New spy shots of Aston Martin’s entry-level model replacement are now out in the wild. The photos show us our first look at the production body of the V8 Vantage replacement.
The existing V8 Vantage is a tough act to follow. First introduced in 2005, the Vantage was the work of Henrik Fisker, aging gracefully in the dozen years since. Despite this, Aston caught a lot of heat in the new millennium for a reliance on overly-similar designs across its range. That changed last year with the introduction of the DB11. With its floating roof and abrupt tail, the DB11 has moved the house design language in a surprising new direction.
Judging by the spy shots, the V8 Vantage will be presenting its own style, not just a smaller scale version of big brother. The grille shape may be traditional, but it migrates lower down the nose of the car. Up above, the headlights offer the same sort of squinty stare as Bond’s DB10 in Spectre. The two-seater also seems to be eschewing the DB11’s unique C-pillar treatment.
As before, the V8 Vantage will share an engine with its big brother. No, not the V12 (at least not initially). Under the hood, the prototype is running a 4.0-liter V8 engine. That’s the same AMG-sourced turbo powerplant that Aston recently slotted into the DB11. In the bigger car, it produces 503 hp and 498 lb-ft; it’s unclear if Aston will limit the Vantage’s output to reinforce the pecking order.
It’s also possible the wick will be turned up on the V8 over the model’s life time: AMG has already pushed it past the 600 hp mark in the E63 S.
The new V8 Vantage is expected to break cover later this year in road-going and race trims, in preparation for the 2018 model year. Expect the debut at the Frankfurt International Auto Show, which opens to the press September 14.
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