Photo: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien
Now that the Aston Martin DB11 has successfully replaced the long-lived DB9, the British manufacturer is back to the drawing board. The next car in line for a major refresh is the Vantage. More to the point, the V8-powered Aston Martin Vantage.
At first glance, the test mule caught by the carparazzi looks as if it’s an early DB11 mock-up, yet it isn’t. The tell-tale signs are the shorter wheelbase and the two-seater layout as compared to the 2+2 DB11. Upon closer inspection, the car also appears to be much shorter around the A-pillar than the DB11.
Despite the tons of camouflage, it’s certain that the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage will borrow many styling cues from the V12-powered grand tourer sibling. Speaking of V12, the next-gen Vantage will get such an engine later in its production cycle.
After a quick check on the plates with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the results show that this test mule is motivated by a gasoline-fed engine with a cylinder capacity of 3,982 cubic centimeters. Uhm, Mercedes-AMG M178 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, anyone? Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG are in cahoots right now, so it isn’t that surprising to find the engine of the Mercedes-AMG GT under this mule’s hood.
In its lowest tune, the M178 delivers 462 PS (456 horsepower) and 600 Nm (440 lb-ft) of torque. In its currently highest tune, the M178 sends 585 PS (577 horsepower) to the rear wheels of the soon-to-debut 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT R. So how many ponies will the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage have from its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, then? Hell knows, but less than 608 PS (600 horsepower) is a certainty. In the track-focused Vantage GT8, the 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 churns out 446 PS (440 horsepower). Therefore, the regular V8 Vantage (as in not the S model) should get the 462 PS (456 horsepower) tune of the M178.
Regarding transmissions, it remains to be seen if the manual will live on. If you ask me, it will because Aston Martin head honcho Dr. Andy Palmer is a man of his word. At the launch of the V12 Vantage S with the 7-speed dog-leg manual transmission, Palmer said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the manual gearbox remains an integral part of our product plans and will do for many years to come.” So yes, the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage will most probably get a stick shift. An auto will also be offered, albeit it remains to be seen if it will be the 7-speed Speedshift DCT dual-clutch transmission of the Mercedes-AMG GT.
Expect the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage to debut in the fall of 2017 as a coupe.
Despite the tons of camouflage, it’s certain that the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage will borrow many styling cues from the V12-powered grand tourer sibling. Speaking of V12, the next-gen Vantage will get such an engine later in its production cycle.
After a quick check on the plates with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the results show that this test mule is motivated by a gasoline-fed engine with a cylinder capacity of 3,982 cubic centimeters. Uhm, Mercedes-AMG M178 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, anyone? Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG are in cahoots right now, so it isn’t that surprising to find the engine of the Mercedes-AMG GT under this mule’s hood.
In its lowest tune, the M178 delivers 462 PS (456 horsepower) and 600 Nm (440 lb-ft) of torque. In its currently highest tune, the M178 sends 585 PS (577 horsepower) to the rear wheels of the soon-to-debut 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT R. So how many ponies will the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage have from its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, then? Hell knows, but less than 608 PS (600 horsepower) is a certainty. In the track-focused Vantage GT8, the 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 churns out 446 PS (440 horsepower). Therefore, the regular V8 Vantage (as in not the S model) should get the 462 PS (456 horsepower) tune of the M178.
Regarding transmissions, it remains to be seen if the manual will live on. If you ask me, it will because Aston Martin head honcho Dr. Andy Palmer is a man of his word. At the launch of the V12 Vantage S with the 7-speed dog-leg manual transmission, Palmer said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the manual gearbox remains an integral part of our product plans and will do for many years to come.” So yes, the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage will most probably get a stick shift. An auto will also be offered, albeit it remains to be seen if it will be the 7-speed Speedshift DCT dual-clutch transmission of the Mercedes-AMG GT.
Expect the 2018 Aston Martin V8 Vantage to debut in the fall of 2017 as a coupe.
Google News