Autoblog

Aston Martin updates the V8 Vantage for 2010

Noah Joseph — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Click above for high-res image gallery

Reports from the British Isles and a new batch of images from the manufacturer indicate that Aston Martin has quietly prepared a few minor revisions for its entry-level V8 Vantage for the 2010 model year.

Among those changes are clear tail lamps (like those on the V12 version), side sills borrowed from the N400 edition and "magnum silver" mesh for the hood and side vents. There will also be some new optional equipment, including the ten-spoke, 19-inch forged, diamond-turned alloys pictured on the car above, carbon-Kevlar seats that trim 17kg off the curb weight, and a 1000-watt Bang & Olufsen stereo.

Along with the mild visual upgrades and the new optional equipment, Aston has cut the V8 engine's carbon emissions, the manual-equipped model dropping from 328 g/km to 315 g/km, and the Sportshift model dropping to 300 g/km. The changes are applied equally to the coupe and Roadster, with order books reportedly open now with deliveries beginning early in the new year. Check out the updated model in our high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

[Source: Aston Martin via CAR magazine]

Aston Martin updates the V8 Vantage for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin creates special edition Robb Report V8 Vantage

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Aston Martin

Robb Report Limited Edition Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster - Click above for image gallery

There's no shortage of people deeply enamored with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster. The folks at the Robb Report evidently agree, and included it in their "Best of the Best" list. But they didn't stop there: the luxury lifestyle magazine has teamed up with Aston to create a special edition of the British roadster, and they're only building seven of them.

The Robb Report Limited Edition V8 Vantage Roadster is characterized by its black-on-black-on-black color scheme: black exterior paint, black fabric roof and black interior upholstery (complemented by, you guessed it, black veneer trim). The 420-horsepower 4.3-liter V8 carries over unchanged, as does the rest of the vehicle, save for the number plates - which start at #001 and culminate in a very Aston-like #007 - and the $153,000 price tag, which comes in nearly twenty-three grand over list. Nobody said exclusivity came cheap.

Gallery: Robb Report Limited Edition Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

[Source: Robb Report]

Aston Martin creates special edition Robb Report V8 Vantage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elite LMV-R brings the heat to Aston Martin

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

The Elite LMV/R -- Click above for high-res image gallery

The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 might be worthy on the track, but what if you want a lightened, hardened Vantage for the street, à la Lamborghini's Gallardo Superleggera and Ferrari's F430 Scuderia? Then you have Elite to thank for this, the LMV/R. The car is lightened with the use of carbon fiber body panels and interior kit, widened with bespoke fenders, and given a Galpin Motorsports-esque wheel and tuning treatement.

They don't get any extra power, however. If it's any consolation, there will only be thirty of them - but each one will cost a fortune: $173,000 plus the cost of a Vantage. You can read all about the Florida-built car after the jump, and check it out in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Elite Aston Martin Vantage LVM/R

[Source: Exotica Motorsports]

Continue reading Elite LMV-R brings the heat to Aston Martin

Elite LMV-R brings the heat to Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston to field half-dozen V12 Vantage racers at Nürburgring 24

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 23 May 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Aston Martin

Click above for a high-res gallery of the V12 Vantage preparing for the Nürburgring 24-hour race

It started with one lone V8 Vantage, dubbed the N24, that ran the Nürburgring 24-hour race in 2006. Last year, that first racer, a yellow car dubbed "Rose," won class honors in the race. This year, it will be joined by five more Vantages, one of them being the 510 horsepower V12 Vantage introduced in Geneva earlier this year.

Only three of the six cars will be factory efforts. The slightly modified V12 Vantage will be piloted by Aston CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez and three co-drivers, and "Rose" will be driven by another team of three. Privateer entrants will be headed by Richard Kramer, an Austrian Aston dealer whose Vantage N24 is being supported by the factory.

You can read the full press release after the jump, and check out live action from the weekend's qualifying and race at the ADAC site.

