Aston Martin V8 Vantage: More Muscle

Motoring Channel Staff - 26/May/2008

Gaydon, England — When it launched publicly at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage drew instant praise for its aggressively elegant design,but compared to its exotic rivals it couldn't compete in pure power terms.

This imbalance has been addressed.

Aston Martin has made a round of changes for the upcoming 2009 model V8 Vantage, including a larger, more powerful engine.

The previous 4.3-litre V8 will be replaced by a 4.7-litre V8 with even more bite. 

Perhaps the change of ownership from Ford to Tata is already making a positive effect?

Power has increased by 11%, taking the total power output to 313kW (420hp), up from 280kW @ 7000rpm. Because the engine is larger in size, it's likely that it may not have to rev so high to develop maximum power.

The bigger engine also provides a ramping up of torque, which also helps improve the zero to 100km/h sprint time. 

The previous torque output of 409Nm has risen by more than 60Nm to 470Nm which will result in an even more pronounced performance feel, while also reducing the zero to 100km/h acceleration time to 4.7 seconds.

Weight savings have been found by modifying the gearboxes, so the new 6-speed manual and optional Sportshift semi-auto transmissions are now 500g lighter than before.

These updated gearboxes also provide slightly better engine response according to Aston Martin.

Aston Martin's V8 Vantage will now be more competitive with its main rival, the Porsche 911, thanks to the increase in power. 

But Aston Martin is also known as the creator of some of the most opulent and lavish interiors of any premium car maker and targets a slightly different demographic to the out-and-out performance demographic of its rivals.

While the power and torque story has become more interesting, remarkably the Aston Martin V8 Vantage's fuel economy has been reduced by 13% compared to the previous model fitted with the smaller V8 engine.

Performance upgrades aren't limited to just the powertrain either. Aston Martin has tweaked the suspension for the 2009 model year update which is designed to make the car handle better with the larger and heavier engine hanging over the front axle.

The exterior has not been changed for the 2009 model - a good thing according to some people - except for new 19-inch wheel designs.

As such, the V8 Vantage keeps its arrowed, shark-like front end and LED running lights and of course the sleek profile that has helped make the V8 Vantage a dream car for countless auto enthusiasts. 

The rear end (track) is also much wider than the front and one of the car's strongest visual cues, creating a definitively sporty look not unlike a Porsche 911.

The British marque has made some subtle changes to the interior of the vehicle by incorporating new switchgear and a revised centre console, but the suede finish on almost every surface is still intact.

Related articles:
- Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS (2008)
- Aston Martin DBS (2008)
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster (2007)
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005)
- Aston Martin DB7 Zagato (2003)