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:''See also Aston Martin V8 Vantage for other models sharing this name''

Contents

Overview

Variants

Roadster

N24

Prodrive V8 Vantage

N400

External links

Notes

Overview

The modern 'Aston Martin V8 Vantage' is a hand built sports car from British manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the massively powerful heavyweight Virage-based supercar of the 1990s. The modern car, in contrast, is the leanest and most agile car in Aston's three-model lineup. As such, it is intended as a more accessible model to compete with cars such as the Porsche 911.
Introduced all-new for the 2006 model year, the V8 Vantage was first seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005. The two seat, two door coupé has a bonded aluminium structure for strength and lightness. The 172.5 inch (4.38 m) long coupe features a hatchback-style tailgate for practicality, with a large luggage shelf behind the seats.
The V8 Vantage is powered by a 4.3 L (4282 cc) quad-cam 32-valve V8 which produces 380 hp (283 kW) at 7,000 rpm and 302 lb-ft (409 Nm) at 5,000 rpm. Though based loosely on Jaguar's AJ-V8 engine, this engine is unique to Aston Martin and features race-style dry-sump lubrication, which enables it to be mounted low in the chassis for an improved center of gravity. The cylinder block and heads, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, camshafts, inlet and exhaust manifolds, lubrication system, and engine management are all unique to Aston Martin. The V8 engine is assembled by hand at the AM facility in Cologne, Germany, which also builds the V12 engine for the DB9 and Vanquish.
The engine is front mid-mounted with a rear-mounted transaxle, giving a 49/51 front/rear weight distribution. The V8 Vantage can accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in a manufacturer claimed 4.8 seconds (62 mph (100km/h), 4.9sec) and reach a 175 mph (280km/h) top speed. Slotted Brembo brakes are also standard. As a testament to the car's performance, handling, and endurance, an almost-stock Vantage entered and completed the 2006 Nurburgring 24-Hour race finishing 24th overall at the race, among a field of largely motorsport-homologated cars. The only modifications to the car were a roll cage, racing fuel system, fire protection, racing seat, and hydraulic jacks. The car was otherwise completely standard, including a regular production engine, transmission, suspension, and bodywork.
The V8 Vantage retails for £79,000, US$110,000, or €104,000, and Aston Martin plans to build up to 3,000 per year. Included is an exclusive interior with leather-upholstery for the seats, dash, steering-wheel, and shift-knob. A two-tone full-leather interior is available as an option, as are heated front seats, navigation, rear parking sensors, and xenon headlights.
In their 2006 readership survey, readers of Car Design News voted the Aston Martin V8 Vantage as the best current production car design. The survey results were based on over 1000 responses, most from working automotive designers and students of industrial and automotive design. The vantage was also voted one of Automobile magazine's 2007 "All Stars" for its performance, road manners, and design. The V8 Vantage is also one of the only two cars to be added to "the fridge" – reserved for the super-"cool" – on the BBC's Top Gear (on which it is described as the ''baby Aston'' to differentiate it from the V12 powered DB9). The program rates cars from seriously un-cool to sub-zero. The fridge was an extra category added when the presenters deemed the Aston Martin DB9 too cool for the sub-zero category. In the 2005 awards, Jeremy Clarkson declared the V8 Vantage as the coolest car of the year, while the award winner was actually the Porsche 911.

Variants

Roadster

At the 2006 Los Angeles auto show, Aston Martin officially unveiled the V8 Vantage Roadster. The car will gain 200 pounds, however Aston claims the car will have the same performance as the coupe. To compensate for the loss of the roof a new, super-stiff cross-member has been added. The soft top can be raised or lowered electronically in 18 seconds and can be operated in speeds up to 30 mph.

N24

During the 2006 British Motor Show, Aston Martin and racing partner Prodrive revealed a variant of the V8 Vantage that was set to go racing in the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race. The car, now known as the V8 Vantage N24, was driven by Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez, development engineer Chris Porrit, development driver Wolfgang Schuhbauer and German journalist Horst Graf von Saurma-Jeltsch in the 24 hour race and finished 4th in class and 24th overall, before being driven home on public roads. While essentially similar to the existing coupe, the N24 had a front splitter and extended door sills for aerodynamic efficiency, settings and equipment appropriate for racing, as well as other modifications to make the car race ready (roll cage, racing fuel tank, removal of unnecessary weight, etc.).
Later in 2006, Aston Martin confirmed that they would offer the V8 Vantage N24 to customers as a track car similar to a Porsche 911 Cup. The V8 Vantage N24 is also legal for use in the FIA GT4 European Cup, German VLN series, Grand Am Cup, and various other national series. Contrary to Porsche however, Dr. Bez announced that they will not be putting a premium price on the N24 and that, while it will only be produced in limited numbers, will cost just about as much as a regular V8 Vantage.

Prodrive V8 Vantage

In 2007 Prodrive released a tuning package for the V8 Vantage, which consists of four separate packages that can be installed in stages.
The four packages are:

★ Engine

★ Suspension

★ Tyres and rims

★ Aerodynamics.



★ The engine package includes an ECU remap and minor engine modifications that boost power by 45hp, and torque by 25 lb-ft. Throttle control is also remapped. Included in that package is an exhaust mod which allows the driver to leave the by-pass valves in one of three settings: 1. Always open, in which bypass valves open fully open all the time, 2. Normal, the stock setting, where the valves open at 4000 rpm. 3. Always closed, where sound levels are limited to 83 dB, and the valves stay closed even past 4000rpm.

★ The suspension package reworks the suspension with Bilstein and Eibach parts, making the vehicle much more planted and accurate through the corners.

★ The tyres and rims package replace the stock wheels with lighter twin-7 spoke alloys from Prodrive Japan. The rims are similar to those on the DBR9, and each wheel weighs 2.5kg less than the stock versions. Pirelli P-Zeros are used, and the rear track is widened to 10".

★ The aerodynamic package includes a carbonfibre front splitter, as well as a carbonfibre rear wing, which together reduces lift by up to 45%.
Packages can be ordered direct from Prodrive, or from the local Aston Martin dealer, though packages are installed by Prodrive. 0-60mph times are claimed to drop by 0.5s to about 4.3s, and 0-100mph times are improved by 0.9s.

N400

To celebrate their success with the N24 in the ADAC 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, Aston will release another limited production version of the V8 Vantatage to be called the N400. The 400 in the name refers to the uprated engine, now producing 400 bhp and 414lbft. of torque. The N400 will be available both as a coupe and a roadster. ^[1]

External links

★ Aston Martin

★ Aston Martin V8 Vantage article by Jeremy Clarkson

★ RoadTests.com - Aston Martin V8 Vantage

★ Top Gear - Nürburgring Vantage on sale

★ Car Magazine Vantage Roadster Review

★ Aston Martin Wallpapers

★ Aston Martin V8 Vantage video presentation

Notes

1. Top Gear - Aston at the double