Tabla de contenidos para Issue 20 en Vantage

WE’VE GROWN USED to big things happening in the world of Aston Martin lately but, even by recent standards, the last few weeks have been quite extraordinary. In the space of ten days, Aston Martin sent its super-successful V8 Vantage GTE into retirement with not one but two World Endurance Championship titles, launched the allnew Vantage and its racing sibling, the Vantage GTE, to the world’s media, then capped things off by announcing record profits, driven by sales of the DB11 and the sold-out quartet of special-series Vanquish Zagato variants. Oh, and CEO Andy Palmer also managed to squeeze in his 24-hour racing debut, sharing a Vantage GT8 to an impressive class podium in the 24 Hours of Circuit of The Americas. It’s all hugely exciting stuff if you’re a…

Storck Fascenario.3 Aston Martin Edition £15,777. storckworld.com Dedicated MAMILs will be money you spend, the less bike you get. In the case of Edition, £15,777 buys an assemblage of carbonfibre and rubber weighing just was concocted by Aston’s Q division, which has made a note of the recipe in anticipation of a future Storck-edition car. familiar with the economics of bleeding-edge bicycle design, which dictate that the more the Fascenario.3 Aston Martin 5.9kg, the frame accounting for a mere 770g of that total. The engineering is all Storck, but the shifting grey/green/ silver ‘Argentum Nero’ paint was concocted by Aston’s Q division, which has made a note of the recipe in anticipation of a future Storck-edition car. Bremont hip flask £95. bremont.com Essential kit for the post-Christmas-lunch walk, Bremont’s kidney-shaped…

The terms used to describe a car such as this seem interchangeable, but there are various distinct forms of replica. Stephen Archer attempts to straighten out the terminology. Homage or tribute A car that is presented in the style of the original but makes no pretence to be anything other than what it is: a representation. The ASM R1 fits well into this category. Replica, facsimile or copy An expert will spot it a mile off, but to the layman it will be indistinguishable from the original and may well have an originaltype engine and chassis; in significant ways it is more than 50% accurate. Recreation or reproduction A car that is indistinguishable from the original, even to some experts, in all key areas: body, chassis and engine/drivetrain. There have…

Sports/Super Sports 1920-1925 SPECIFICATION Engine 1.5-litre in-line 4 Power 55bhp Torque n/a 0-60mph n/a Top speed 90mph Although the first ‘Aston Martin’ had been created in 1915, the Great War meant production didn’t actually start until 1920. And because the early years were all about motorsport, it wasn’t until 1923 that cars went on sale to the general public. The Sports was advanced for its time, with four-wheel brakes and a fully floating rear axle, and in Super Sports form it got a twin-cam, 16-valve four with a lusty 55bhp. Business was tough, though, and after around 60 cars had been sold, the company went into receivership in 1925. First Series/International 1927-1932 SPECIFICATION Engine 1495cc, in-line 4 Power 56bhp Torque n/a 0-60mph n/a Top speed 80mph With new financial backers,…

Lagonda saloon 1974-1976 SPECIFICATION Engine 5340cc, V8 Power 280bhp @ 5500rpm Torque 301lb ft @ 3500rpm 0-60mph 6.2sec Top speed 149mph Based on the AM V8 but with a stretched wheelbase, the 1974 Lagonda saloon was the first car since the 1961 Rapide to wear the Lagonda badge, and it was not a success. Most of the blame can be attached to the 1974 oil crisis, which seriously limited the appeal of any V8-powered supersaloon, let alone one that would rarely see mpg in double figures. In fact the Lagonda was an impressive and capable machine, but during the two years of production just seven were sold (though another was later assembled from parts). Lagonda 1978-1990 SPECIFICATION Engine 5340cc, V8 Power 280bhp @ 5500rpm Torque 301lb ft @ 3000rpm 0-60mph…

