Aston Martin V8 Vantage Review

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Review

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of a tour of the new Aston Martin factory.

Factory is really the wrong word as even though the cars are made there, it is far from a dark satanic mill with robots doing the donkey work. Life at Aston Martin is nothing like that. For a start there is only one function performed by robots and the work area, as much as possible, is open and full of happy people going about the business of hand-building every individual car.

The reason I mention the visit is because when a customer, or client, if you prefer, buys their Aston Martin, they can go and see it being built and the chosen interior being sewn together, which is impressive, to say the least. But then, so is the car.

The original V8 Vantage Coupe was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005, to much acclaim. In 2007, the V8 Vantage Roadster was introduced and both have undergone some changes for the 2008 model year. The unique and award-winning shape remains much the same and most of the revisions have taken place out of sight.

But then, why would Aston Martin change the styling of a car that is so recognisable from every angle; the rounded front end and trademark grille still retains the power to turn heads in the same way that Concorde used to. That is, unless the wonderful noise hasn’t grabbed your attention first.

If the sound signature of the previous 4.3-litre engine was enough to give you goose-bumps, then the new 4.7-litre, V8 will just about knock your socks off!

It’s an all alloy unit, which is mounted under the long sleek bonnet and drives the rear wheels. The increased piston size and other tweaks has allowed for a power increase of 11 per cent and 15 per cent more torque. In real terms that is 426PS at 7,000rpm and 470Nm of torque, peaking at 5,750rpm. In just 4.8 breathtaking seconds you have reached 62mph from standstill and the top speed is 180mph and enough to make you want to move to Germany and the autobahns.