The 2024 Aston Martin Vantage · first test drive
Representatives for Aston · Marton said that Fernando · Alonso were involved in the development of this Vantage. "Not Lance ·?" I'm kidding?
The boring jokes are gone, and thankfully, the latest and greatest 2024 Aston Martin Vantage that just arrived in New Zealand doesn't have a big bumper. While the F1 teams of Alonso and Stroll (as well as Stroll) continue to compete for mid-table supremacy and are currently behind the Big Four, the road cars have arrived with more aggressiveness, performance and racing pedigree. Actually, there's more.
We were in the parking lot go-kart track at Mt Smart Stadium, and the rain did everything it could to keep the ground wet. It's actually a blessing, as the new rear-wheel-drive Aston Martin Vantage has just arrived, and the company is keen to keep its expensive 325mm-wide, 21-inch Michelin Pilot S 5 tires for a day's drive. After all, it was a customer experience day that invited a couple of low-key automotive journalists to the party...... But it does not include the crash part.
Traditionally, this Vantage is the entry-level model of the Aston, but with much more performance. Its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine delivers 30 percent more power to 489kW and 15 percent more torque to 800Nm. While it's 90kW more powerful than the most powerful version of the previous Vantage F1 Edition, it's achieved by relying not only on a larger turbocharger (it does have a turbocharger), but also on improved hand-built engine internals: the block, crankshaft, cam and head are all completely new. After the 8-speed ZF automatic, the final gear ratio is shorter, making it more punchy.
Dramatically improved 4.0 twin-turbo V8 engine with 30% more power
It's also a more intuitive and vocal beast.
The name Vantage was first used 74 years ago to refer to the upgraded engine suite of the race-proven DB2, so it's still very logical. The Vantage became a high-performance model on the DB5 in 1964 and a standalone model in the early 1970s.
The 2024 model has a balance ratio of 50:50 and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, but with modern 2024 technologies such as ejection start and electronic rear differential (E-diff), similar to those found on the Vantage GT3 car, with super-fast reactions. There is no single wheel rotation here, and the differential locks in 0.13 seconds and adjusts itself during the drive in half the time.
For those who like pub trivia, it has a top speed of 325 km/h and uses Bilstein adaptive shock absorbers. The interior of the car features a new architecture with "a new standard of quality, style and refinement...... To quote the sales brochure.
Debuting alongside the GT3 car, the Vantage is the closest looking road car ever built, with the iconic Podium Green (the same as the 2024 F1 car) with a yellow profile. Owners can also choose one of three core livery designs to further enhance the sporty character of the Vantage.
Aston Martin Vantage· GT3 Racing Edition and Road Edition
Available in 21 colors, customers can choose to add pinstripes, pinstripes, and lipsticks or pinstripes, lipsticks, and back filling.
Everywhere there are carbon fiber, spoilers, splitters, vents, side panels, forward tilt plates, and aerodynamic assists, plus a short tail rear end that doesn't have any conspicuous fancy wings. Aston left that to the racers.
The standard brakes are a huge 400mm cast-iron front disc, but carbon-ceramic brakes are also optional and can withstand temperatures up to 800°C and save 27kg. If the standard 11-speaker system isn't enough, there's the option of an upgraded 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, as well as leather styles to keep the Vantage fully loaded, which is an appreciable part considering its $375,000 base price.
After a few minutes of driving on a makeshift wet track, everything is very orderly, and the driving instructor either accompanies the driver all the time or changes sides to demonstrate.
The driving part was just a bit of fun at low speeds in the wetlands, and after about 1.5km of driving on the wet braking and slalom tracks, we were done. Even more exciting was a demonstration by former V8 SuperTourer driver Richard · Moore, showcasing an extraordinary technology called Adjustable Traction Control (ATC). The system has 10 gears, from full babysitter to yourself, and when we ventured, the system defaulted to level 5.
Richard stepped on the gas pedal and the wheels slipped, but remained balanced and in control; Release the ATC to set 7 and then set 8 as he and it showed some medium drift angles, while the level 10, which any racer would love, allowed Richard to go all out on the wetlands. It's an amazing system that allows drivers to tailor the ATC to their driving style and road conditions, or in the case of racing, the tires start to fall off. Or, there are only wetland, road, and track preset modes.
After a few minutes of entertainment and filming, we need to stay calm so that other customers can pass through the gate without a hitch. Like any roller coaster, it all ended too quickly, but with the release of the new Vantage, there's a way to keep the dream going. To be exact, there are 375,000 methods.