AMV8 Vantage prices and specs
Discussion
I was lucky enough to be part of a focus group last weekend where we were giving our opinions on the new V8 vantage, they wouldn't let us take anything away but from memory
Proposed list price - £76 700
Extras (no prices quoted.)
Paddle Shift Box
Sat Nav
19" Wheels (like the show car)
PDC
Cruise
Special paints etc
Engine 4.3 litre V8 380 bhp 295 lbs torque (no revs given)
Weight 1450kg (i think - minds going I'm getting old!)
What does everyone think, my impression is that for a pure 2 seater it could be a bit overpriced? compared to a 911 and especially Fords other performance car a Jag XKR(Which is also due for a new model in 2005) - but is the AM badge worth the extra £20K ?
Proposed list price - £76 700
Extras (no prices quoted.)
Paddle Shift Box
Sat Nav
19" Wheels (like the show car)
PDC
Cruise
Special paints etc
Engine 4.3 litre V8 380 bhp 295 lbs torque (no revs given)
Weight 1450kg (i think - minds going I'm getting old!)
What does everyone think, my impression is that for a pure 2 seater it could be a bit overpriced? compared to a 911 and especially Fords other performance car a Jag XKR(Which is also due for a new model in 2005) - but is the AM badge worth the extra £20K ?
Worth every penny - that's one gorgeous looking car. That torque figure looks a little low though, hope it's over 300 lb/ft by the time it reaches production.
Thought they were going to offer a 6-speed manual as well as the F1-shift. Hope they do....
I'll have mine in silver. Or black. Or BRG.....
Thought they were going to offer a 6-speed manual as well as the F1-shift. Hope they do....
I'll have mine in silver. Or black. Or BRG.....
Is that price & spec correct?
I think there is a very good chance we see a few changes before the car is actually on the market.
I must say I am suprised that A&B and particularly Aston Martin agreed to such information entering the public domain already.
>> Edited by clubsport on Thursday 10th April 14:38
I think there is a very good chance we see a few changes before the car is actually on the market.
I must say I am suprised that A&B and particularly Aston Martin agreed to such information entering the public domain already.
>> Edited by clubsport on Thursday 10th April 14:38
Current thinking is the standard car will be manual (press release). A lot of what would be extra on a 911 would be standard on any Aston, things such as CD shuttles, full leather trim etc, so any real difference in price would be less than the figures currently being anticipated. At the group I attended we pointed out it should be as cheap as possible with Aston taking the fight to Porsche as the new firm in the sector.
The power output suggested in the original PH thread would put the car more in line with a GT3 than a C2. The 50/50 weight distribution (press release) also should lead to interesting handling.
DAZ
Edited in light of Bennno's and clubsports post. Although no agreement of confidentiality was entered into, those who attended must remember they were looking at and discussing the current "concept" and by no means the actual car that will be launched.
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 14th April 09:24
The power output suggested in the original PH thread would put the car more in line with a GT3 than a C2. The 50/50 weight distribution (press release) also should lead to interesting handling.
DAZ
Edited in light of Bennno's and clubsports post. Although no agreement of confidentiality was entered into, those who attended must remember they were looking at and discussing the current "concept" and by no means the actual car that will be launched.
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 14th April 09:24
I feel it is not sensible to nail the spec & price at this stage,although clearly those of us at the Focus group have a very good idea.
To my mind the car faces it's greatest competition from other AM...DB& is £100k.....vanquish is £160.
So whether the new one is £75-£80-£85...makes it look the bargain of the family.
To my mind the car faces it's greatest competition from other AM...DB& is £100k.....vanquish is £160.
So whether the new one is £75-£80-£85...makes it look the bargain of the family.
Totally agree Benno,that is why i am being very generic in my response.
There was a PH lead article after the Geneva show,with prices / spec,different to what we thought we heard on the day.
I think all we know for sure is a smaller 2 seater Aston,cheaper than the rest of the range is due probably within the next 18 months.
There was a PH lead article after the Geneva show,with prices / spec,different to what we thought we heard on the day.
I think all we know for sure is a smaller 2 seater Aston,cheaper than the rest of the range is due probably within the next 18 months.
bennno said:
Whilst those whom attended the focus group were not specifically told to not repeat anything, i understood that as an implicit agreement.
Therefore what was discussed should not really be posted up here on the forum!
Bennno
Oh come on, do you're really think Ford's marketing people are so commercially naive as to not realise that by showing the car to members of the car buying public without a signed Non Disclosure Agreement, that they are putting the information into the public domain!
The whole point is they WANT you to spread the information without them having been seen to release it, that way they can gauge reactions while there's still time to tweak things, and if they detect an aspect is being badly received they can change it and say it was misinformation all the time.
So do the decent thing and tell those of us not lucky enough to be invited everything you know, so we can give them the feedback they so badly want!