Gallery: Aston Martin V12 Vantage at the Ring

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston to field half-dozen V12 Vantage racers at Nürburgring 24

Aston to field half-dozen V12 Vantage racers at Nürburgring 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Spied Aston V12 Vantage Roadster actually a beefed-up V8

Noah Joseph — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Aston Martin, Rumormill

If you saw the recent spy shots of a supposed upcoming Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster and wondered where all the louvers from the coupe went, the answer may be found in newer reports. Sources suggest that rather than a drop-top V12, the thinly-disguised test mule in question is actually a regular V8 Roadster, only wearing an extra body kit to give it a more substantial look.

Whichever reports are correct, we wouldn't be surprised to see a V12 Roadster popping up close to the end of the fixed-roof V12 Vantage's limited production run. But could Aston be up to something with its entry-level eight-cylinder sportscar? Stay tuned. We know soon.

[Source: Auto Express]

REPORT: Spied Aston V12 Vantage Roadster actually a beefed-up V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 May 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin offers power upgrades to last-gen V8 Vantages

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Aston Martin

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

If you're a 2005-2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage owner, you may have wished you'd held out for the 2009 model which benefits from an extra 0.4-liters of displacement (up from 4.3- to 4.7-liters) and gains an extra 40 hp and 45 lb-ft of torque, along with some revised suspension tuning. The crew at Gaydon feels your pain and has begun offering a new performance package for the 4.3-liter model.

The kit includes a new induction system originally developed for the DBS that features a pair of toggling airbox valves that open at 5,500 rpm to bring more air into the engine. With the help of a revised ECU that optimizes ignition timing and recognizes higher octane fuels, output increases to 400 hp (20 extra ponies) and torque grows to 307 lb-ft.

The sports package developed for the 2009 model can also be retrofitted to the last generation Vantage and includes forged aluminum five-spoke wheels, upgraded springs and Bilstein dampers. Aston hasn't released pricing for the new performance pack, but we're sure it's less than trading in your old Vantage for the updated model.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Continue reading Aston Martin offers power upgrades to last-gen V8 Vantages

Aston Martin offers power upgrades to last-gen V8 Vantages originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daniel Craig gets free pass to drive Astons for life

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Aston Martin, Celebrities

As if being chosen to play the consummate British secret agent wasn't enough for Daniel Craig to brag about, the current 007 has been extended a free pass to drive Aston Martin's best cars any time he pleases. And he isn't limited to driving on the street. Aston has made its test track available to the faux agent. Craig must be quite the Ambassador to the brand to be granted such special privileges. Unfortunately, Mr. Bond seems to have no intentions of actually going out and purchasing one for himself, saying, "I could drive it faster and more furiously [on the track] than anywhere on the road. I live in London [and] it doesn't make any sense to drive an Aston Martin there. I've nowhere to park it." Yeah, we know how you feel, Daniel. That's the reason all of on the Autoblog staff don't own Astons too... nowhere to park.

[Source: Contact Music]

Daniel Craig gets free pass to drive Astons for life originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin to move further upmarket?

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Aston Martin

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Such is the logic of luxury economics: charge tens of thousands of dollars more for the same product, sell fewer of them and boost the balance sheet and your brand's long-term viability. That is what Aston Martin's considering for the next phase of its business plan, which runs from roughly 2011 to 2019 and will see the launch of DB9 and Vantage successors, the Rapide, and the renewed Lagonda brand.

The Vantage and DB9 are big sellers for Aston, but the company might be unsure of how to sustain the momentum. One option is to move the price of the $113,000 Vantage closer to the $171,000 DB9, and move that latter car closer to the $265,000 DBS, sell fewer of them but make more money. The DB9 does strike us as a (relative) bargain - it's cheaper than a Bentley GT -- but pricing the Vantage closer to the DB9 would seem to wreck its business case as a 911 fighter. Another option could be to replace the Vantage or DB9 with a mid-engined sports car, which could be drool-worthy and well worth the price bump... but perhaps un-Aston-like.

