Vantage re-design
Discussion
I never liked certain design points in the new Vantage and since there was some talk around this in the AML stock market thread I thought it would be best to post this in a new thread. Maybe others can join and share their ideas.
For me on the rear some curves are not elegant, instead they are aggressive. I feel like that at the arrows the curves are pushed too much.

Played around a bit and this came out:

This quick job is definitely not smooth and ready, some line are not straight because of the quick rework but you get the idea.
Note that on the right side the black part around the exhaust is not done. It would have been difficult for me to get it exactly the same as on the left side plus now you can compare sides.
For me on the rear some curves are not elegant, instead they are aggressive. I feel like that at the arrows the curves are pushed too much.
Played around a bit and this came out:
This quick job is definitely not smooth and ready, some line are not straight because of the quick rework but you get the idea.
Note that on the right side the black part around the exhaust is not done. It would have been difficult for me to get it exactly the same as on the left side plus now you can compare sides.
Edited by Ghini on Monday 6th February 15:23
Ghini said:
I never liked certain design points in the new Vantage and since there was some talk around this in the AML stock market thread I thought it would be best to post this in a new thread. Maybe others can join and share their ideas.
For me on the rear some curves are not elegant, instead they are aggressive. I feel like that at the arrows the curves are pushed too much.

Played around a bit and this came out:

This quick job is definitely not smooth and ready, some line are not straight because of the quick rework but you get the idea.
Note that on the right side the black part around the exhaust is not done. It would have been difficult for me to get it exactly the same as on the left side plus now you can compare sides.
Yeah - we get the idea For me on the rear some curves are not elegant, instead they are aggressive. I feel like that at the arrows the curves are pushed too much.
Played around a bit and this came out:
This quick job is definitely not smooth and ready, some line are not straight because of the quick rework but you get the idea.
Note that on the right side the black part around the exhaust is not done. It would have been difficult for me to get it exactly the same as on the left side plus now you can compare sides.
Edited by Ghini on Monday 6th February 15:23

Jon39 said:
Expect that you know, the previous Vantage had a changed spoiler.
Edited by Jon39 on Monday 6th February 17:13
A big difference is that in the new Vantage the lights follow that line and has even sharper curvatures.
Something else I'd change on those black parts around the exhausts: simply smaller / less sticking out. Its AMG Black series style, or after market tuning style. I really cannot understand how those shapes ended up on an AM.
Ghini said:
Something else I'd change on those black parts around the exhausts: simply smaller / less sticking out. Its AMG Black series style, or after market tuning style. I really cannot understand how those shapes ended up on an AM.
I completely agree. The primary problem with the rear is the ridiculous black protrusion cladding around the exhaust pipes.The front? No amount of photoshopping can save it. It's the single most important reason that I have not bought one on these vehicles.
A design philosophy change is needed from whatever direction they are heading and re-directed back to the reason these cars were considered beautiful.
Ghini said:
Jon39 said:
Expect that you know, the previous Vantage had a changed spoiler.
Edited by Jon39 on Monday 6th February 17:13
Wafu7 said:
Thought it was on all V8 coupés MY2012.25 onwards, S and non S (page 108 of Grant's bible)? My MY2016 definitely has the larger duck tail depicted in Jon's second photo.
This. Non-S models too from the 2012.25 change onwards. I find the larger ducktail spoiler so perfect (to prove the previous comment that there will be a split). The only part of the VH Vantage updating I think was a negative were the extended side skirts. The original’s gave a perfect tightly wrapped waistline look. But the advantage of later side skirts is the reduced stone chipping on the rear wheel arch. However, I can see why the special V600 examples had the originals designed in.Anyway, back to redesigning a car which is currently being hacked around by its maker…

