Hot on the heels of confirming the return of a manual transmission for the
V12 Vantage S
- and winning the hearts of PHers in the process - Aston Martin looks to be further bolstering the enduring appeal of its Vantage range. Sure, the car is getting a little long in the tooth now and a replacement with AMG power won't be far away. But you'll hear few complaints from us at widely circulated rumours a super lightweight and focused GT8 is on its way as a follow-up to the
wild GT12
V8 Vantage isn't going out quietly!
Especially if it looks like this. Our colleagues at Autocar are reporting a very limited run of just 150 cars with invited customers being shown the finished car shortly. Much as the GT12 appealed the graphics package was, perhaps, something of an acquired taste. As such the matt black wrap of this test mule rather appeals, almost as much as the idea of a track-focused Vantage with all the aero and drama of the V12 but with its reduced weight more evenly distributed between the axles. As much as the madness of the GT12 appeals the V8 version will, likely, be a better balanced car and ultimately more satisfying to drive with conviction.
A point we would very much like to prove if they ever let us have a go...
[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]