Discussion
RichB said:
Jon39 said:
We now have an explanation from Aston Martin, about why the new Vantage does not have their famous historic grille. Marek Reichmann has been reported to have said, “Why put 15 or 20 kilos of weight on the nose of a car, in the worst possible spot” for handling balance?
I thought that comment pertained to the small headlamps?
Marek apparently provides a different explanation for the small headlights.
“The lights are incredibly small, because there’s an incredibly small space to work with.”
Jon39 said:
We now have an explanation from Aston Martin, about why the new Vantage does not have their famous historic grille.
Marek Reichmann has been reported to have said, “Why put 15 or 20 kilos of weight on the nose of a car, in the worst possible spot” for handling balance?
He seems to infer therefore, that if a potential buyer is overweight they cannot have a new Vantage.
Ex Boy Racer said:
I was told that the DB10 lights were the original intention for the Vanatge but the studio that produced Bond vetoed it saying that was their property.
Not sure if true, or plausible, but food for thought. The DB10 lights are much nicer.
They said much the same about the grill shape
I suggest Gaydon should ask the producers nicely if they would allow them to use the original drawing in return for some royalty for the facelifted Vantage? Not sure if true, or plausible, but food for thought. The DB10 lights are much nicer.
They said much the same about the grill shape
I'm in the market for the new Vantage. However, despite Aston's best intentions to appeal to a younger market, I think they made a marketing faux pas with the daring lime green colour. As those comments in the Telegraph prove - many view Aston as a classy, more consevative choice in this segment. They would have done well to release in more suiting colours in my opinion.
The comment in a couple of reviews about it using the older Benz infotaiment software and a lower resolution screen are concerning. But the option of a 360degree camera is something that virtually every car in this segment is lacking (Jag Ftype, AMG GTx, R8 RWS etc). These are the cars on my shortlist - especially the AMG GTC coupe. Would be very interesting to hear some commentary on the comparison of the AMG GT and the Vantage as essentially they would be on many a shortlist!
In any case, I am still very much driven to visit a dealership to view the new Aston....
I really hope I am impressed....
The comment in a couple of reviews about it using the older Benz infotaiment software and a lower resolution screen are concerning. But the option of a 360degree camera is something that virtually every car in this segment is lacking (Jag Ftype, AMG GTx, R8 RWS etc). These are the cars on my shortlist - especially the AMG GTC coupe. Would be very interesting to hear some commentary on the comparison of the AMG GT and the Vantage as essentially they would be on many a shortlist!
In any case, I am still very much driven to visit a dealership to view the new Aston....
I really hope I am impressed....
Jon39 said:
We now have an explanation from Aston Martin, about why the new Vantage does not have their famous historic grille.
Mark Reichmann has been reported to have said, “Why put 15 or 20 kilos of weight on the nose of a car, in the worst possible spot” for handling balance?
David W. said:
I’m 60, was at the launch, watched many of the YouTube videos today, happy with the heritage of the new engine, think it sound better than just about any vantage V8 or 12 I’ve heard to date. Slightly worried about a couple of comments about the ride, cant wait to drive it in due course ....but dont like the nose!
You are right. The DB10 didn't look right and this doesn't look right either. The Vulcan style trim looks 'added on', superfluous, rather than any kind of weight saving measure. Apparently you can have a circular wheel if you want, which is great, but I would hope that they will look again at the grille, and if possible consider the driver's view. It is not fair to say that it is £25k more expensive than a 911 GTS. By the time you spec the car up to a sensible level it won't be far short of the Aston.
cardigankid said:
You are right. The DB10 didn't look right and this doesn't look right either. The Vulcan style trim looks 'added on', superfluous, rather than any kind of weight saving measure. Apparently you can have a circular wheel if you want, which is great, but I would hope that they will look again at the grille, and if possible consider the driver's view.
It is not fair to say that it is £25k more expensive than a 911 GTS. By the time you spec the car up to a sensible level it won't be far short of the Aston.
Agree on the Porsche comparative cost - having been to see a "£45k" Macan - LOL - utter clickbait or what!It is not fair to say that it is £25k more expensive than a 911 GTS. By the time you spec the car up to a sensible level it won't be far short of the Aston.
However the Vulcan styling cues are legit and they do seem to impart a genuine downforce from what I read - car is seriously planted.
Have no idea why polycarb headlamps with a bit more presence, integration or design style about them should add such considerable weight? Mind you, I say this having just changed the air filters on mine - and the air filter boxes do seem to take up acres of space in the lower front wings!
PantsFire said:
Went on a Supercar Driver outing to Mclaren Manchester this morning, then on to Aston Martin to look at the new Vantage.
Think we were just behind you, in fact my car just sneaks in to shot on your last picture outside. 
I keep seeing the same car doing the rounds, and it's a grower, don't like the caramac interior of the red car but that's just a spec issue, overall I'd have one....in about 10 years when they have dropped to a price point I can afford
raceboy said:
PantsFire said:
Went on a Supercar Driver outing to Mclaren Manchester this morning, then on to Aston Martin to look at the new Vantage.
