The new grille on the roadster.

The new grille on the roadster.

Author
Discussion

Grant3

3,635 posts

255 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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It may have taken a while but well done Aston for listening to feedback and giving us a classic style (but still modern) option smilethumbup


cardigankid

8,849 posts

212 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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Neil1300r said:
Factory - Here's the new Vantage, isn't it fantastic
Pistonheads - ugh, the front is horrible and ugly.
Factory - We think its fantastic we are not listening to you.
Pistonheads - its ugly and we wont buy it.
Factory - OK you win, here's a re-designed front, but you can still have the original one.
Pistonheads - Oh, can I order one with the the old design please, I've got used to it now

rolleyes
biglaugh
You’re right, it’s a brilliant piece of reverse psychology.

However...

Could someone tell me how to post a pic on here and I’ll show you what should have been like!

RSbandit

2,602 posts

132 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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OK so for me I always understood the Vantage grill was taken from the Vulcan which was no bad thing imo, the new grill I actually don't like I think they shouldn't have closed it in and just given the option for for the vanes on the hunter grill...for me the new Vantage in grey or tungsten is a really beautiful car.

EVR

1,824 posts

60 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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I like both. bowtie

GingerMunky

1,166 posts

257 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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Neil1300r said:
Factory - Here's the new Vantage, isn't it fantastic
Pistonheads - ugh, the front is horrible and ugly.
Factory - We think its fantastic we are not listening to you.
Pistonheads - its ugly and we wont buy it.
Factory - OK you win, here's a re-designed front, but you can still have the original one.
Pistonheads - Oh, can I order one with the the old design please, I've got used to it now

rolleyes
biglaugh
LOL, classic PH smile

cardigankid

8,849 posts

212 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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PS I wouldn't attempt to redesign the DB11 because I think they have got that spot on, particularly the Volante.

cayman-black

12,642 posts

216 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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To be honest the only new Aston i like is the DBSsl

bogie

16,381 posts

272 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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One thing for sure, the new grille certainly has got talking about the new Vantage and Roadster smile

dbs2000

2,687 posts

192 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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I like both too. I think the AMR with the hunter grill looks superb. However, if I were to order one it'd probably be the roadster with the new grill.

RL17

1,231 posts

93 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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DB11 sales pretty (possibly very) poor here compared to DB9 despite pretty Volante and AMR versions and Aston engine option in coupe.

Must be due a major facelift/revamp Sept/Oct 2020? once DBX sales/deliveries properly started and a bit of cash coming in (although overall APAC sales of 25% or so must be also a concern/drag on cask flows).


Minglar

1,227 posts

123 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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RL17 said:
DB11 sales pretty (possibly very) poor here compared to DB9 despite pretty Volante and AMR versions and Aston engine option in coupe.

Must be due a major facelift/revamp Sept/Oct 2020? once DBX sales/deliveries properly started and a bit of cash coming in (although overall APAC sales of 25% or so must be also a concern/drag on cask flows).
Bit of thread creep here (sorry) but with regards to facelifts/revamps etc, I do wonder if AM are thinking about fitting the DBX instrument cluster to the other models. The two dials in the DBX look so much better than the small single central dial currently in the Vantage/DB11/DBSS. Imho, I think the single dial is hard to read as so much information is crammed in to such a small area. We shall see I guess.

Best Regards

Minglar

cardigankid

8,849 posts

212 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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Back to the grille.

I saw a V8V Roadster at the weekend, maybe 2008-9. That is one good looking car. The moment I saw the DB11 at the Geneva Show in 2016, I thought the same.

When they produce a new Aston, you shouldn't be thinking, 'Do I like this? I'm not sure about the front.' That is the problem with the new Vantage. You think, that's bloody weird. That is not the reaction it should create. If it looks weird now, its always going to look weird.

Bobajobbob

1,436 posts

96 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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cardigankid said:
Back to the grille.

I saw a V8V Roadster at the weekend, maybe 2008-9. That is one good looking car. The moment I saw the DB11 at the Geneva Show in 2016, I thought the same.

When they produce a new Aston, you shouldn't be thinking, 'Do I like this? I'm not sure about the front.' That is the problem with the new Vantage. You think, that's bloody weird. That is not the reaction it should create. If it looks weird now, its always going to look weird.
This is exactly my issue with the new Vantage. I have a 2013 Roadster in the garage and it still looks fantastic and despite all the mechanical improvements to the new Vantage I’m never going to spend the difference for the trade in for a car that visually is a bit ‘meh’.

Chris355

794 posts

196 months

Monday 17th February 2020
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Part of the problem is that the earlier Vantage was such a good looking car, it is hard to Improve on it.

I’m pretty biased though ... as I have just bought the older shape V8 Vantage S Roadster and think it is one of the best looking cars on the road smile

pbe624

167 posts

135 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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New old grill was already posted on a relevant website in 2017... . Only took AM 2 years to find it... ;-)

Bobajobbob

1,436 posts

96 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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pbe624 said:
New old grill was already posted on a relevant website in 2017... . Only took AM 2 years to find it... ;-)
I actually prefer the proportions of this mock up rather than the rather wider mouthed new front end.

Dewi 2

1,314 posts

65 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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Chris355 said:
Part of the problem is that the earlier Vantage was such a good looking car, it is hard to Improve on it.

You are spot on Chris, and perhaps the problem, not just part.

The unveiling of the Vantage concept in 2003 was an instant hit. The star of that Auto Show. Hundreds of orders were then placed, by customers who had only seen photographs. The car looked good from every angle. A beautiful design by Ian Callum. The originally indicated price was increased before production began, but who can blame Aston Martin, when they saw huge demand.
The Vantage did not even seem to age, and was being complimented when still in production15 years later. That must be rare for any car. Sleek, purposeful, but not in any way showy. No unnecessary design features, a practical reason for every detail.

Yes, it was apparent to owners, that designing a better looking successor would be an almost impossible task.
As was shown in 2003, many Aston Martin customers often make their initial buying decision, based on beautiful looks.










TR-Spider

305 posts

78 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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pbe624 said:
New old grill was already posted on a relevant website in 2017... . Only took AM 2 years to find it... ;-)
This ... is how it should have looked like, would be much more elegant and "Classic Aston Martin".
But what do I know about car design...

paulrog1

989 posts

141 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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AML and AP wanted the new second century cars to look alot different from the gen1 gaydon era cars, hence why there is alot of criticism from us who love the look of the gen1 gaydon cars.

I believe they did it for alot of reasons, one is that AML had alot of criticism that the cars all looked the same and they want to attract new markets.

You either move with the times and upgrade every 5 years or so or decide what car you love the most and keep it long term.

I love the gen1 gaydon cars and my passion is for an early DB9 so mine's a keeper. If i had the cash i still wouldn't buy a second century car.

Mr.Tremlini

1,465 posts

101 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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Bobajobbob said:
pbe624 said:
New old grill was already posted on a relevant website in 2017... . Only took AM 2 years to find it... ;-)
I actually prefer the proportions of this mock up rather than the rather wider mouthed new front end.
+1