From The Sunday Times
It dazzled me with its straight-line speed, thrilled me with its cornering powers and deafened me with the howl of its new 4.7 litre, 420bhp engine. And it occurred to me that even if it had proved a disappointment, this new Aston Martin V8 Vantage would be impossible to dislike.
Its enduring qualities are its appearance and its name, and apart from new 19in wheels, the former is unchanged in this, the first round of modifications to the three-year-old Vantage design. Aston Martin is too clever to tinker with lines that have made the Vantage so popular. As for the name, I believe no other in motoring (with the possible exception of Maserati) combines such class with so much promise of adventure. For that we should thank film-maker Cubby Broccoli for replacing 007’s original Bentley with an Aston.
There was a time, 15 to 20 years ago, when Aston Martins were terrible, yet still sold to those romanced by the concept. These free-spirited individuals wanted not to be weighed down by the facts but instead to look out on a sunny Sunday and ask: “Shall we take the Aston?”
Then Ford bought Aston Martin, and while continuing to produce handsome cars, it also made them reliable – at last. It’s a doctrine the company has lived by ever since, and it’s perpetuated by this, the first postFord model.
The only substantive complaints fielded about the original Vantage were that it was not quite quick enough – particularly in the midrange – its handling could be better, and the fascia, while looking good, was impossible to use. And here, now, is a Vantage with more power – particularly in the midrange – substantially more control in the corners, and a fresh set of knobs and buttons to twiddle on the inside. Best of all, the price, at £85,000, is only £2,000 more than that of the car it replaces, despite the 19in wheels now featuring as standard equipment.
The car hasn’t been “transformed”, for in truth, it didn’t need it. What was required was for the Vantage to be sharpened up, and that is precisely what has been achieved.
Its enduring qualities are its appearance and its name, and apart from new 19in wheels, the former is unchanged in this, the first round of modifications to the three-year-old Vantage design. Aston Martin is too clever to tinker with lines that have made the Vantage so popular. As for the name, I believe no other in motoring (with the possible exception of Maserati) combines such class with so much promise of adventure. For that we should thank film-maker Cubby Broccoli for replacing 007’s original Bentley with an Aston.
There was a time, 15 to 20 years ago, when Aston Martins were terrible, yet still sold to those romanced by the concept. These free-spirited individuals wanted not to be weighed down by the facts but instead to look out on a sunny Sunday and ask: “Shall we take the Aston?”
Then Ford bought Aston Martin, and while continuing to produce handsome cars, it also made them reliable – at last. It’s a doctrine the company has lived by ever since, and it’s perpetuated by this, the first postFord model.
The only substantive complaints fielded about the original Vantage were that it was not quite quick enough – particularly in the midrange – its handling could be better, and the fascia, while looking good, was impossible to use. And here, now, is a Vantage with more power – particularly in the midrange – substantially more control in the corners, and a fresh set of knobs and buttons to twiddle on the inside. Best of all, the price, at £85,000, is only £2,000 more than that of the car it replaces, despite the 19in wheels now featuring as standard equipment.
The car hasn’t been “transformed”, for in truth, it didn’t need it. What was required was for the Vantage to be sharpened up, and that is precisely what has been achieved.
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