The DB series may hog the glory in Hollywood, but true fans of Aston Martin know that the most exciting name in the carmaker’s line — at least, when it comes to driving fun — is Vantage. The name was first used as an upgrade appellation for existing models back in the 1950s, but it rose to prominence in the early ’70s, when it first became a standalone model.
The current version was first introduced back in 2018, landing on the scene with a splash thanks to its muscular design that’s unmistakably Aston Martin, rip-roaring AMG-sourced engine and eminently playful handling. It has become, in effect, Great Britain’s current answer to the Porsche 911.
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For 2024, the existing Vantage is receiving a hearty refresh to keep it relevant as the brand moves deeper into its next era under Lawrence Stroll. The bones are the same, but much of what’s layered on top of them has been thoroughly updated.
The new Aston Martin Vantage packs a hefty increase in AMG-sourced power
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it is a sound maxim for any product planner, but that goes double for powertrains in the automotive world — so it’s nice to see the new Vantage sticking with its tried-and-true Mercedes-AMG-sourced twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. (Indeed, we’d argue that AMG should maybe follow that advice instead of cramming complex F1-inspired four-cylinder PHEV arrangements into its cars.)
Of course, they’ve found some room for improvement. The new Vantage’s updated V8 now cranks out a whopping 656 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque — outpunching even the mighty Porsche 911 Turbo S in ponies and matching it in torques. (That’s also substantially more than the engine makes in Mercedes-AMG’s own Vantage rival, the new GT Coupe.)
Routed through a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic to the rear wheels, that’s enough power to send the Vantage from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 3.4 seconds, thanks in part to the newly added launch control function. Find a long enough road and keep the right pedal pinned, and Aston Martin says the car will top out at 202 mph.
The new Vantage should remain a handling delight, too
Aston Martin’s chief creative officer Marek Reichman promised that the new Vantage should be “an absolute hooligan,” and the car does indeed seem likely to live up to that billing. 50:50 weight distribution, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential and the tidy wheelbase of 106.5 inches should make the new model every bit of the donut-making, power-sliding delight that its predecessor was.
Aiding this: a new generation of electronic stability control and dynamics management systems that, like GM’s Performance Traction Management system found in the Corvette and V-Series sedans, uses the stability and traction control setups to enable drivers to more easily exploit the car’s capabilities. The Adjustable Traction Control system, for example, enables the pilot to dial up just the right amount of side slip desired: for the street, for the track, or just for lighting up the tires with a gnarly drift while going up an on-ramp. (Note: we at Gear Patrol legally cannot endorse gnarly drifting on public roads.)
On top of that, increased structural stiffness, a revised power steering system that reduces assistance as you work your way into more aggressive drive modes and new adaptive dampers with increased range should ensure the new Aston is quick to respond and willing to slice and dice corners better than ever before. Mighty brakes — 15.75-inch discs up front, 14-inch discs out back, with cast-iron units standard and carbon ceramics optional — sit behind 21-inch wheels clad in Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires tailored specifically the Vantage.
The Vantage follows in the DB12’s design footsteps, inside and out
The clearest evidence of the new Vantage’s updates is visible front and center, in the form of a whole new face. The small, squinting headlights and whale-like maw of the previous version have been replaced with a more traditional, elegant look that brings to mind the crazy-pricey, ultra-rare One-77 of a decade and a half ago.
The profile view, meanwhile, looks more elegant as well, thanks to the return of the side strake that runs from the front fender’s vent most of the way through the door. Out back, the changes are more restrained; indeed, it’s hard to tell the new model from the previous one, but Aston Martin assures us that the bumper is wider and the tail pipes beefier.
Inside, the car has been thoroughly refreshed in line with the new interior setup pioneered with the DB12 that launched last year. There’s an elegant new steering wheel and an all-glass instrument panel, along with a taller center console that ditches the techno-organic round buttons and bulges of the past version for a more mature, modern look.
Perhaps the biggest news, though, is the arrival of a new, in-house-developed infotainment system that replaces the exceedingly outdated Mercedes-based one found in the previous car. The new 10.3-in touchscreen setup supports multi-finger gesture controls, wireless Apple CarPlay and integrated connectivity for active route mapping and smartphone app-based features. Thankfully, physical controls stick around for many key features, though the volume, temperature and fan controls are drum-type rollers rather than the more ergonomic dials.
An 11-speaker, 390-watt stereo comes standard, but if somehow that’s not enough acoustic firepower in that tiny cabin for you, buyers can upgrade to a Bowers & Wilkins 15-speaker system that packs a stunning 1,170 watts of juice. That’s as much power as a golf cart motor, for God’s sake.
Aston MartinSadly, the V12 and the manual gearbox are no more
Yes, unfortunately, there’s no mention in Aston Martin’s press release of two of the delights of the previous model: the available V12 engine and the available seven-speed manual gearbox.
Of course, neither one of those showed up in the initial announcement for the current-gen model when it dropped six years ago, either. Both stick shift and 12-pot were later additions to the line, sliding in as bonuses for enthusiasts and hardcore brand fans. The V12 is unlikely to return; Aston Martin said the previous version was the last 12-cylinder model it would ever build. As for the manual, its demise is likely, but not guaranteed; previous CEO Tobias Moers said the carmaker didn’t see a need for it anymore back in 2021, but then again, he’s the previous CEO now.
The new Aston Martin Vantage hits the streets this spring
Aston Martin says the new Vantage will enter production in the first quarter of this year — so, sometime in the next seven weeks — and the first production cars will land in their owners’ garages sometime in the second quarter of 2024. The brand didn’t mention price; the 2023 model started at $146,986, but with head honcho Stroll telling us last year that he didn’t see the brand’s models selling for prices that didn’t start with at least a two going forward, we’re guessing the new one may start around $200,000.
Aston Martin Vantage
Specs
| Powertrain | 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8; eight-speed automatic; rear-wheel-drive |
| Horsepower | 656 |
| Torque: | 590 |
| EPA Fuel Economy | Let's not lie, mediocre |
| Seats | 2 |
Pros
- AMG V8 engine paired with RWD
- No more laggy old infotainment
Cons
- No more manual gearbox or V12
- The Porsche 911 also exists
