Aston Martin has announced the arrival of the new Vantage S - the most performance focused Vantage in Aston Martin's sports car range. With the already thrilling, driver-focused Vantage firmly established as the class leading front-engine sports car, the Vantage S builds on its position with increased power and even greater dynamic prowess. Together with distinctive exterior and interior enhancements, Vantage S establishes a new benchmark for Aston Martin's acclaimed front-engine sports car range.
Subsequent
to the recently launched DBX S, the Vantage S is the next step in the
revival of Aston Martin's long tradition of applying the 'S' suffix to
special, high-performance derivatives of core models. A convention that
began with Vanquish S which made its public debut at the Paris Motor
Show in 2004, followed by the exceptional V8 and V12 Vantage S models
launched in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
Central to the Vantage S
is an upgraded version of the formidable Aston Martin 4.0-litre V8
Twin-Turbo engine. Extending Aston Martin's performance advantage in the
front-engine luxury sports car sector, the Vantage S now boasts 680 PS
at 6,000 rpm, with peak torque of 800 Nm delivered between 3,000 and
6,000 rpm for immediate in-gear response.
Further enhancing
driver engagement and performance feel, Aston Martin engineers have
continued to refine and calibrate the throttle pedal weight and response
aligned with 'S' characteristics. By offering a resistance matched to a
drive-by-wire throttle map bespoke to 'S', and tuned for each of the
Drive Modes, the Vantage S delivers an even greater sense of connection
with all controls working in harmony.
Calibration changes have
also been made to the powertrain, with optimisation of the Launch
Control system resulting in a 0.1 second improvement in 0-60 mph time,
which is now just 3.3 seconds (0-62 mph 3.4 seconds) and 0-124 mph (200
km/h) in 10.1 seconds. Top speed remains unchanged at a blistering 202
mph.
The Vantage S also benefits from an extensive suite of
detail changes to the new Vantage suspension hardware, powertrain mounts
and control software to bring greater agility along with improvements
in feel, driver engagement and composure.
While Aston Martin's
chassis engineers were determined to extract more agility and front-end
grip from the Vantage platform, they were also focused on ensuring those
advances didn't come at the expense of compliance and refinement.
Hardware
tuning and software calibration changes to the Bilstein DTX adaptive
dampers have brought increased front-end feel and response, while rear
spring aid stiffness has been reduced to balance compression and rebound
for improved low speed ride quality. A 10% reduction in transmission
mount stiffness brings in additional refinement by controlling the
powertrain movement to the body and chassis, allowing the vehicle to
breathe in harmony with the road.
Further gains in directness and
steering connection have been achieved by directly mounting the rear
subframe to the body instead of rubber bushes. Finally, to maximise the
compound benefits of these hardware and software changes, the
suspension's camber, toe and caster settings have been finessed to
sharpen response, improve front-end grip under high lateral loadings and
precisely dial-in the overall dynamic balance. The result is a car
which has a thrilling appetite for corners backed up by steadfast
stability.
Visually, the Vantage S has the looks to match its
performance prowess thanks to distinctive features that combine
immaculate design form with true performance-enhancing function.
At
the front, the new Vantage S is identified by new centrally mounted
bonnet blades. Finished in gloss black or 2x2 Twill Carbon Fibre, not
only do these vents provide a more assertive design character but they
optimise the extraction of hot air from the 'hot-V' configured V8
engine.
Model designation is restricted to discreet yet striking
'S' signature badging on the front fenders. Each one hand-made, the
brass forged 'S' is a true piece of automotive jewellery; the 'S
'infilled in red glass enamel with the badge surround chrome plated in
either bright or dark chrome to match the colour of the Aston Martin
wings specified by the customer.
Ensuring
the Vantage S is as instantly recognisable from the rear as the front, a
full width decklid spoiler is the most explicit indicator of the
marques sharpened performance focus. Not only for visual design
assertiveness, the new rear spoiler increases rear downforce by 44kg at
Vmax, contributing significantly to the overall 111kg of downforce at
Vmax. The new spoiler has been used to tune the aerodynamics of the
Vantage S, adding stability while ensuring the overall balance of
downforce is biased towards the front-end to generate exceptional
turn-in response and sustain a high level of cornering grip. Further
updates to the underbody make up the additional 67kg of downforce at
Vmax, including the addition of a new front airdam and front venturi
vanes.
The Vantage S is also available to specify with a bespoke
21-inch Y-spoke wheel in satin black with a red wheel graphic,
continuing to tie in the red detailing synonymous with the 'S' marque,
elegantly paired with a contrasting bronze painted brake calliper.
The
Vantage S continues with bespoke 'S' cues inside the car, with a unique
Alcantara and leather 'Accelerate' interior as standard with satin 2x2
twill carbon fibre trim inlays. Maximising its sporting appearance and
offering a modest weight saving over Vantage, this interior perfectly
captures the essence of 'S'.
Just as the exterior badging
embodies handmade craftsmanship, the interior of the Vantage S is
proudly adorned with colour matched, embroidered 'S' logos to the upper
shoulder panel of the seats. With almost 2,500 individual stitches and
over 16 metres of thread, each 'S' leaves no doubt to the commitment of
total luxury and performance in every Aston Martin S model.
Complementing
the 'S' suffix, the iconic Aston Martin wings are also embroidered onto
the headrests. An industry-first technique using both embossing and
debossing is also an option available to customers, applying extreme
pressure (1.5 tonnes) and heat to sculpt the wings into the leather with
impeccable precision, creating a subtle but beautiful detail. In
addition, the 'S' moniker appears on both the treadplates and engine bay
final inspection plaque.
The Vantage S also offers customers a
unique interior option package to further highlight its kudos as the
most sporting of all Vantage models; a choice of red or silver anodised
finish to the knurled metal drive mode rotary, creating a bold
centrepiece to the cabin. The rotary is colour matched to the seatbelt,
contrast welt, contrast stitch and headrest embroidery to create a flow
of cohesive highlights throughout.
For customers wishing to
immerse themselves in even more luxury, Inspire Sport interior is
available with either full semi-aniline leather or semi-aniline leather
and Alcantara, in both monotone and duotone options. These all-new
interiors feature diminishing chevron quilting, surrounded by placed
perforations, giving an unmistakeable impression of speed.
The
Vantage S is available to order now, alongside the Vantage, in both
Coupe and Roadster, with first deliveries expected in Q4 2025.