Virage 2011–2012 SPECIFICATION Engine 5935cc, V12 Power 490bhp @ 6500rpm Torque 420lb ft @ 5750rpm 0-60mph 4.5sec Top speed 186mph Bringing back a name from the 1990s, the 2011 Virage slotted into the range between the DB9 and the DBS – and even avid Aston fans wondered if it wasn’t a variant too far. The idea was to sell a more aggressive car than the DB9 (but one that wasn’t as extreme as the DBS). All the panels except the roof were subtly restyled, while the V12 gained an extra 20bhp, though the overall feel was still very much GT. Sales were slow, and when the thoroughly revised DB9 was launched for 2013MY, the Virage was quietly dropped. Vanquish/Vanquish Volante 2012-present SPECIFICATION (2015MY) Engine 5935cc, V12 Power 568bhp @ 6650rpm…

FOLLOWING CLOSE ON THE HEELS of the V8-engined DB11 coupé, Aston Martin was quick to release full details and images of the new DB11 Volante, having shown teaser images of a lightly disguised car earlier in the year. Open-top DB Astons follow an elegant recipe with enduring appeal, and the new soft-top DB11 is no exception. It’s a truly stunning looking car, roof up or down, and will undoubtedly sell like hot cakes, especially in the US, traditionally Aston’s strongest market for convertibles. The DB11 coupé’s design relies heavily on the sweeping roofline, so the Volante could have lost some of that visual flow and balance, yet to our eye the shape works beautifully, even with the roof raised (see over the page). Speaking of the roof, it’s an all-new…

WITH PRODUCTION of the Vanquish S almost at close, Aston Martin is bidding farewell with the Vanquish S Ultimate. This echoes the runout model of the first-generation Vanquish, which was also called Ultimate and has since become highly sought-after among collectors. Limited to just 175 cars worldwide, the new Vanquish S Ultimate is available in coupé and Volante form and retains the standard Vanquish S powertrain - that’s to say the magnificent 5.9-litre 592bhp naturally aspirated V12 and Touchtronic III paddleshift automatic transmission. The chassis also remains unchanged. Ultimates will be available in a choice of three ‘designer themes’: the car pictured has Ultimate Black paint with Copper Bronze graphics and Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan interior, all cabins having bespoke ‘Ultimate’ embroidered detailing. With Aston’s new series-production models switching…

IN SEPTEMBER, around 60 of the UK’s most coveted Aston Martins, from classic DBs to a thoroughly modern Vulcan hypercar, were on display at Boconnoc House, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, as the Aston Martin Owners Club welcomed hundreds of visitors to its Autumn Concours – the largest event the club has ever staged in the West Country The weekend also included a special display, organised by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the classic DB MkIII. And an extra highlight was provided by the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, the club’s official charity partner for the event, which landed its helicopter in the grounds of Boconnoc, allowing visitors of all ages to meet the medical crew and pilots, and find out more about the life-saving work of the…

15/98 1937-1939 SPECIFICATION Engine 1949cc, in-line 4 Power 98bhp Torque n/a 0-60mph n/a Top speed 85mph Using the new 2-litre engine in wet-sump form, the 15/98 range (15 from the RAC rating, 98 the peak bhp) included saloons and tourers, but they were heavy and hence slow (slow-selling, too: a planned run of 100 cars was slashed to 50). Better was an attractive short-chassis roadster (pictured). There was also a unique ‘monoposto’ streamlined single-seater designed to go for the 2-litre outer circuit record at Brooklands. The outbreak of war meant it was put into extended storage before its potential was realised. DB2 1950-1953 SPECIFICATION Engine 2580cc, in-line 6 Power 105bhp Torque n/a 0-60mph 12.4sec Top speed 116mph The DB2 was the first officially to wear the initials of Aston’s new…

V8 Coupé/V8 Volante 1996-1999 SPECIFICATION Engine 5340cc, V8 Power 349bhp @ 6000rpm Torque 369lb ft @ 3700rpm 0-60mph 5.9sec Top speed 155mph+ With the Virage running out of steam in the mid-1990s, Aston Martin relaunched the model as the V8 Coupé – basically a Virage with revised bodywork inspired by the new twin-supercharged Vantage model, including its faired-in headlamps and four round tail-lights. Power was slightly up, the acceleration slightly sharper and the top speed was quoted, not terrribly helpfully, as ‘over 155mph’. An improvement in almost every way over the Virage, sales were, however, glacially slow. Just 101 Coupés and 63 Volantes were sold. DB7 V12 Vantage/Vantage Volante 1999-2003 SPECIFICATION Engine 5935cc, V12 Power 420bhp @ 6000rpm Torque 400lb ft @ 5000rpm 0-60mph 4.9sec Top speed 185mph The DB7…

