Thursday 29th March 2012

Is this a turbocharged Aston Vantage?

PH's very own spy video seems to offer a tantalising turbo whistle - or are we imagining it?

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PistonHeads has got its hands on this footage of an Aston Martin Vantage apparently giving off a turbo-esque whistle.

Our man at the 'ring, Dale Lomas, took this rather intriguing footage from the trackside during an 'Industry Pool testing day.

Listen carefully as the car clears the final apex and you might be able to make out what sounds like turbo boost pressure being released. And despite the V12 Vantage bodywork, is it us, or does that sound like a V8?

To be perfectly honest, we have no idea. But we do know that, what with the pressure on downsizing currently infecting motoring at every level, we wouldn't be at all surprised if the folks at Gaydon were at least toying with the idea of an emissions-friendly forced-induction V8 to replace the company's venerable V12.

So what do you think? Are we imagining it, or is there some sort of clandestine turbocharging going on at Aston?

 

[adz13091982]

If the Green's get their way it will be a 1.4 supercharged and turbocharged, engine cutting out at the lights affair

[steve_n]

I say no turbo.

Sounds more like tyre roar audible when the car is off throttle.

I also think it's a V12.

[matthias73]

adz13091982 said:

If the Green's get their way it will be a 1.4 supercharged and turbocharged, engine cutting out at the lights affair

1 litre with 12 turbochargers and a supercharger, 15 gears and a dog/pedestrian friendly bumper

[anonymous-user]

I hope its supercharged! Always thought that a Supercharged V8 would be a better engine than the V12

[LewisR]

matthias73 said:

adz13091982 said:

If the Green's get their way it will be a 1.4 supercharged and turbocharged, engine cutting out at the lights affair

1 litre with 12 turbochargers and a supercharger, 15 gears and a dog/pedestrian friendly bumper

Lego motor with 2 C cell batteries

[paulrussell]

It sounds like a V8, but I couldn't hear the whistle over the tyre roar.


edit: I've just looked up Aston Martin V8 and V12 exhaust on youtube and I'm even more sure that it's a V8.

Edited by paulrussell on Thursday 29th March 13:32

[MagicalTrevor]

Ah! So Dale is 'our man', I thought it was Harris!

[RichTBiscuit]

[Dr G]

MagicalTrevor said:

Ah! So Dale is 'our man', I thought it was Harris!

The repeat use of this term is becoming somewhat irritating.

It can go on the list with BMW remaps, MX5, oxo tower etc.

[MyCC]

Definitely a V8 and definitely turbo whistle. Interesting.

Regards,

My CC.

[MagicalTrevor]

Dr G said:

The repeat use of this term is becoming somewhat irritating.

It can go on the list with BMW remaps, MX5, oxo tower etc.

So glad I'm not the only one!

[williamp]

I cant hear Turbocharging at all.

If it is a forced induction, it wont be the first. They were very fond of them in he mid 90s, using a supercharger on both the DB7 and Vantage.

In the ealry 80s, Aston had the Bulldog prototype which was Turbocharged, as well as a prototype Lagonda.

Before then there have been various attempts of private owners to use forced induction: some DB2/4 were retro-fitted with them, and even some pre-war cars. The first was the "AM-Halford" special from 1924 (believed to be the first Turbocharged racing car)

[PaulMoor]

LewisR said:

matthias73 said:

adz13091982 said:

If the Green's get their way it will be a 1.4 supercharged and turbocharged, engine cutting out at the lights affair

1 litre with 12 turbochargers and a supercharger, 15 gears and a dog/pedestrian friendly bumper

Lego motor with 2 C cell batteries

Pedals and a compost bin in the boot.

[willisit]

It's been discussed elsewhere but I don't think either the V8, nor the V12 as they stand are suitable for factory turbo or supercharging (ie, it's doable, obviously but to get it through regs and on the road reliably is another thing entirely).

I didn't hear a turbo whistle in that clip - it's too short and muffled.

[Skater12]

V8 for certain.
Not 100% on the turbo though.
There's a slight high pitched whine, but that could be a mulitude of things.
If it were a supercharger ther'd be a more distintive whine as the pressuire builds under acceleration.

[scholesy]

No that is not turbocharged, that whistle is so slight, could be one of many things, even as slight as the alternator charging! You would also hear the whistle and tell tale jet noise as a turbo spools up when he plants it at the apex, so no, you are indeed clutching at straws there.

Edit: Looking at the date, I am guessing that this is PH setting up an elaborate "Aston to use a 6 cylinder turbo from now on" April fools gag

[danielj58]

I don't know whether it's because I'm looking for it, but I'm almost sure I can hear it starting to come on boost just before it passes the camera. Just before it ticks over to 3 seconds.

[Skater12]

scholesy said:

No that is not turbocharged, that whistle is so slight, could be one of many things, even as slight as the alternator charging! You would also hear the whistle and tell tale jet noise as a turbo spools up when he plants it at the apex, so no, you are indeed clutching at straws there.

Edit: Looking at the date, I am guessing that this is PH setting up an elaborate "Aston to use a 6 cylinder turbo from now on" April fools gag

Haha, probably.
April fools day Fail !!

Expect the article to read Aston to use Ford Ecotec derived V6 and twin-charge for next Vantage and Rapide. DB9 DBS and Virage to receive new V8 to replce V12, with sub 4ltr capacity.

[mumfurio]

sounds like a turbo to me, and i'm sure that's a V8....

Makes sense as turbo V8's seem to be the future for 'green friendly' performance cars

[anonymous-user]

Aston needed a boosted GDI 6 cylinder engine in about 2007. Here in 2012, it can't come soon enough (think 335i engine with circa 400bhp and 550Nm, both very achieveable). The problem, custom engines are expensive (especially when it almost certainly means a move to a Bosch EMS as well........)