Aston Martin Vantage

The sporty feel of this British sports car continuous once you step inside the cabin. The upscale materials begin with the power adjustments and memory setting sports seats clad in fine leather which matches the leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel and gloss black trim inlay. The carpeted cabin and automatic temperature control with dual-zone climate control add to the plushness. However, interior storage is somewhat lacking as the car only has a shallow center console bin and door pockets. The center console is clean with neatly arranged glass knobs and buttons highlighted by an 8-inch infotainment system that unfolds on the top of the dashboard. Compared to other in-car entertainment, the LCD monitor may feel dated because of its size or lack of compatibility with Android Auto. However, it does have iOS integration, USB playback, Bluetooth audio, and phone streaming, and comes standard with an integrated satellite navigation system. Ample headroom, shoulder space, and leg space makes for a comfortable ride through the low roof can be a conundrum for tall people when getting in and out of the vehicle. The Vantage is a strictly 2-seater sports car so there’s no rear seating to speak off, but can be maximized to store luggage.

The brilliance on the Vantage’s bodywork begins with its long clamshell bonnet that directs your attention to the large and imposing front grille that dominates most of the front. The LED integrated headlights with daytime running lights are muted and flushed on the side while the front bumper lip accent finishes off the sports car façade. On the side are side gill, side skirt, and a narrowing body as it nears the rear which highlights and makes the rear fenders look more imposing for an “athletic predatory stance.” The rear features Ashton Martin’s signature full width LED taillights integrated to its mid-mounted rear wing. The dual exhaust pipe and rear diffuser round up Vantage’s sporty look. This Ashton Martin sports car measures 4,465 mm long, 2,153 mm wide, 1,273 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,704 mm. The Vantage rides on a set of 20- inch Vantage 'Y' spoke wheels wrapped in 20" Pirelli P Zero rubber and is available in 55 different color combinations.

The Vantage’s wider size reflects a meaner and more ambitious looking sports car with a near-perfect weight distribution thanks to its front-mid-mounted engine and a rear-mounted transmission. The weight ratio makes it an awesome car to handle on the road giving just enough thrill and adrenalin rush. The electric power-assisted steering rack makes steering this luxury British car very precise, predictable, with just enough weight to guide the car with astounding accuracy. Most of the firmness comes from the rear side so there is a sense of balance that allows the driver to push hard on the corners while still maintain full command and stability of the vehicle. The Vantage V8 engine also gives off a beautiful purr. Its acoustics starts with a low baritone rumble at idle and progresses to an excited, high-strung pitch as it nears the red line to match an adrenaline-pumping drive.

For riding comfort, the suspension system that uses a combination of independent double-wishbone design on the front and multi-link, coil springs at the rear are both equipped with an anti-roll bar and an adaptive damping system is a little stiffer than most would like. However, the car remains very compliant for the daily driving tasks, although harsh bumps and potholes will be obvious to passengers no matter which drives mode is selected for the adaptive dampers. Besides that, riding this Ashton Martin is still comfortable for long rides thanks to its plush seating.

This Aston Martin grand tourer is fitted with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine capable of delivering 510 PS of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 685 Nm from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm. The mid-mounted engine has fully catalyzed stainless steel exhaust system, electronically-controlled exhaust, dual variable camshaft timing, and fully CNC machined combustion chambers. The V8 engine can go from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of 314 km/h. The engine is mated to a rear mid-mounted ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox with carbon fiber propeller shaft and electronic differential. Power is sent to the two rear wheels and is well-tuned with three driving mode options: Sport, Sport +, and Track modes for a progressive, sharper response. When it comes to fuel efficiency, The Aston Martin Vantage uses 14.2 L/100km in urban driving, 8 L/100km for highway, and 10.3 L/100km for combined city and highway driving.

For stopping power, the Vantage uses a combination of 400 mm ventilated two-piece steel brake discs at the front and 360 mm ventilated co-cast brake discs at the rear. To enhance the braking system, this British grand tourer is also equipped with an electric park brake, dynamic stability control (DSC), anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA), traction control (TC), hydraulic brake assist, positive torque control, and dynamic torque vectoring. In terms of safety and convenience features, there’s the keyless start/stop, front and rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, security alarm, and engine immobilizer. Driver-assist technology like the 360-degree camera system, blind-spot monitoring, and self-parking assist are not standard features.

The Aston Martin Vantage is an exceptional sports car fit for the daily grind. Its wide stance gives it a commanding presence on the road while its exterior design still excludes curbside desirability that can make any head turn. It is comfortable for both short and long trips thanks to its interior luxury and close to supercar performance. Because of its ‘entry-level’ price tag, this Ashton has tons of optional equipment to make it as personal and as unique as your personality.