Discussion
I promised myself I wouldn't comment again but... the comments on design are interesting especially when people start comparing Z4's to Z3 etc. The issue I have is more about the design language for the brand. As with most products you really shouldn't have to do a radical renewal of the design language unless you have something toxic to get rid of. The design themes of AM have been mostly consistent for 60-70 years, and the car really did not need a badge. Maybe the 90's Virage wandered a bit off topic but the Vanquish in 2003, then Vantage and DB9 brought it all back in focus. Even the dashboard has cues to take you back to the DB's of the 50's and sixties.
The DB11 extends the themes quite a bit, and just about stays on the right side. The new Vantage (IMHO) takes it a bit too far - and unnecessarily. It is quite possible to attract a new market without upsetting the existing one. There are plenty of tales of luxury brands over-extending then crashing again.
All the examples above testify to this. The Gallardo looks like a lambo and you can see a bit of countach in it. Ditto Ferrari's (except the California of course). Lamborghini have messed up the interiors though as have AM for the DB11 and Vantage. Round dials and knobs with square air vents? Missed oppty.
The DB11 extends the themes quite a bit, and just about stays on the right side. The new Vantage (IMHO) takes it a bit too far - and unnecessarily. It is quite possible to attract a new market without upsetting the existing one. There are plenty of tales of luxury brands over-extending then crashing again.
All the examples above testify to this. The Gallardo looks like a lambo and you can see a bit of countach in it. Ditto Ferrari's (except the California of course). Lamborghini have messed up the interiors though as have AM for the DB11 and Vantage. Round dials and knobs with square air vents? Missed oppty.
spyker138 said:
This is nice isn't it. And that is the pre-negotiation price.
The MSRP on this car is $163,956. So I doubt there is much pre-negotiation left. You will find these deals on the new Vantage a few years down the road.https://www.fckerbeckastonmartin.com/2016-aston-ma...
So I was lucky enough to be invited to see the UK Vantage at Sevenoaks yesterday, many thanks to the Seveonoaks team. I must admit that from the launch photos I was unsure of the new design and like many others didn't think it looked very Aston Martin.
Seeing it in person it is a much more attractive car, certainly more masculine, more purposeful and less "Japanese style" than my impressions from the photos. It is very different from the previous generation and in my opinion not as classically beautiful. It will turn heads on the street though and is a very attractive car in it's own right.
One of the Aston Martin performance drivers was there to discuss the technical aspect of the car and from what he was saying it sounds like the development of the car, aerodynamics and drive train far more complex than just buying a crate engine form AMG and plonking it in. It also sounds very aggressive (for a turbo), far more so than my friends AMG GTR which has the same base engine.
The interior was in tan leather which I didn't think looked very nice but the architecture of the cockpit was very appealing, sitting low in the car with the drivers environment wrapped around you.
Did I order one, no but a number of people had already that day and it sounds like pre-order numbers are good. Would I order one? Maybe, if I like it when I drive the demo. I really like my Vantage S Roadster and I think that the new Vantage would be quite a nice additional car to have in the garage, same car in name but different enough in style and I'm sure it will be very different dynamically. Would I have one over a 911 GT3 (if I can get my hands on one), only a test drive will answer that.
Other info from the Aston guys. Yes, there will be a manual in 18 months - 2 years. There will be a hotter version in a similar time period whether it's badged an S or AMR they didn't know.
Overall it sounds like there is a very interesting time for Aston Martin ahead with new cars, financial stability and a long term strategy which is always a good thing for Aston!
Edited to add: They said the average on the road price for pre orders is around £155-£160k.
Seeing it in person it is a much more attractive car, certainly more masculine, more purposeful and less "Japanese style" than my impressions from the photos. It is very different from the previous generation and in my opinion not as classically beautiful. It will turn heads on the street though and is a very attractive car in it's own right.
One of the Aston Martin performance drivers was there to discuss the technical aspect of the car and from what he was saying it sounds like the development of the car, aerodynamics and drive train far more complex than just buying a crate engine form AMG and plonking it in. It also sounds very aggressive (for a turbo), far more so than my friends AMG GTR which has the same base engine.
The interior was in tan leather which I didn't think looked very nice but the architecture of the cockpit was very appealing, sitting low in the car with the drivers environment wrapped around you.
Did I order one, no but a number of people had already that day and it sounds like pre-order numbers are good. Would I order one? Maybe, if I like it when I drive the demo. I really like my Vantage S Roadster and I think that the new Vantage would be quite a nice additional car to have in the garage, same car in name but different enough in style and I'm sure it will be very different dynamically. Would I have one over a 911 GT3 (if I can get my hands on one), only a test drive will answer that.
Other info from the Aston guys. Yes, there will be a manual in 18 months - 2 years. There will be a hotter version in a similar time period whether it's badged an S or AMR they didn't know.
