like for that moniker. The new xk even has the same oval grille as the e-type and the same rear haunches, now like the new one or not, its a nonsense to claim its anything other than a successor to the E. Remember the E was never the best handling car in the world, whereas the new xk has pretty much trounced the competition in reviews in the main mags, evo, car etc. The xkr is miles cheaper than the top of the range rivals for BMW and Merc, and I'd wager despite the power differential it will win out overall in reviews when they come through. All this with the xkr-r yet to come, so I fail to see how Jag are being limited, the fact is they don't currently have an engine with more power, they are supposed to be working on a larger capacity version of the 4.2 supercharged now. Anyhoo, the Aston will be fine with the xkr around, its a smaller sharper car and has the magic badge. One other thing, it annoys me when people claim the Jag looks like an aston, lets talk facts here, the modern astons look like jags. The long bonet swoopy style with bulging shoulders is pure Jag, aston adopted it with the db7 as it was basically an xk in drag. Astons previously were big, brutish and bluff (grrr). Its unfair to criticise Jag for making a car in their own tradition with visible E-type stylng references because Aston copied the style in the 90s and have comandeered it in peoples minds. Still, AMV8 lightweight, not arf!
cerbman said:
Aston have been brought down into Jaguar territory, I doubt if production figures are much different between the DB9, V8 and XK8/XKR. All this means is that Jaguar and Aston Martin are rivals and so I know and believe that Jaguar are being restricted on how sporty they are allowed to be. I strongly believe if Jaguar were given the freedom they deserve we would see a real successor to the E-type.
You are probably right about Jag being restricted to their place in the Ford pecking order, but not about production volumes, there will be vastly more jags on the road than Astons. But that doesn't stop the jag. being a great car, If you love Jags good on you, enjoy, but don't doubt that the Aston can justify it's premium, with more than the badge!
cathalm said:
cerbman said:
grant3 said:
r988 said:
XKR-R should have manual 'box available as well, possibly even the Astons gearbox (I'm guessing there but it would make sense) so what reason is there to buy a supercharged Aston over an XKR-R? The XK8 is only supposed to be 20kg heavier than an AM V8 so weight will be about the same, look similar, just a badge really
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I understand what you are saying, but can't agree! You are paying extra for the Aston, not just for the badge (although exclusivity is part of the appeal, how many XKRs will there be on the road?)but rather the hand built unique (dare I say bespoke !!!)finish of the car, top quality leather & aluminium, hand stiched leather, hand finished paint, a fabulous design, the amazing sound etc etc.The AMv8 is also more sports car than GT.
I have test driven the last XKR & although it was fast it was a wafty GT that had zero drver involvement & a horrible whine from the supercharger every time you put your foot down. Great to waft up & down motorways though! I am sure the new XKR will be better, but I still think it will be more GT, even though it is faster, don't forget an Evo is much faster than an XKR for less than half it's price, so if speed is your only reference the XKr doesn't make sense either!
Anyway after depreciation is taken into account, maybe the XKR won't be cheaper at all!
Having said all this, I am sure as others have said, Aston will soon be bolting a supercharger on the Vantage, it can't hurt!!!
Aston have been brought down into Jaguar territory, I doubt if production figures are much different between the DB9, V8 and XK8/XKR. All this means is that Jaguar and Aston Martin are rivals and so I know and believe that Jaguar are being restricted on how sporty they are allowed to be. I strongly believe if Jaguar were given the freedom they deserve we would see a real successor to the E-type.
The new xk is a direct successor of thr e-type. The e-type was a gt through and through, the new xk could be considered too sports car like for that moniker. The new xk even has the same oval grille as the e-type and the same rear haunches, now like the new one or not, its a nonsense to claim its anything other than a successor to the E. Remember the E was never the best handling car in the world, whereas the new xk has pretty much trounced the competition in reviews in the main mags, evo, car etc. The xkr is miles cheaper than the top of the range rivals for BMW and Merc, and I'd wager despite the power differential it will win out overall in reviews when they come through. All this with the xkr-r yet to come, so I fail to see how Jag are being limited, the fact is they don't currently have an engine with more power, they are supposed to be working on a larger capacity version of the 4.2 supercharged now. Anyhoo, the Aston will be fine with the xkr around, its a smaller sharper car and has the magic badge. One other thing, it annoys me when people claim the Jag looks like an aston, lets talk facts here, the modern astons look like jags. The long bonet swoopy style with bulging shoulders is pure Jag, aston adopted it with the db7 as it was basically an xk in drag. Astons previously were big, brutish and bluff (grrr). Its unfair to criticise Jag for making a car in their own tradition with visible E-type stylng references because Aston copied the style in the 90s and have comandeered it in peoples minds. Still, AMV8 lightweight, not arf!
