Aston Martin launches Vantage GT8
Carbon panels and a wider track for this GTE-inspired limited edition, plus a suitably bracing price... [Updated]
Race to road link fairly clear here!
The GT8 was unveiled at Silverstone this morning, with Aston saying that production will be limited to 150 units worldwide, deliveries will start from the last quarter of 2016, and if you want one then you'll have to be prepared to stump up £165,000 before options. That's a serious supplement over the V8 S, which lists at £94,995, but in Aston's defence it does have a good record of finding buyers for its limited runs in recent years.
The GT8 is far more than badges and a bodykit, although there's an asterisk next to the headline claim of it being 100kg lighter than a standard Vantage - that's the prediction for a car equipped with all "lightweight options", a phrase beloved by Italian supercar makers. As standard the GT8 is widened, gets a broader track and uses carbon fibre for bumpers, front splitter, rear diffuser wings and sills. Note too the cutaway front wheelarch which mimics that of the GTE racer, improving aerodynamic performance and cooling.
Other colours are available, don't worry
Inside the cabin weight saving measures include carbon fibre skins on the inside of the doors and lightweight carbon sports seats. A race-like lithium-ion battery is also standard, but it's not a stripped-out special: standard equipment includes air-con and an audio system, along with Aston's revised AMI III infotainment system that we're looking forward to actually having a go with.
Engine output has increased modestly, with Aston claiming 446hp, a small bump over the 436hp of the V8 S. The savings on the other side of the power-to-weight ratio have cut the claimed 0-62mph time from the Vantage S's 4.8 seconds to 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 190mph. Suspension tweaks include "track focused" geometry plus uprated springs and dampers; we're told to expect the car to be the sharpest handling roadgoing Vantage so far.
If the combination of Stirling Green and lime details is a bit OTT, then Aston is also offering grey and blue or white and green. Or, if you want something a bit easier to look at with a hangover, you can get one of the standard Vantage colours. Both a manual gearbox and the automated single-clutch 'Sportshift' transmission will be available.
There's a manual available too if you wish - hurrah!
We've still got some questions that we'll try to clear up while we're at Silverstone, the biggest being what the GT8 weighs in "standard" form without the extra-cost lightening, and what it costs if you choose to tick every box. Stay tuned...
UPDATE 11:30 14/04/2016:
We've got answers to those blanks above, plus a few more details. Without lightweight options the GT8 is 80kg lighter than the standard Vantage, and selecting all the mass-saving tweaks - including the polycarbonate windows, titanium exhaust and forged wheels - will push the price north of £200,000. Which sounds insane, but Andy Palmer has just announced that, based on deposits taken, the whole production run of 150 cars has already sold out.
We've also had a chat with David King, Aston's Special Projects director and the man in charge of the project, who says that the suspension tweaks include springs that are around 25 per cent stiffer at the front but are almost unchanged at the rear, plus the arrival of bespoke Bilstein dampers, without any fancy pants switchable modes. Stability control has also been tweaked and, as you'd expect, the spectacular wing of the Aero Pack isn't for show, but generates positive downforce at "everyday speeds". The steering rack has also been revalved. Interesting, King also told us that, based on early expressions of interest, around 50 per cent of GT8s will be sold with the six-speed manual gearbox, so it seems that the resurgence of interest in senior sports cars with clutch pedals is an actual, and welcome, trend...
Watch the video here.
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The (just over) 100 year history of Aston Martin is in racing and particularly endurance racing. The retail car business was largely just a sideline to fund this (as it was at Ferrari). So surely a one-step removed (admittedly a big step) from the GTE racer is far more Aston Martin than say a DB11?
I think what you really mean to say is "its just not a DB9". Which I would entirely understand
But I hope every one scheduled for build finds an owner.
The (just over) 100 year history of Aston Martin is in racing and particularly endurance racing. The retail car business was largely just a sideline to fund this (as it was at Ferrari). So surely a one-step removed (admittedly a big step) from the GTE racer is far more Aston Martin than say a DB11?
I think what you really mean to say is "its just not a DB9". Which I would entirely understand
Indeed.
With the strong link to 007, people forgot the origins of Aston Martin. Most of people link the brand to a luxury maker of sport GT cars. Otherwise, few people Knows about the racing heritage of Aston.
The current line up of specials (GT8 and GT12) alongside the new projects (Aston Martin hypercar with Red-bull, brand returned to F1) wI'll, to some extent, enhance the link to Aston's Racing Heritage.
On top of that, the meaning of Vantage for Aston is not something 'new' that came when they launched the Vantage in 05, It goes back to decades ago where the Vantage versions of the DB cars meant more enhanced performances for the Road/track.
The GT8 is expression of that.
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