Sunday 6th August 2017

New Aston Martin Vantage pics

Not long to wait now...

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If the DB11 had a difficult task replacing the DB9, then Aston's job will be even tougher when replacing the Vantage with - you would guess - another Vantage. Back in 2005 it was the new sports car, a punchy little V8 to take on the Germans and really establish Aston in the 21st century. Through Roadster, V12, faster V8 and Zagato specials, the Vantage has been a hugely important car for Aston. It remains a lovely car in 2017 in fact though, as you can see, the replacement is imminent.

Probably going to sound alright, isn't it?

Despite the livery - rumours are it may use Pirelli tyres - this is our best look yet at the next car, which we'd guess will debut at the Frankfurt show. And even with the camo, a few themes are clear. There's a definite DB10 look to the front end, the slender headlights and new grille perhaps the biggest giveaways. The slats behind the wheelarches are a cue borrowed from the DB11, though it would appear that the Vantage carries its own set of styling characteristics. No doubt there will be some Vulcan cues somewhere too, though we'll be damned if we can see them yet.

Logic would dictate that the replacement for the V8 Vantage would use a V8 again - they don't call us investigative journalists for nothing - and, well, there's already a V8 in the DB11... Yes, if we were betting people, we'd put a tenner on the next V8 Vantage using the AMG 'hot-V' V8 in some form or another. Remember it's 476hp in the standard AMG GT and 510hp in the GT S, so that's where we'd expect the Aston to rank. What an engine to have access to as well! As for the gearbox, who knows? Aston Martin uses the eight-speed ZF auto with the DB11, and then Mercedes uses a wet-clutch auto, a dual-clutch and a conventional nine-speed auto in its installations of the engine.

While we can't see inside the car yet, some new interior architecture will be on the way too. Again, some Mercedes influence there wouldn't be a bad thing at all... To be honest, an Aston take on the AMG GT sounds exceptional, but surely Aston won't be allowed access to the whole toy box?

That and many other questions are still to be answered, but there shouldn't be long to wait now. What would you like to see in this very significant new model? The floor is yours!

[sidesauce]

Very much looking forward to seeing this in the metal.

[Johnny 89]

Do we think the launch of the new Vantage will affect prices of the old model?

[VonSenger]

So this will also have the db11 fish face? No thanks.

[Snozzer]

Johnny 89 said:

Do we think the launch of the new Vantage will affect prices of the old model?

Of course it will, but not as much as you'd think. The old one is still a good looking car. It will be a classic.

[Uncle Ron]

Johnny 89 said:

Do we think the launch of the new Vantage will affect prices of the old model?

It will but more so for the most recently produced ones than the earlier ones. Early ones have gone as low as they're going to go and there's not many people who will have the toss up of 30k 2005 V8V or 100k+ new one.

[malucnojes]

I would imagine that this is going to look very similar to the DB10 in Spectre considering they used the chassis from the current Vantage for that car

[Paulcarcrazy]

A really short shift manual gearbox, probably no chance.

[Johnny 89]

Uncle Ron said:

Johnny 89 said:

Do we think the launch of the new Vantage will affect prices of the old model?

It will but more so for the most recently produced ones than the earlier ones. Early ones have gone as low as they're going to go and there's not many people who will have the toss up of 30k 2005 V8V or 100k+ new one.

Yeah I would tend to agree with this. It's a different market for the earlier cars that are now over 10 years old.

[PhantomPH]

Snozzer said:

Johnny 89 said:

Do we think the launch of the new Vantage will affect prices of the old model?

Of course it will, but not as much as you'd think. The old one is still a good looking car. It will be a classic.

Depends on where they price the new one, surely? If the price takes a step up again (the price has crept up over the years anyway) then I suspect there will be a reasonable stability in the 'old' model as they remain in reach for a lot of people.

Not sure how much this new car will be, but I suspect it will be a £110k car without sweat.

[Krikkit]

Paulcarcrazy said:

A really short shift manual gearbox, probably no chance.

Haven't Aston already said they'll keep making manuals for as long as there are buyers? They're certainly the last big manufacturer who make a manual V12 I can think of.

[virage11]

PhantomPH said:

Depends on where they price the new one, surely? If the price takes a step up again (the price has crept up over the years anyway) then I suspect there will be a reasonable stability in the 'old' model as they remain in reach for a lot of people.

Not sure how much this new car will be, but I suspect it will be a £110k car without sweat.

Given the AMG GT S is £112,000 base, I would guess that Aston will add a premium for the name and the (hopefully) quality of materials used so would estimate a base of £120,000.

[Evilex]

"Vulcan cues somewhere"

Next paragraph;

"Logic dictates..."


Don't tell me that was accidental !

[GroundEffect]

Paulcarcrazy said:

A really short shift manual gearbox, probably no chance.

The current Vantage uses a Graziano transaxle. No reason they couldn't use it again, apart from any prohibitive sign-off costs vs return on investment.

[a6khu]

Spoke to one of their test drivers a few weeks back and he mentioned the ZF 8 speed for this. Cagey on the manual. Also said interior would be quite different to the Db11.

[SpeckledJim]

VonSenger said:

So this will also have the db11 fish face? No thanks.

Not only that. Also the daft cut at the top of the wheelarch that makes the car look 6 inches taller.

Proportions look nice though.

[PhantomPH]

virage11 said:

PhantomPH said:

Depends on where they price the new one, surely? If the price takes a step up again (the price has crept up over the years anyway) then I suspect there will be a reasonable stability in the 'old' model as they remain in reach for a lot of people.

Not sure how much this new car will be, but I suspect it will be a £110k car without sweat.

Given the AMG GT S is £112,000 base, I would guess that Aston will add a premium for the name and the (hopefully) quality of materials used so would estimate a base of £120,000.

Ouch. Doesn't seem that long ago since a V8 Vantage was £80k....<gets old>

[Cold]

I can't decide if I like that or not. Certainly not keen on how ungainly the front splitter looks but I suppose it's unfair to try to judge it before it's revealed properly via some prearranged "spy" shots. Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh soon.

[krisdelta]

Looks promising - roll on the Frankfurt motorshow!

[DMC2]

Johnny 89 said:

Do we think the launch of the new Vantage will affect prices of the old model?

Yes, they will gradually creep up. Especially manual cars. I've just bought a 14 month old V8S and that is a bargain compared to the £120k starting price for the new car. Which will have turbos. And be a lot less 'Aston' and more German.

[Rawwr]

I'm sure it'll be great but I more or less lost interest in Aston Martins around the time the DBS was launched, as it did just appear to be a cynical marketing exercise. I'm not saying the DBS was a bad car but it was a bit predictable.