AutoWeek also appears to report that the One-77 isn't sold out, writing "Although Aston has said that it would make a maximum of 77 cars, insiders privately say the market is closer to 25." We don't know how that could be, unless a bunch of the 100 people who applied to buy the car were just kidding...

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

[Source: AutoWeek]

Aston Martin to move further upmarket? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Form follows function? Hamann Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupe, Aston Martin

Click above for a gallery of the Hamann Aston Martin V8 Vantage

We were totally buying Hamann's line about "form follows function," right up until the point we saw the roof scoop on the tuner's Aston Martin V8 Vantage package. That aside, the kit from Hamann is one of the most comprehensive we've seen, implementing an array of aerodynamic, handing and engine mods to take the baby Aston to the next level.

On the aero side, Hamann festooned the Vantage with a new lower front fascia with two-piece spoilers, added a pair of sideskirts, a three-piece rear diffuser and a small, if not entirely stealthy, rear spoiler. You can get all these bits, or a different lip spoiler, in either carbon fiber or fiberglass, along with a roof scoop allowing you to channel your LeMans ambitions in poseurific style.

The engine benefits from a retuned ECU that can boost power of the outgoing Aston's 4.3-liter V8 to 358 hp (23 hp more than stock) or the 2009 model's 4.7-liter V8 to 426 hp (30 hp more than stock). A stainless steel exhaust is supposedly good for another 20 hp, but it's unclear whether the same gains can be attained without tweaking the Vantage's computer.

The handling has been shored up with a set of Hamann's three-piece 21-inch wheels and new springs that drop the Vantage by 30 mm up front and 20 mm in the rear, while the interior receives a new aluminum pedal set, bespoke floor mats and optional custom leather trim.

Check out all the details in the press release after the jump and peruse the gallery below.

Gallery: Hamann Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Form follows function? Hamann Aston Martin V8 Vantage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What do a giant tape measure, a V8 Vantage and Stephen Hawking have in common?

Dan Roth — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: China, Etc., Aston Martin

click above to view a hi-res gallery of Beijing 008

China, that's what. Artist Qin Yufen has just unveiled Beijing 008 with the help of Aston Martin chieftains Ulrich Bez and Kenny Chen. The art installation brings together a ginormous tape measure, a quote about disorder, a statuary tribute to Stephen Hawking that hangs from the ceiling, and a V8 Vantage in a way that ambiguously represents the mystery held by the 21st century. That is, according to artist Yufen. We think the fuzzy meaning will make the work more accessible to the public at large, as any statements made by Yufen's work is deliberately soft-spoken and open to interpretation. It is a wine-and-cheese set kind of way to commemorate the opening of an Aston Martin dealership in China, too.

Aston Martin is a strong supporter of artistic endeavors, and this is one way to celebrate the brand's entrance into the Chinese marketplace. It's not necessarily the way we would've chosen (autocross inside the Forbidden City?), but it's one way. The high level of craft that's historically gone into Astons also dovetails nicely with the handmade nature of the artwork. Easily interpreted art is all well and good, but the moment you fire up that Vantage, the intent is clear - go fast, be coddled. At least they didn't cut the car up to make some kind of pointless statement.

Gallery: Aston Martin V8 Vantage Art Installation

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading What do a giant tape measure, a V8 Vantage and Stephen Hawking have in common?

What do a giant tape measure, a V8 Vantage and Stephen Hawking have in common? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Premier4509 limited edition body kit for Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Premier4509's V8 Vantage.

Veilside's luxury and exotics arm has already released body kits for the Lamborghini Murcielago and Bentley Continental GT, and now Premier4509 has turned its attention to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Any attempt to improve upon the stunning sheet metal of the Vantage is a risky affair, but Premier4509 seems to have balanced a bit of bling with some measure of restraint. The kit includes a new front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper and spoiler that ties in nicely with the shapely lines of the coupe, and the forged, three-piece wheels compliment the aggressive body kit, but will surely compromise the Vantage's already stiff ride.