Overall it sounds like there is a very interesting time for Aston Martin ahead with new cars, financial stability and a long term strategy which is always a good thing for Aston!
Edited to add: They said the average on the road price for pre orders is around £155-£160k.
Edited by Big E 118 on Friday 15th December 10:27
Does anyone know why Aston Martin decided to launch the new car as the new Vantage instead of giving the new car a new name? The cars are completely different from the ground up. I dont know much about marketing but ending production on the ‘old’ vantage without a ‘new’ version might have been the canny move for the brand and buyers alike?
IMO it has been a successful strategy with the DB series cars, which is what drew me to the brand. Always loved the classic lines and beauty of the DB9 and knowing there is not going to be a ‘new’ DB9 is reassuring (I hope this is not tempting fate).
IMO it has been a successful strategy with the DB series cars, which is what drew me to the brand. Always loved the classic lines and beauty of the DB9 and knowing there is not going to be a ‘new’ DB9 is reassuring (I hope this is not tempting fate).
soofsayer said:
Does anyone know why Aston Martin decided to launch the new car as the new Vantage instead of giving the new car a new name? The cars are completely different from the ground up. I dont know much about marketing but ending production on the ‘old’ vantage without a ‘new’ version might have been the canny move for the brand and buyers alike?
IMO it has been a successful strategy with the DB series cars, which is what drew me to the brand. Always loved the classic lines and beauty of the DB9 and knowing there is not going to be a ‘new’ DB9 is reassuring (I hope this is not tempting fate).
No idea, but suspect combination of running out of names that start with a V (given it would be odd to name this car a DB), the fact the name Vantage is now so well known/understood as a modern Aston (appreciate historically vantage was used completely differently) and of course, the history of them successfully re-using names - vanquish and DBS in particular come to mindIMO it has been a successful strategy with the DB series cars, which is what drew me to the brand. Always loved the classic lines and beauty of the DB9 and knowing there is not going to be a ‘new’ DB9 is reassuring (I hope this is not tempting fate).
soofsayer said:
Does anyone know why Aston Martin decided to launch the new car as the new Vantage instead of giving the new car a new name? The cars are completely different from the ground up. I dont know much about marketing but ending production on the ‘old’ vantage without a ‘new’ version might have been the canny move for the brand and buyers alike?
That would have been an enormous marketing mistake.jonby said:
No idea, but suspect combination of running out of names that start with a V (given it would be odd to name this car a DB), the fact the name Vantage is now so well known/understood as a modern Aston (appreciate historically vantage was used completely differently) and of course, the history of them successfully re-using names - vanquish and DBS in particular come to mind
They could have used Victor, Valiant or . . . Vulcan 2, errrr perhaps not 
V8 Vantage GT said:
soofsayer said:
Does anyone know why Aston Martin decided to launch the new car as the new Vantage instead of giving the new car a new name?
That would have been an enormous marketing mistake.
Ken Figenus said:
jonby said:
Just caught sight of the latest autocar with their best drivers car of the year
DB11 V8 came third behind Mclaren 720S and Porsche 911 GT3
Amazingly, considering it's Aston's GT, it did better than the AMG GT R and the M4 CS
On the face of it, this bodes incredibly well for new Vantage
That is absolutely superb news - brought a huge big smile! And yes its technically a 'GT' so doesnt shake yer teeth out either! Some achievement DB11 V8 came third behind Mclaren 720S and Porsche 911 GT3
Amazingly, considering it's Aston's GT, it did better than the AMG GT R and the M4 CS
On the face of it, this bodes incredibly well for new Vantage
I couldn't find the review online mind - maybe its subscriber only content?https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/britai...
tonyhall38 said:
avinalarf said:
Judging from some comments on this topic they could have called it.....Vomit.
Or Stephen.....Naming the car after me ?
It may have escaped your notice that the word Vantage begins with a V and Stephen beings with an S.
In that context my post revolved around the name of the model beginning with a V....not a bleedin S .
Plus .....how many times do I have to remind you that it's Steven.
avinalarf said:
Oh Tony .....what a wag you are.
Naming the car after me ?
It may have escaped your notice that the word Vantage begins with a V and Stephen beings with an S.
In that context my post revolved around the name of the model beginning with a V....not a bleedin S .
Plus .....how many times do I have to remind you that it's Steven.
Naming the car after me ?
It may have escaped your notice that the word Vantage begins with a V and Stephen beings with an S.
In that context my post revolved around the name of the model beginning with a V....not a bleedin S .
Plus .....how many times do I have to remind you that it's Steven.
With your talk of Vs Steven, you will probably remember the Benny Hill butler sketch. (It is on YouTube)
"It's wodka with wee, not a wuble U".
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