As it worked hard as the GT4 Aston race-car that won its class at the Dubai 24 Hours in 2010, the Vantage S has matured into a muscular and truly competent road/race combination, a fitting tribute to good family and a disciplined upbringing.
Launching the car, Ali Alireza, executive director of sole agents Haj Husein Alireza & Co., said that the Vantage S epitomizes every attribute of the V8 Vantage and pushed the driver's experience beyond what had been offered before.
“The model is a pure evidence of the brand's technological expertise. It combines dynamic exhilaration with all the charming finesse, beauty and practicality already associated with the Vantage range.”
Alireza said that there had already been an overwhelming response and interest in Vantage S.
True to its sporting genes, the V8S is aimed squarely at the sporting driver and is built to take the punishment.
A massively rigid bonded aluminum chassis, huge engine compartment cross-brace and cabin-visible FIA approved roll cage hint at its race heritage and structural rigidity.
Extra safety comes from the Racing safety modifications including an FIA approved roll cage and racing 'bag' petrol tank along with weight saving measures are made to the standard road car to convert it into a class winning race car.
A seven speed single clutch gearbox with paddle-shift gear change deal with Aston Martin's 313 kW (420 bhp) 4.7-liter V8, which was developed for both flexibility and outright performance.
The V8 also sounds spectacular and is capable of propelling the car to a maximum speed of 290 km/h (180 mph). Front ventilated and grooved two-piece 380mm floating discs with six piston calipers work with rear ventilated and grooved 330mm steel discs with four piston calipers restrain the V8 more than adequately.
In 2010, it won its class at the Dubai 24 Hours following this up with further endurance race wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Silverstone 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours. It also won its first major international championship victory in the European GT4 Cup.
Best of all, the Vantage V8 S looks very much an Aston Martin with the distinctive grill and the purposeful stance enhanced by the wide-haunches of the rear wheels from the front profile.
The interior, laid out without compromise to the needs of the driver, is trimmed exquisitely in fine leather and aluminium trim and simply breathes class.
Aston Martin's “baby” is a baby no more, leaving that appellation to the recent “EU required” Aston Cygnet.