Think we were just behind you, in fact my car just sneaks in to shot on your last picture outside. I keep seeing the same car doing the rounds, and it's a grower, don't like the caramac interior of the red car but that's just a spec issue, overall I'd have one....in about 10 years when they have dropped to a price point I can afford
I saw this car at their launch event a couple of months back, and couldn't really get close enough to it on the night to really get to grips with it. I have to say though that under showroom lights the red looked fantastic, and the car itself was stunning. Like you, the tan interior wasn't one I'd go for, and I'm not too sure about the layout inside - perhaps a little over zealous with the number of buttons. The seats and the driving position however felt very good.
And as for the Silver Fox Vanquish S on display. Wow....just wow.
AlexT said:
I'm in the market for the new Vantage. However, despite Aston's best intentions to appeal to a younger market, I think they made a marketing faux pas with the daring lime green colour. As those comments in the Telegraph prove - many view Aston as a classy, more consevative choice in this segment. They would have done well to release in more suiting colours in my opinion.
The comment in a couple of reviews about it using the older Benz infotaiment software and a lower resolution screen are concerning. But the option of a 360degree camera is something that virtually every car in this segment is lacking (Jag Ftype, AMG GTx, R8 RWS etc). These are the cars on my shortlist - especially the AMG GTC coupe. Would be very interesting to hear some commentary on the comparison of the AMG GT and the Vantage as essentially they would be on many a shortlist!
In any case, I am still very much driven to visit a dealership to view the new Aston....
I really hope I am impressed....
AMG GTC has a heavy double-clutch transmission [heavier than ZF auto], making the car 100Kgs heavier than new Vantage. It appears to use the old SLS platform, as the transmission tunnel is huge, where the SLS's original gearbox would have been located, so it has less room inside than new Vantage.The comment in a couple of reviews about it using the older Benz infotaiment software and a lower resolution screen are concerning. But the option of a 360degree camera is something that virtually every car in this segment is lacking (Jag Ftype, AMG GTx, R8 RWS etc). These are the cars on my shortlist - especially the AMG GTC coupe. Would be very interesting to hear some commentary on the comparison of the AMG GT and the Vantage as essentially they would be on many a shortlist!
In any case, I am still very much driven to visit a dealership to view the new Aston....
I really hope I am impressed....
roughrider said:
AMG GTC ...making the car 100Kgs heavier than new Vantage.
You've made that up.Aston are quoting 1530kg dry weight (not even including oil/coolant/brake/battery fluid) with the lightweight options.
Merc AMG GT S is 1645kg (EU weight), so 1645kg - 68kg (driver) - 7kg (luggage) - 50kg (fuel) = 1520kg.
So the AMG GT is the lighter car.
Olivera said:
You've made that up.
Aston are quoting 1530kg dry weight (not even including oil/coolant/brake/battery fluid) with the lightweight options.
Merc AMG GT S is 1645kg (EU weight), so 1645kg - 68kg (driver) - 7kg (luggage) - 50kg (fuel) = 1520kg.
So the AMG GT is the lighter car.
He said "GTC", and likely meant "GT C", which is a different car to the "GT S", and weights 1694kgAston are quoting 1530kg dry weight (not even including oil/coolant/brake/battery fluid) with the lightweight options.
Merc AMG GT S is 1645kg (EU weight), so 1645kg - 68kg (driver) - 7kg (luggage) - 50kg (fuel) = 1520kg.
So the AMG GT is the lighter car.
Jon39 said:
We now have an explanation from Aston Martin, about why the new Vantage does not have their famous historic grille.
Mark Reichmann has been reported to have said, “Why put 15 or 20 kilos of weight on the nose of a car, in the worst possible spot” for handling balance?
Grilles weigh very, very little and the effect on its own would have been negligible. The vast majority of the weight is in the front bumper armature - it's the huge cast aluminum structure at the nose of the car. Removing that has a big effect on weight and weight distribution. I don't remember exact numbers off the top of my head though I'm pretty sure I have them on my computer at home, but the heaviest grille is the original 8-bar grille and it may have weighed around 1.5 kg or something like that. The lightest available is the mesh girlle from AMR, which weighs next to nothing. The V12VS grille weighs more than the AMR because it's essentially an AMR grille plus a carbon fiber frame. Regardless, the heaviest grille is only ~1.5 kg. The intake ducting and air boxes weigh ~5 kg, and those are in the nose of the car, too. The radiator shroud likely weighs ~2 kg (not sure I've ever weighed that).
A traditional Aston Martin grille in plastic (which would be likely for pedestrian safety for that style of grille) or even plastic and aluminum (as the outgoing 6- and 8-bar grilles are) would weigh 3-5 kg. The New Vantage has an "expanded metal" grille. The weight of expanded metal varies quite a bit, but if we guesstimate 4 sq ft and it's made of aluminum, and that's 0.75-1.5 kg. With how dense the extrusions are, I'd expect it to be on the higher end of that range, if not more than that. So the new Vantage's mesh grille probably weighs the same as an 8-bar grille, or maybe more. If it's steel, it'll weigh 2x as much.
Unless they got rid of the forward crash structure, there's no way they dropped 15-20 kg off the nose of the car. And it's a pretty safe bet that they didn't do that.
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