All the pieces are made up of fiber reinforced plastic and optional carbon fiber accessories will be made available, along with new exhaust tips. Sale will begin in the first quarter of next year and will be limited to 300 units, each with their own numbered serial plate.

Gallery: Premier4509 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

[Source: Premier4509]

Continue reading Premier4509 limited edition body kit for Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Premier4509 limited edition body kit for Aston Martin V8 Vantage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin upgrades the V8 Vantage for 2009

Drew Phillips — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

Click above for a high resolution gallery of the V8 Vantage

Not one to settle, Aston Martin is giving its V8 Vantage a host of upgrades for 2009 highlighted by a larger V8 engine with more power. Originally displacing 4.3 liters, the V8 has been bored and stroked to 4.7 liters for an 11% increase in power to 420 bhp and a 15% increase in torque to 347 lb-ft. Despite these changes, fuel economy has been improved by 13%. Both optional transmissions have been upgraded as well, with the 6-speed manual getting a modified clutch and flywheel, and the Sportshift automatic has been programmed to provide smoother shifts. The suspension has been slightly revised with slightly stiffer spring rates, improved steering geometry, and stiffer bushings in the front suspension to improve handling. The interior has been revamped with a new center console finished in graphite silver as well as an ECU that replaces the standard key. Thankfully the Vantage's beautiful lines have remained untouched, although new 19-inch wheels are available.

Full details on the 2009 upgrades to the V8 Vantage can be found in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Aston Martin V8 Vantage

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin upgrades the V8 Vantage for 2009

Aston Martin upgrades the V8 Vantage for 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 May 2008 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paramount Performance offers 65hp V8 Vantage upgrade

Noah Joseph — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Performance, Aston Martin, UK

Make no mistake about it, the V8 Vantage is an unspeakably beautiful car. Sure, it looks like every other contemporary Aston Martin, but it's arguably the best application of the theme. Unfortunately its performance falls a little short of some of its competitors. So while we wait for news from Aston Martin on its tantalizing V12 Vantage RS concept hitting production, Paramount Performance has come out with a series of modest upgrades to the smallest of Astons to give it a performance edge.

Paramount offers a remapped ECU along with new catalytic converters, exhaust and suspension kit. Paramount claims the reprogrammed chip is good for an extra 35hp, the exhaust an extra 20 (while shaving 15kg off the curb weight) and the cats another 20 horses. The full package is available in the UK for a pre-tax price of £4840, or buyers can purchase each component separately. There's also a rather useless-looking carbon fiber engine cover for £499 installed, and Paramount offers similar mods for everything from Ferraris and Bentleys to Subarus and Jeeps. Thanks to Youri for the tip.

[Source: Paramount Performance via Yissels Supercar Blog]

Paramount Performance offers 65hp V8 Vantage upgrade originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mansory adds flavor, little else to the Aston Martin Vantage V8

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Performance, Aston Martin

Click the image above for a gallery of high-res images.

Tuners normally try to find a balance between appearance and performance modifications, but in the case of Mansory, they've relied on the former at the expense of the latter. Starting with the achingly handsome Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a good jumping off point, and when you slap 20-inch black wheels on an eye-grabbing yellow version, you've got our attention. But aside from Mansory-badged six-piston Brembos up front and four pistons in the rear, sport springs and a two-tier exhaust, motivation does quite match the mods.

Instead, Mansory's equipped the Vantage with plenty of carbon fiber bits, from the burgundy engine details, including a radiator shroud and sway bar, to the side mirrors and taillights. Inside, a new steering wheel is fitted, covered in Alcantara and leather, while Mansory stitches its name into the floor mats and emblazons it into the doorsills.