Jon39 said:
I can only give one reason for preferring the original design. There is just one pleasing continuous contour.
With the MY2012.25 onwards, there are four changes of contour.
I expect it could have been reprofiled upwards to retain a continuous contour, but that would have been expensive and involve retooling for the two adjacent steel panels.
The new rear diffuser is to add 'drama and function'.
Could it be mostly drama? Is the function noticeable whilst driving ?
AML press release - model changes.
http://www2.astonmartin.com/en/live/news/2012/02/2...
There are a lot of areas where the new Vantage doesn't look right from a design standpoint. Some details are awkward but the fundamentals are ungainly too.
The nose doesn't look right in either variety of grille. It's too wide and the base of the grille should be narrower so the sides go in (as on the DBSS), not out; that would lose the fish-face look. It should also be narrower, with supplemental vents to the side, if strictly necessary. The racers have a narrower grille without the bumper surround thing, and it looks better.
I think the aggressive rear upper spoiler/light bar looks OK from the back, but it doesn't do wonders for the profile of the car.
The under bumper area is an overcomplicated mess, which could be simplified and cleaned up considerably, to great effect.
For me the biggest flaw is in the profile, which would be the most expensive to change. Quite simply the highest point of the side swage line should not be at the rear of the doors, giving the car a drooping rear, it should be over the centre of the rear wheel arch. The racer looks much better in this regard, due to its more muscular rear arches, but it's still a weird look and totally wrong for a sports car.
The nose doesn't look right in either variety of grille. It's too wide and the base of the grille should be narrower so the sides go in (as on the DBSS), not out; that would lose the fish-face look. It should also be narrower, with supplemental vents to the side, if strictly necessary. The racers have a narrower grille without the bumper surround thing, and it looks better.
I think the aggressive rear upper spoiler/light bar looks OK from the back, but it doesn't do wonders for the profile of the car.
The under bumper area is an overcomplicated mess, which could be simplified and cleaned up considerably, to great effect.
For me the biggest flaw is in the profile, which would be the most expensive to change. Quite simply the highest point of the side swage line should not be at the rear of the doors, giving the car a drooping rear, it should be over the centre of the rear wheel arch. The racer looks much better in this regard, due to its more muscular rear arches, but it's still a weird look and totally wrong for a sports car.
Hammersia said:
I think the issue might be that the rear lights (the whole curved light bar) are carried over from the DBX and can't be changed without a lot of tooling cash, which they don't have.
You mean the other way around Vantage came sometime before the DBX. Also AM used different tier 1 providers at least for the headlights on DBX as Hella make them, where as up until now all lighting across the entire current range is from Wipac (front and rear).
IMO
If they had kept the lights close to the DB11 and that front with no shut line, The DB11 clam shell bonnet,
,
They would have been selling the new vantage like shelling peas.
When you saw it in the movie and what they sold It was a complete let down
Look what Casino royal did for sales to the new shape DB9 and DBS
They stated it was crash test regs or something.
I think they were just trying to get the younger demographic on board
just look at the nose dive in prices that the 2018 are coming on the market now.
Appear to talking about two different cars.
DB10 as per pictures, needs a team of people to take the entire front end off, it has no "bonnet" at all, hence no shutline.
DB11 granted a better integration, but if as AM wanted to seperate the models more and integrate the Vulcan style front end something had to give. Additionally, I believe a number of cars designed around the time of the new Vantage suffer with this shutline issue due to insurance requirements. Effectively if you stuff the front end on a DB11 for example it is a new bumper and bonnet that then needs blending in to the wings and probably doors.
Stuff a vantage in a similar speed crash you might get away with just replacing the bumper and splitter/grille surround and blending but no new bonnet.
DB10 as per pictures, needs a team of people to take the entire front end off, it has no "bonnet" at all, hence no shutline.
DB11 granted a better integration, but if as AM wanted to seperate the models more and integrate the Vulcan style front end something had to give. Additionally, I believe a number of cars designed around the time of the new Vantage suffer with this shutline issue due to insurance requirements. Effectively if you stuff the front end on a DB11 for example it is a new bumper and bonnet that then needs blending in to the wings and probably doors.
Stuff a vantage in a similar speed crash you might get away with just replacing the bumper and splitter/grille surround and blending but no new bonnet.
Ninja59 said:
You mean the other way around Vantage came sometime before the DBX.
Also AM used different tier 1 providers at least for the headlights on DBX as Hella make them, where as up until now all lighting across the entire current range is from Wipac (front and rear).
No, the DBX came first Also AM used different tier 1 providers at least for the headlights on DBX as Hella make them, where as up until now all lighting across the entire current range is from Wipac (front and rear).
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