There's probably a Ford product planner monitoring the site right now waiting to hear what we have to say!
Chris
I believe it is right that those who attended were meant to discuss what they heard and saw. While a focus group is used generally to assess the opinions of those who attended, any user of the method would be pleased to learn as much as possible from follow on. Conducting these sessions is expensive and you'd rather leverage your effort. I know, since I have used them in the past.
As to the price and spec. I was a buyer without hesitation at $100,000. I probably am a buyer at $120,000, but it does cause me to reflect. There is absolutely no car that appeals to me from $75-100,000 as much as the AMV8. The only real GT or sports cars in the range are the Porsche and for some a V8 Mercedes SL. However, when you go to $120,000, it gives me a lot to think about. You can get a used Modena for that or a new Porsche Turbo or close to a new Lambo Gallardo. The DB7's have become dated designs of great beauty and of interest as low mileage used cars only. The Vanquish is too much for what it is.
If they want to maximize their profits, they would be better off considering a price of $110,000. That would be the same to me as $100,000. $120,000 is not. They will hurt themselevs in terms of pricing elasticity. At $100,000 they might sell 3500, say. At $110,000 they might sell 3300. But, I think a price of $120,000 will cause the number to drop to $2000 units. (I may be wrong on the basic number from which the volume falls, but think the price points are right.)
Also, while 380 hp is a goodly number, if I were management, I would come out at 395-400. The car will likely have a life from 2005-2011. The current hp wars have set the number for an entry-level exotic at 400. The Z8, the M5, the 360 Modena, the Maser GT 4200, and many others are at 400 now. In 2 years they will be at 425. The gap at introduction shouldn't be that large. It would be better to annouce a bit ahead of the curve at 400 today and be prepared to raise it to 425 in 2007.
Also, they need to keep the full leather interior shown n the concept car rather than go with Porsche's philosophy of nickle and diming you to death. (Offering a BIG "full" leather option and a small "full" leather option and with neither offering "full" leather in what is a Mr-Potato-Head interior design anyway.) There should be absolutely no vinyl or plastic, though we could live with Alcantara.
They should keep the main gauge panel as jewel like as the concept. And, they could take another look at the bidycolored panel that sits as an "island" in the tail-lights...
>> Edited by gmonsen on Tuesday 15th April 02:06
As to the price and spec. I was a buyer without hesitation at $100,000. I probably am a buyer at $120,000, but it does cause me to reflect. There is absolutely no car that appeals to me from $75-100,000 as much as the AMV8. The only real GT or sports cars in the range are the Porsche and for some a V8 Mercedes SL. However, when you go to $120,000, it gives me a lot to think about. You can get a used Modena for that or a new Porsche Turbo or close to a new Lambo Gallardo. The DB7's have become dated designs of great beauty and of interest as low mileage used cars only. The Vanquish is too much for what it is.
If they want to maximize their profits, they would be better off considering a price of $110,000. That would be the same to me as $100,000. $120,000 is not. They will hurt themselevs in terms of pricing elasticity. At $100,000 they might sell 3500, say. At $110,000 they might sell 3300. But, I think a price of $120,000 will cause the number to drop to $2000 units. (I may be wrong on the basic number from which the volume falls, but think the price points are right.)
Also, while 380 hp is a goodly number, if I were management, I would come out at 395-400. The car will likely have a life from 2005-2011. The current hp wars have set the number for an entry-level exotic at 400. The Z8, the M5, the 360 Modena, the Maser GT 4200, and many others are at 400 now. In 2 years they will be at 425. The gap at introduction shouldn't be that large. It would be better to annouce a bit ahead of the curve at 400 today and be prepared to raise it to 425 in 2007.
Also, they need to keep the full leather interior shown n the concept car rather than go with Porsche's philosophy of nickle and diming you to death. (Offering a BIG "full" leather option and a small "full" leather option and with neither offering "full" leather in what is a Mr-Potato-Head interior design anyway.) There should be absolutely no vinyl or plastic, though we could live with Alcantara.
They should keep the main gauge panel as jewel like as the concept. And, they could take another look at the bidycolored panel that sits as an "island" in the tail-lights...
>> Edited by gmonsen on Tuesday 15th April 02:06
I read in a recent issue of Automobile magazine that a supercharged Vantage verion was going to be produced with a starting price of around a $100k. It was rumored to produce 500 bhp. Could there be any truth to this cause for a car of that caliber, 380 bhp sounds a bit on the low side....
I certainly hope they do produce a Vantage version. However, I'm still waiting for news of the Vanquish Vantage. Surely once the new DB8 and DB9 come on-stream they're going to have very similar outputs to the range-topper. I'd like to see a VV push out something like 600bhp. At least that might justify the huge price premium this model has over it's "cheaper" siblings.
Still, any Aston's a glorious Aston if you ask me
Still, any Aston's a glorious Aston if you ask me
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