The new diffuser, side skirts, revised front fascia and spoiler, all scream performance, but without some serious engine and suspension tweaking, the Mansory AM Vantage remains a pretty poseur among performance players.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Gallery: Mansory Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Mansory adds flavor, little else to the Aston Martin Vantage V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2007: Waiting for our inheritance, Part 1 - Aston Martin Vantage N400

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Motorsports, Performance, Aston Martin

Click the image above for more high-res, desktop-ready pics of the N400 Vantage.

Our lottery ticket fantasy garage just got a bit bigger. Aston Martin unveiled the N400 version of its V8 Vantage, a road-going tribute to its time around the 'Ring in 2006. Like every other Aston product, it will be built by hand in Gaydon, but this particular Vantage comes packing a modified 4.3-liter V8 producing 400 HP at 7,500 RPM, an addition 20 HP over the base model. Those extra ponies are freed up by the extensive use of lightened materials within the engine, including the crankshaft, conrods and pistons, along with a free flowing exhaust system and air filters.

We've got a host of pics below for your viewing enjoyment, and click here to view Aston's original press release.

Gallery: Aston Martin N400 V8 Vantage

Frankfurt 2007: Waiting for our inheritance, Part 1 - Aston Martin Vantage N400 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Facelifted Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Aston Martin

Click over to see four large images at AutoGespot!

Our friends from the Netherlands are back at it, capturing a hot new car before anybody else. Sporting U.S.-spec orange side markers, these special Vantage V8s made a brief appearance and started rumors that we might be in store for a sportier new version of the already fantastic Vantage from Aston Martin. They don't look like the Rally GT or Prodrive editions we saw at Goodwood, and are definitely not the N24s we talked about and saw at Pebble, but beyond that we have only speculation.

Sporting a minor facelift, some DBS lenses out back, a little less bling on the mirrors and thicker rocker panels, could this be the long-rumored RS edition? If so, we could be looking at a V8 Vantage that weighs a significant 300 pounds less and has 80 hp more than the current model. While we love the current car, those changes and the styling differences we see here, might make this thing just about perfect. It would certainly match up better with the likes of an Audi R8, Porsche Turbo and others that have the standard V8 Vantage in their crosshairs.

Thanks for the tip, Sam!

[Source: AutoGespot]

Spy Shots: Facelifted Aston Martin V8 Vantage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Specing Aston Martin's V8 Vantage N24

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Motorsports, Aston Martin

Aston Martin rocks. Remember back in June when they won their class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with pretty much a showroom stock V8 Vantage? The one that finished 24th overall out of a field of 220 entrants, most of which were pure race cars? Well, Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez does. He had promised that customers would be able to purchase a similar package for their Vantages soon after. And true to his word, we just got notice of the new N24 spec V8 Vantage will be available at a dealer near you. Already meticulously crafted, these N24 editions will be given even more special attention as they work their way through the assembly process, in a dedicated facility at the firm's Gaydon HQ.

Besides losing its air conditioner and most of its interior as part of the 550-lb Biggest Loser diet, the N24 will be reworked to coax an extra 30 hp from its mellifluous V8. Sidenote - This is the third best-sounding production car in recent years behind the Porsche Carrera GT and the Audi RS4. The Vantage N24 would make an excellent track day car for club racers, but should also be able to run in the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring, the Britcar endurance series, the Dutch Supercar Challenge, the Australian GT Championship and the European Endurance Championship. It might also qualify for the proposed European GT4 series, the Grand-Am Cup and SCCA Touring Car Class in the USA.

On sale now, the N24 will start at £78,720 ($152,350) and will actually debut in the Yokohama booth at the Autosport International Show at the Birmingham NEC in a couple of days. We like this trend of factory race cars like the Ferrari F430 Challenge, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, and the Subie rally cars down under

Full press release with specs after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Specing Aston Martin's V8 Vantage N24

Specing Aston Martin's V8 Vantage N24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Texas you can "Drive Your Dream"

Scott Davis — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:04:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Supercars, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Scion, Ferrari

How cool would it be to drive five of the world's greatest cars all in one day? Nameplates like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Porsche are all just a short jaunt away for less than the price of a single month's lease payment on any one of them.