"One other thing, it annoys me when people claim the Jag looks like an aston, lets talk facts here, the modern astons look like jags. The long bonet swoopy style with bulging shoulders is pure Jag, aston adopted it with the db7 as it was basically an xk in drag. Astons previously were big, brutish and bluff (grrr). Its unfair to criticise Jag for making a car in their own tradition with visible E-type stylng references because Aston copied the style in the 90s and have comandeered it in peoples minds." Brilliant.
cerbman said:
cathalm said:
cerbman said:
grant3 said:
r988 said:
XKR-R should have manual 'box available as well, possibly even the Astons gearbox (I'm guessing there but it would make sense) so what reason is there to buy a supercharged Aston over an XKR-R? The XK8 is only supposed to be 20kg heavier than an AM V8 so weight will be about the same, look similar, just a badge really
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I wonder if the Aston could end up outselling the Jag though, like BMW 3 series outselling Mondeos, people seem happy to buy the more expensive badge.
I understand what you are saying, but can't agree! You are paying extra for the Aston, not just for the badge (although exclusivity is part of the appeal, how many XKRs will there be on the road?)but rather the hand built unique (dare I say bespoke !!!)finish of the car, top quality leather & aluminium, hand stiched leather, hand finished paint, a fabulous design, the amazing sound etc etc.The AMv8 is also more sports car than GT.
I have test driven the last XKR & although it was fast it was a wafty GT that had zero drver involvement & a horrible whine from the supercharger every time you put your foot down. Great to waft up & down motorways though! I am sure the new XKR will be better, but I still think it will be more GT, even though it is faster, don't forget an Evo is much faster than an XKR for less than half it's price, so if speed is your only reference the XKr doesn't make sense either!
Anyway after depreciation is taken into account, maybe the XKR won't be cheaper at all!
Having said all this, I am sure as others have said, Aston will soon be bolting a supercharger on the Vantage, it can't hurt!!!
Aston have been brought down into Jaguar territory, I doubt if production figures are much different between the DB9, V8 and XK8/XKR. All this means is that Jaguar and Aston Martin are rivals and so I know and believe that Jaguar are being restricted on how sporty they are allowed to be. I strongly believe if Jaguar were given the freedom they deserve we would see a real successor to the E-type.
The new xk is a direct successor of thr e-type. The e-type was a gt through and through, the new xk could be considered too sports car like for that moniker. The new xk even has the same oval grille as the e-type and the same rear haunches, now like the new one or not, its a nonsense to claim its anything other than a successor to the E. Remember the E was never the best handling car in the world, whereas the new xk has pretty much trounced the competition in reviews in the main mags, evo, car etc. The xkr is miles cheaper than the top of the range rivals for BMW and Merc, and I'd wager despite the power differential it will win out overall in reviews when they come through. All this with the xkr-r yet to come, so I fail to see how Jag are being limited, the fact is they don't currently have an engine with more power, they are supposed to be working on a larger capacity version of the 4.2 supercharged now. Anyhoo, the Aston will be fine with the xkr around, its a smaller sharper car and has the magic badge. One other thing, it annoys me when people claim the Jag looks like an aston, lets talk facts here, the modern astons look like jags. The long bonet swoopy style with bulging shoulders is pure Jag, aston adopted it with the db7 as it was basically an xk in drag. Astons previously were big, brutish and bluff (grrr). Its unfair to criticise Jag for making a car in their own tradition with visible E-type stylng references because Aston copied the style in the 90s and have comandeered it in peoples minds. Still, AMV8 lightweight, not arf!
"One other thing, it annoys me when people claim the Jag looks like an aston, lets talk facts here, the modern astons look like jags. The long bonet swoopy style with bulging shoulders is pure Jag, aston adopted it with the db7 as it was basically an xk in drag. Astons previously were big, brutish and bluff (grrr). Its unfair to criticise Jag for making a car in their own tradition with visible E-type stylng references because Aston copied the style in the 90s and have comandeered it in peoples minds." Brilliant.
Come to think of it, in 1961 you're probably right. I stand corrected!
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