New Aston Vantage GTE testing

Looks great, goes fast, but the noise is quite different...

You'll have to excuse the Aston Vantage obsession at the moment on PH but, well, it's pretty significant occasion for both parties. Moreover, as you will have hopefully read or watched by now, the car seems damn good on first experience.

Which means we can start thinking about the racing car, especially with Le Mans less than two months away and the WEC Super Season imminent. The Vantage GTE is a car we've already had a good look around as a static object, but we've yet to see the car moving in full race spec.

But now we have! This video of the Vantage at Monza has only been published today, and shows the car in full GTE get up, up to and including numbers. Even on a big track with nothing around it, the Vantage has real presence and looks superb, even in the bright yellow with bright green paint combo. What is Aston's obsession with that currently?

Anyway, there's likely to be more discussion about just how the GTE sounds. Previously the Vantage's V8 rumble was one of the best noises at Le Mans along with the Corvette; this generation, using the twin-turbocharged engine don't forget, seems less melodious, and along the angry V8 line familiar from the Ferrari 488. Some may see that as a shame given what a crowd pleaser the old car was.

Do you like the new Vantage GTE's noise? Do you not? Comment away below, and be prepared to see it in action for the first time at Spa on May 5th.