DFW Elite Auto in Dallas, TX has put together several opportunities that will allow you to do just that. The 'DFW Drive Your Dream' program has several different levels of fun, starting with the 'Every Mile a Memory' Tour priced at just $489 that puts drivers on the road in five great cars -- the Porsche Boxster Convertible, the 1965 Corvette, the Mercedes SLK 55, the Lotus Elise and the Mercedes SL 500. Packages and vehicles vary up to $989 a day for the '2000 Horses Tour', that puts you behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari F430, Aston Martin Vantage, Porsche Twin-Turbo 911, and a Corvette Z06.

Christmas is fast approaching and this would be a great gift for the car enthusiast in your life. Short of giving someone one of these cars, the present would definitely qualify you for Best Gift bragging rights indefinitely.

[Source: PR Newswire]

In Texas you can "Drive Your Dream" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin shows off endurance with Project 30,000

Alex Nunez — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Aston Martin, Misc. Auto Shows

After a driver team led by Dr. Ulrich Bez drove a production-standard V8 Vantage to a top-25 finish at this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours, Aston Martin engineers kicked off another demonstration of the Vantage's endurance.

To commemorate the milestone of 30,000 cars produced, Aston Martin staffers were invited to spend a day in Germany, where day and night, the car would be driven on the Autobahn and local roads with the goal of accumulating 30,000 miles in 30 days. Providing support to the effort was Aston's new German dealership, Moll Sportwagen.

True to the form shown by the Nurburgring Vantage, the Project 30,000 car accomplished its mission. Now signed by every employee who took part in the 30-day thrashing, it is on display with the Nurburgring car at the British Motor Show.

These overt demonstrations of the Vantage's robustness continue to make us wonder how long it'll be until Aston Martin decides to go all the way and field a car in the Le Mans / ALMS GT2 class. Given the success the DBR9 is having, there's no reason to believe a Le Mans Vantage wouldn't wreak havoc as well.

(Additional info after the jump)

Source: Aston Martin

Continue reading Aston Martin shows off endurance with Project 30,000

Aston Martin shows off endurance with Project 30,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Man! Aston Martin V8 Vantage completes Nurburgring 24 in production trim

Alex Nunez — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Aston Martin

"Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday" is how the old saying goes, but maybe we can change it to "Finish on Sunday, Sell on Monday" in the case of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. That's because an almost-stock Vantage entered and completed this past weekend's Nurburgring 24-Hour race. The only modifications to the car were to address safety requirements and pit lane needs. The car had a roll cage, racing fuel system, fire protection, racing seat, and hydraulic jacks installed. Nothing else was touched. It ran on the stock engine and transmission, and wore stock bodywork.

Aston didn't exactly pack the driver list with no-names either. The group of four who piloted the Vantage was headlined by none other than Aston Martin's Chairman and CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez. He and three co-drivers completed 130 laps in the endurance race, finishing 4th in class and 24th overall.To further put that achievement into perspective, 220 cars started the race, many of them pure race-spec models.

The eyebrow-raising performance makes one think. If an almost dead-stock Vantage can run competitively in a 24 hour endurance race, imagine what a fully race-prepped car could do. Such a vehicle would make the already competitive, and growing ALMS/Le Mans GT2 class even more interesting than it has already become.

The entry of the Vantage at the Nurburgring 24 was a factory experiment, but the results are a very clear warning shot to other manufacturers:

On the racetrack, the DBR9's baby brother looks like its quite capable of holding its own.

(Press release, more pictures after the jump)

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Iron Man! Aston Martin V8 Vantage completes Nurburgring 24 in production trim

Iron Man! Aston Martin V8 Vantage completes Nurburgring 24 in production trim originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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