‘There’s just a handful of carry-over components, and one of those is Darren Turner ’ If a week is a long time in politics, six years is a lifetime in motorsport. Yet that’s how long Aston Martin Racing’s V8 Vantage GTE has been competing – and winning – at the highest level of endurance racing After a slow start, in which it took until the very last round of its debut season to land its first victory, AMR’s bellowing World Endurance Championship contender has gone on to become the most successful car in the history of the championship, with no fewer than 38 race wins – including GTE Pro and Am class victories at Le Mans – and six world championship titles to its name. As with the road car…

Andy Palmer has put Vantage’s interview slot back from 11.30 to midday. Fair enough; he’s been in the air all night, on his way back from a visit to the US, which included racing a Vantage GT8 in the 24 Hours of Circuit of The Americas. And very nearly winning. The GT8, shared with baking big-shot Paul Hollywood, Radio Le Mans commentator John Hindhaugh and this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours class-winner Paul Cate, led the SP3 class for a while but lost time in the pits after contact with another car. So second place had to do. Palmer enjoys racing, when he gets a chance. He’s done a few AMOC races in a Vantage GT4 and has competed in other cars in the past. It’s good to see the boss…

That the Cygnet is allowed to occupy the annals of Aston Martin history is surely now wellestablished. We’ve covered the tiny toy cars in Vantage, so it must be OK. That many enthusiasts with collections of full-size Astons also squeeze a Cygnet into their lives proves their open-mindedness. Those who follow price trends have noticed how expensive a good Cygnet has now become, too. But shouldn’t a car with an Aston Martin badge offer a bit more pace than 98bhp can provide? Couldn’t the factory have offered a tweaked-up Cygnet, using the tuning parts available in Japan for the Toyota iQ on which the Cygnet is based? It does seem an opportunity missed, especially when Gazoo Racing, a Toyota-affiliated tuner, revealed the first of a run of 100 supercharged iQs…

DB4 GT Zagato 1960-1963 SPECIFICATION Engine 3670cc, in-line 6 Power 314bhp @ 6000rpm Torque 278lb ft @ 5400rpm 0-60mph 6.1sec Top speed 154mph The rarest, most beautiful and most desirable of all post-war Astons. With the shortened chassis and highly tuned engine of the DB4 GT (but with an even higher compression ratio), and clothed in even lighter aluminium bodywork of quite exquisite proportions (the work of a young Ercole Spada), Zagatos today command vast sums at auction. Incredible to tell, then, that the original planned run of 25 was reduced to 20 because of lack of take-up. The unused chassis numbers were eventually recycled in the ’90s as the ‘Sanction’ cars. DB5/DB5 Volante 1963-1966 SPECIFICATION Engine 3995cc, in-line 6 Power 282bhp @ 5500rpm Torque 288lb ft @ 3850rpm 0-60mph…

V8 Vantage/V8 Vantage Roadster 2005-present SPECIFICATION (4.3) Engine 4281cc, V8 Power 380bhp @ 7000rpm Torque 302lb ft @ 5000rpm 0-60mph 4.8sec Top speed 175mph Aston’s answer to Porsche’s 911 and originally conceived as a mid-engined car. Compact and more overtly sporting than the DB9, the Callum/Fisker-styled V8 Vantage has overtaken the DB9 to become the biggest seller yet, with more than 16,000 so far finding homes. Its Jaguar-derived quad-cam V8, originally 4.3 (4.7 litres and 420bhp from 2008) gives brisk performance and an extrovert soundtrack – best enjoyed in the Roadster, which arrived in 2007. The ‘S’, with 430bhp, arrived in 2011. Buying guide, Vantage issue 1. V12 Vantage/V12 Vantage Roadster 2009-present SPECIFICATION Engine 5935cc, V12 Power 510bhp @ 6500rpm Torque 420lb ft @ 5750rpm 0-60mph 4.1sec Top speed 190mph…