Aston Martin V12 Vantage

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Manufactu
rer
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
Production 2005–present
Assembly Gaydon , Warwickshire, England
Designer Henrik Fisker
Body and chassis
Class Grand tourer
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door roadster
Layout FR layout
Platform VH Platform
Related Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin V12 Zagato
Powertrain
Engine 4.3 L AJ V8
4.7 L AJ V8
5.9 L AM28 V12
Transmiss
ion
6-speed Manual
6-speed Sportshift semi-automat
7-speed automated manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2006–07 & 2010-Present: 102.4
(2,601 mm)
2008–2010: 102.5 in (2,604 mm
Length 172.5 in (4,382 mm)
2011-Present V12: 172.6 in
(4,384 mm)
Width 73.5 in (1,867 mm)
2011-Present V12: 73.4 in
(1,864 mm)
Height 2006–07: 49.4 in (1,255 mm)
Roadster: 2006–07: 50.0 in
(1,270 mm)
2008–2010: 49.5 in (1,257 mm
2011-Present V8: 49.6 in
(1,260 mm)
2011-Present V8: 49.2 in
(1,250 mm)
Curb
weight
1,548 kg (3,413 lb)
Chronology
Predecess
or
Aston Martin Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Aston
Martin V12 Vantage are a series of hand-built
sports cars from the British manufacturer
Aston Martin . Aston Martin has previously
used the "Vantage" name on high-
performance variants of their existing GT
models, notably on the Virage-based car of
the 1990s. The modern car, in contrast, is the
leanest and most agile car in Aston's lineup.
As such, it is intended as a more focused
model to reach out to potential buyers of cars
such as the Porsche 911 as well as the
exotic sports and GT cars with which Aston
Martins traditionally compete.
Overview
Profile view of the V8 Vantage
Following the unveiling of the AMV8 Vantage
concept car in 2003 at the North American
International Auto Show , the production V8
Vantage was introduced at the Geneva Motor
Show in 2005 for the 2006 model year. The
two seat, two -door coupé had a bonded
aluminium structure for strength and
lightness. The 172.5 inch (4.38 m) long coupé
featured a hatchback-style tailgate for
practicality, with a large luggage shelf behind
the seats. In addition to the coupé, a
convertible, known as the V8 Vantage
Roadster, is available . [1]
The V8 Vantage was initially powered by a
4.3 L (4300 cc) quad-cam 32-valve V8 which
produced 380 hp (280 kW) at 7,300 rpm and
302 lb·ft (409 N·m) at 5,000 rpm. However
models produced after 2008 had a 4.7 litre
420 hp (313 kW) V8. [2] Though based loosely
on Jaguar's AJ-V8 engine architecture, this
engine was unique to Aston Martin and
featured race-style dry-sump lubrication,
which enabled 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 were all Aston Martin
designs and the V8 engine was assembled by
hand at the AM facility in Cologne, Germany,
which also built the V12 engine for the DB9
and Vanquish.
The engine was front mid-mounted with a
rear-mounted transaxle, giving a 49/51 front/
rear weight distribution. Slotted Brembo
brakes were also standard. The original V8
Vantage could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/
h) in 4.7 seconds topping out at 175 mph
(282 km/h). [3] Vantages with the enhanced
400 bhp version of the 4.3 L V8 engine
(included with the "N400" package or
available individually as a Power Upgrade kit)
as well as later models with the 4.7 L V8 and
5.9 L V12 were even faster.
In 2008 Aston introduced an aftermarket
dealer approved upgrade path for power and
handling of the 4.3 litre variants that
maintained the warranty with Aston. The
power upgrade was The V8 Vantage Power
Upgrade, creating a more potent version of
the Aston Martin 4.3 litre engine with an
increase in Peak power of 20 bhp to 400 bhp
while peak torque is increased by 10 Nm to
420 Nm. This consists of the fitting of the
following revised components; manifold
assembly (painted Crackle Black), valved air
box, right and left hand side vacuum hose
assemblies, engine bay fuse box link lead
(ECU to fuse box), throttle body to manifold
gasket, intake manifold gasket, fuel injector to
manifold seal, and a manifold badge.
The V8 Vantage retailed for £79,000, US
$110,000, or €104,000 in 2006, [2] Aston
Martin planned to build up to 3,000 per year.
Included was a six-speed manual transmission
and leather-upholstery for the seats, dash,
steering-wheel, and shift-knob. A six-speed
sequential manual transmission, similar to
those produced by Ferrari and Lamborghini ,
called Sportshift was introduced later as an
option.
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
DB9 section," – a 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 Best
Sounding Car of the Year and The Coolest Car
of the Year, while the award winner was
actually the Porsche 911. While the V8
Vantage remains a rare and special car by any
standard, the success of the model is
highlighted by the completion of chassis
number 10,000 – a specially ordered Onyx
Coupe delivered to a customer in USA – in
the first half of 2008. While the production of
10,000 cars is a tiny number by the standards
of typical car manufacturers, it is a significant
milestone for an Aston Martin model – the
DB9 being the only other Aston Martin model
to have achieved that figure.
Update
In May 2008, Aston Martin announced new
technological updates for the Vantage, which
included changes to the engine, transmission,
suspension and appearance. New cylinder
liners that are now pressed into the
aluminium block instead of the original cast-in
variants allow a thinner liner, which in turn
allows a larger capacity of 4.7 L. The cylinder
bore and stroke has been increased from
89 mm (3.5 in) to 91 mm (3.6 in) and 86 mm
(3.4 in) to 91 mm (3.6 in) respectively, giving
a total displacement of 4735 cc. The dry
sump lubrication system was also modified.
The "Sportshift" semi-automatic transmission
benefited from a software update, while a
lightened flywheel was introduced for both the
manual and the Sportshift. Aston Martin also
stiffened the suspension and now uses
Bilstein dampers. An optional Sports Pack is
being offered with stiffer springs, tighter
handling, and all-new 5-spoke alloy wheels.
Sportshift-equipped models also receive a
new dual throttle-mapping update which
allows the driver to choose from the default
Sport mode, or Comfort mode, which gives
more comfortable shifts and throttle input for
drivability. [4]
New wheels are also part of the update
including a 20-spoke alloy wheel and a new 5-
spoke aluminium wheel for the Sport Pack.
The interior has been changed slightly, using
an updated console similar to the Aston
Martin DBS and the new DB9 .
The update provides the Vantage with
420 bhp (310 kW) (an 11% increase) and
delivers peak torque of 470 N·m (350 lb·ft) (a
15% increase), providing the car with
additional reserves of mid-range performance
and an even higher top speed. Combined
European fuel economy and CO2 emissions
are also improved by 13% ( Sportshift). [5]
Variants
Current Variants
These are the current versions of the Aston
Martin Vantage[6]
V8 Vantage Coupe
V8 Vantage Roadster
V8 Vantage S Coupe
V8 Vantage S Roadster
V8 Vantage N430 Coupe (RoW only)
V8 Vantage N430 Roadster (RoW only)
V8 Vantage GT Coupe (USA Only )
V8 Vantage GT Roadster (USA only)
V12 Vantage Coupe (discontinued)
V12 Vantage S Coupe
V12 Vantage Roadster (RoW only)
V12 Vantage S Roadster
RoW= Rest of World
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