Saturday 8th April 2017

New Aston Martin Vantage spy shots

Next-generation V8 Vantage spotted out testing at the 'ring

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With spring having seemingly sprung and Industry Pool sessions at the Nurburgring under way the spy snappers are busy getting pics of 2017's early prototypes. Last week we had the 'next gen' Porsche 911, now a car that will be facing it in the not too distant future: the next Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Good commitment!

If you're thinking it looks like a DB11 that'll be because... it does. No surprise there; Aston Martin's styling language may have moved on with the introduction of that car but let's just say when the firm settles on a look that works it tends to stick with it. It's early days yet too so likely this mule has deliberately been mocked up to look like the DB11 to throw the snappers off the scent, the fact the scalable aluminium architecture introduced on the new car will likely underpin the Vantage too making this relatively easy. The shorter wheelbase is obvious enough in these pictures, the rear windowline looks similar to that on the existing Vantage and the proportions are familiar enough. The rear-end treatment seems likely to follow that of the DB11 and the small vertical pop-up spoiler - part of the Aeroblade system - looks to be carried over too. This test car also has a pretty aggressive diffuser under the rear bumper. It'll be interesting to see if the Vantage also gets the DB11's clamshell bonnet and distinctive side vent treatment - the area behind the front arch is heavily disguised but looks less cut away than the DB11. Even at this early stage the signs are promising though.

Well course it's going to look a bit like a DB11

Shared architecture is good news too. The DB11 underpinnings are (a little) lighter than before, plus they move the engine down and behind the front axle and maintain the transaxle layout for great natural balance. In this respect the Vantage follows the format of the Mercedes-AMG GT, a car we expect will also 'donate' at the very least its engine.

Seems like this has been a long time coming, right? Well it has - we first reported on Aston Martin signing up to an engine supply deal with AMG back in 2013. The DB11 uses an Aston Martin-designed V12 but already features Mercedes electronics; the Vantage will supposedly take things further and adopt the 4.0-litre AMG 'hot-V' V8. No bad thing there - if you're going to use a turbo V8 it may as well be one of the best sounding and most engaging in the business! Given AMG already pairs it with a dual-clutch gearbox in Aston's preferred transaxle position it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to find this carried over too. Can boss Andy Palmer honour his promise to offer a manual option in as many new Aston Martins as possible? That'll add to the complexity and cost if the auto-only AMG powertrain is being lifted wholesale but we can live in hope.

[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

[mylesmcd]

Not too sure on the head lights, but I guess we will need to see the finished article.

• inserts cant afford it anyway punch line*

[RumbleOfThunder]

Looks very DB11 to my eyes, in fact it looks exactly like a DB11. I'd really like to see them take it to Porsche this time. That was always the promise last time out with the Vantage but it was too soft and too heavy to compete dynamically with a 911.

[smilo996]

Will it be close to the DB10 of Bond fame.
There is the possibility to incorporate the DB11 design features into that.

Would be a shame to dump the DB10 look because it was pretty good. Especially the rear 3/4.

[j_s14a]

The DB7 and DB9 were probably the best looking cars in the world when they were launched, and some of that can be attributed to the long, elegant but simple design of the headlights, which reflected the elegant simplicity of the overall design. The facelift DB9 lost some of that, and it looks like all modern Astons are just going to completely ignore it.

While they are likely to be better ownership propositions, especially for regular use, some of the magic has gone.

[Tuvra]

j_s14a said:

The DB7 and DB9 were probably the best looking cars in the world when they were launched, and some of that can be attributed to the long, elegant but simple design of the headlights, which reflected the elegant simplicity of the overall design. The facelift DB9 lost some of that, and it looks like all modern Astons are just going to completely ignore it.

While they are likely to be better ownership propositions, especially for regular use, some of the magic has gone.

They were always a bit "Grandad" though in my opinion

I'm excited to see this new one as I think the AMV doesn't look very special on the road in todays world. Especially considering 90% of them seem to be silver, grey, black or bronze

[sidesauce]

Tuvra said:

They were always a bit "Grandad" though in my opinion

I agree. That being said, I preferred the AMV8 shape over the longer V12 engined cars.

[DUMBO100]

I'm not a fan of the AM branded headlight bulbs either, the old projector style looked much more purposeful. LEDs with high beam assist would be better. I'm looking forward to seeing the driver focussed limited editions

[Plinth]

j_s14a said:

The DB7 and DB9 were probably the best looking cars in the world when they were launched, and some of that can be attributed to the long, elegant but simple design of the headlights, which reflected the elegant simplicity of the overall design. The facelift DB9 lost some of that, and it looks like all modern Astons are just going to completely ignore it.

While they are likely to be better ownership propositions, especially for regular use, some of the magic has gone.

Good points.
The DB7 has always been a very pretty car.
I have been to look at a few but it's always the naff interior that puts me off.
Later stuff just doen't interest me.

The Feltham and early Newport Pagnell cars will always be my favourites in terms of style.

[FN2TypeR]

sidesauce said:

Tuvra said:

They were always a bit "Grandad" though in my opinion

I agree. That being said, I preferred the AMV8 shape over the longer V12 engined cars.

Agreed, my main gripe with the later V12 models is that they seemed to become more and more chintzy, little details added here and there that took away from the simplicity of the original design - the earlier models looked cleaner, simpler and better IMO.

[csd19]

Have some video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1blLEWK8hmU

[Shnozz]

sidesauce said:

Tuvra said:

They were always a bit "Grandad" though in my opinion

I agree. That being said, I preferred the AMV8 shape over the longer V12 engined cars.

I always thought the DB7, DB9 etc looked a bit grandad. The vantage just worked in terms of proportions and IMO remains one of the most balanced and beautiful creations aesthetically. The interior is also a great place to sit, aside from a few bits of borrowed switchgear (and the god awful key fob).

Dynamically it is way off the pace of a 911 of the same year (and many other marques too) but its fun in a brutish, old fashioned way. It reminds me in many respects of my old TVRs in that you could probably get from A>B as quick in a Golf R but its about the fun of getting there. It's far from the quickest thing out there in any area other than in snapping knicker elastic, but its a great GT car and usable as a daily, unlike many Italian offerings. I am hoping to add something Italian for the real sense of occasion but it would be alongside rather than instead of.

[anonymous-user]

FN2TypeR said:

sidesauce said:

Tuvra said:

They were always a bit "Grandad" though in my opinion

I agree. That being said, I preferred the AMV8 shape over the longer V12 engined cars.

Agreed, my main gripe with the later V12 models is that they seemed to become more and more chintzy, little details added here and there that took away from the simplicity of the original design - the earlier models looked cleaner, simpler and better IMO.

I agree, they became more "footballer", although I would like manual DB9 alongside my early V8V.

Even the V12V looks a little busy to me.

V8V is one of the prettiest recent cars, in coupe form, followed by a DB9

[annodomini2]

sidesauce said:

Tuvra said:

They were always a bit "Grandad" though in my opinion

I agree. That being said, I preferred the AMV8 shape over the longer V12 engined cars.

See them side by side, the DB9 is huge compared to the Vantage.