2025 Aston Martin Vantage: Revolution Camouflaged as Evolution

The forthcoming 2025 Aston Martin Vantage, hailed for its agile prowess, is set to undergo an array of substantial updates that predominantly focus on enhancing its sportiness and technical features.

That said, despite being the purest sports car in the AM lineup, the Vantage has always been one step behind the Porsche 911, for example, when it comes to driving fun and corner carving. According to Marek Reichman, chief creative officer at Aston, that is about to change soon.

Aston Martin is transforming, and the carmaker has vouched to completely revolutionize its product lineup in the next decade. The British company recently announced that it will introduce at least 8 different new models until 2025, including an EV.

As part of that transformation, the facelifted DB11 received so many updates that it is now called the DB12 since it is almost a brand-new model. A similar remodeling job is expected from the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage, which is essentially a facelift for the current model but will apparently sport more of a 'hooligan' character.

This thorough overhaul will introduce a sportier aesthetic and an array of exterior and interior design refinements, including an innovative bespoke infotainment system, not to mention a lot more power from the AMG-sourced V8.

Exterior

Externally, the new Vantage boasts a comprehensive front-end redesign as part of the most noticeable visual upgrades spotted on pre-production prototypes during testing. Notably, the reshaped engine grille takes center stage, accompanied by larger, more vertical headlights akin to those featured on the recently unveiled DB12.

The model's drag coefficient should be better thanks to a smaller frontal area, but the slightly larger footprint of the grille should award more cooling.

The conventionally hinged hood replacing the previous clamshell version enhances aerodynamic efficiency and also optimizes production costs. Yes, the model will look less expensive thanks to this solution, but other design elements should make up for it.

Keeping with the evolutionary theme, DB12-inspired gills on each side of that long hood should help improve both engine cooling and aerodynamics.

While the rear of the Vantage may display minimal alterations, astute observers might discern potential enhancements in the lower part of the car, possibly hinting at the inclusion of new aerodynamic features that further refine its performance-oriented character.

Interior

By far, the most prominent centerpiece inside the redesigned Vantage is the bespoke infotainment system, also previewed in the recently unveiled DB12 grand tourer.

In a pioneering stride and helped by a massive cash infusion from Aston Martin's current Chairman, Lawrence Stroll, the carmaker is departing from the Mercedes-Benz-based infotainments of the past, employing an in-house developed touchscreen system.

Stepping inside the revamped Vantage cabin, one can expect to discover all-new seats and a redesigned center console, promising heightened comfort and convenience. However, the fundamental two-seat architecture that defines the Vantage's intimate interior space shall remain unaltered, ensuring a better focus on driver engagement and performance.

Don't expect more interior space, but the two passengers should feel less claustrophobic thanks to a redesigned center console.

Powertrain

Beneath the distinguished hood lies the main intrigue, where the renowned AMG-sourced 4.0-liter V8 engine is poised to receive a substantial power boost.

The current model's M177 powertrain delivers 503 HP (510 PS) and 505 lb-ft (685 Nm) of torque, sent to the rear wheel through a carbon fiber propeller shaft and a transaxle 8-speed automatic transmission from ZF.

Those numbers give the small coupe a 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) acceleration time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 195 mph (314 kph). Those figures were respectable for an RWD sports car five years ago, but not anymore.

With that in mind, and considering that the V12 Vantage will not have a successor, the revamped Vantage will inch closer to the illustrious 600-horsepower mark in its standard configuration. Additionally, whispers of a rear-wheel-steering system add to the plot, supported by intriguing glimpses captured in a recent spy video.

Although the return of the cherished seven-speed manual transmission appears unlikely, it is widely expected that the 2025 Vantage will adopt the well-regarded ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic across all its versions.

Quo Vadis, Aston?

Aston Martin is taking significant strides toward sustainability by actively working toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its manufacturing facilities. The Gaydon and St. Athan factories are leading the charge, as they currently rely exclusively on renewable electricity, minimizing their environmental impact.

Looking beyond its factories, Aston Martin has set an ambitious goal to reduce overall supply chain emissions by 30% by 2030, building upon its 2020 baseline. This proactive approach should also translate into its products, which is why a new Aston Martin EV, made in collaboration with Lucid, is expected soon.

On top of that, don't be surprised if the redesigned Vantage comes with a mild-hybrid version of that AMG V8 or something of the sort. It definitely won't be a full hybrid, though, because all those pre-production prototypes would have sported distinctive yellow stickers to signal that.

As the standard coupe variant nears its official debut, the excitement surrounding the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage continues to mount. The model's look will feel more like an evolution of the old one, not straying too far from the Aston Martin design language of its predecessors.

On the other hand, if we go by Aston Martin's engineers, the way it drives and its on-track performance should be a true revolution, but you'll have to wait another year or so to be sure.

Enthusiasts also eagerly anticipate the revelation of a redesigned Vantage Roadster, which should arrive in 2025. This is because the Roadster has an even better weight distribution than the Vantage Coupe, making for a rare case of "the open-top drives better than the fixed-roof."

To better stand up against models like the Porsche 911 GT3, the track-focused Vantage AMR will also get a successor, but most likely without using the dog-leg manual transmission made by Graziani.
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