Aston Martin has confirmed two special editions - the V8 Vantage N430 and the DB9 Carbon Black and Carbon White - will debut at the Geneva show. What, no new AMG-engined models? Seems we'll have to wait a little longer for those but what we do have are ... some nice colour schemes and extras.
Retro paint scheme serves the Vantage well
Seriously though, the N430 in particular does look rather enticing in its retro Aston racing green paint and DBR1 inspired yellow highlights. Like the previous N400 Vantage, the N430 alludes to the motorsport success of Vantage racing cars by being ostensibly a track-inspired model. So it gets fixed carbon/Kevlar seats and forged wheels helping shave 20kg from the kerb weight and
the Vantage S
power hike from the standard 426hp to 436hp. It's a tenth quicker to 60mph than the standard Vantage (now 4.6 seconds) and a more significant 10mph faster at the top end, hitting 190mph flat out like the Vantage S.
This is no stripped out race car for the road like the old N24 though, the N430 getting plenty of Alcantara trimmings to sit alongside the carbon fibre detailing and an optional 1000W Bang & Olufsen sound system if you really don't get along with the 4.7-litre one under the bonnet. Purists will be encouraged by the sight of a manual shifter in the centre console but you can also have the N430 with the Sportshift II seven-speed automated manual if you prefer. Prices start at £89,995 for the coupe (Roadster also available), which is £5K more than the standard Vantage but a more significant £10K less than the Vantage S. OK, so there's nothing really new about it but the N430 does bring together some of the best bits of the Vantage range. And it's a nice colour. We like.
So, we'll shoot the black car on the black background...
The DB9 Carbon Black and White editions, meanwhile, are a rather more straightforward trim option. Based on the standard DB9 the standout features are based on the monotone colour choices, respectively matched or contrasted against the carbon fibre trim elements. Clue was in the name there... In an apparent admission that this is a spruce-up on a long-serving model Aston's description of the DB9 as 'timeless' says much, design boss Marek Reichman phoning in a quote about the packs giving the car "a fresh and highly desirable new appearance."
In a show packed with brand new metal the idea that paint schemes qualify as a "new appearance" may provoke a few chuckles but, hey, they still look lovely. Right?