Aston Martin Vantage News

While many new car interiors are becoming more screen-centric, and ANCAP is readying new test requirements around important function accessibility, some senior designers are pushing back on over-reliance on digital controls.

While the new version of the Aston Martin Vantage doesn’t look astronomically different from the one you may have already seen on the road in Australia, its power figures have been given a serious look over.

There are hundreds of cars revealed every year that we write about here, and only a handful elicit the kind of reaction the Ford Mustang GTD did when it was revealed recently.

The time is now to say goodbye to the beloved V8 engine as the automotive industry moves towards electrification and downsizing to meet tailpipe emissions targets.We've already seen the likes of the Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Chrysler 300 go extinc

Aston Martin has launched a more enthusiast-focused manual variant of the Vantage called the AMR, which can be had in a retro livery. Powered by the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 making the same 375kW as the normal Vantage coupe, the AMR’s torque is down by 60Nm, possibly to protect the new seven-speed manual transmission. That’s correct - Aston Martin has added a manual to the Mercedes-AMG-sourced V8 for the first time. The manual is like the one in the former Vantage V12 S with a dog-leg first gear and helps contribute - as well as a set of carbon ceramic brakes - to a total weight loss of 95kg. The gearbox features a system called ‘AMShift', which rev-matches on downshifts and even allows drivers to shift without lifting the throttle.The Vantage AMR sprints from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds and hits a top speed of 314km/h. Tuned by an ex-Lotus chassis developer, the Vantage AMR features the company’s Skyhook dampers, as well as three different driving modes - Sport, Sport+ and Track - which change the dampers, stability control threshold, steering and throttle response.Just 200 units of the Vantage AMR will be made, with 59 of those painted in ‘Stirling Green’ paint with a lime stripe and a 59 decal on the nose. The cabin features the same lime green stripe on the seats and doors. The Vantage AMR has been confirmed for Australia, though exact timing is yet to be confirmed. The ‘Hero’ spec priced from $369,950 plus on-road costs, while the ’Halo’ is priced from $409,950.Aston Martin also confirmed that the regular Vantage will receive a manual transmission option in the first quarter of 2020 once production of the AMR has ended.

Aston Martin's Australia and New Zealand boss, Kevin Wall, sat down with CarsGuide at a sneak peek of the new Vantage in Sydney, five weeks before last night's global reveal.

Aston Martin has revealed its new Vantage, a stunning two-seat coupe, powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine supplied by, and developed in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG.

In a year when the overall car market shrank, all but a handful of prestige brands increased sales. Buyers don't just want a good car; they want others to see they have one, helping everyone from Maserati to Mercedes-Benz post gains.The trend is accelerating and a steady stream of new models in 2015 only adds to the impetus. CarsGuide looks at what's in store for the premium players this year.It isn't hard to foresee the popularity of the 4C two-seat coupe when it hits showrooms next month. This baby supercar uses a carbon-fibre tub, mid-engine layout and minimalist interior to present a modern incarnation of a stripped-down racer. Pricing will be $80,000-$100,000. The soft-top Spider is due in October. The Alfa Giulietta also gets an update.A steady new model rollout starts in February with the arrival of the TT coupe for just under $80,000. It will be joined by the soft-top roadster midyear and the TT S performance model in August or September. The plug-in petrol-electric A3 e-tron five-door hatch is due in May with an expected price of $60,000, with the Q7 large SUV due late in the year. Updates or variants include the A6/A7, RS6/RS7, A1, RS3 and Q3/RSQ3.New metal is in short supply at the British brand but two models will join the line-up, starting with the Vantage S Roadster at a shade under $420,000. If that isn't exclusive enough, consider the $500,000 Vanquish Carbon using the same V12 but with eight forward ratios in place of the Vantage's seven.BENTLEYChauffeurs will going cap-in-hand to buyers of the Mulsanne Speed for the chance to steer the best Bentley ever. A twin-turbo V8 cranks out 1100Nm - only the Bugatti Veyron can torque itself up as a more powerful production model - to push the 2.7-tonne limo into triple figures in 4.9 seconds. Pricing has yet to be set but if you have to ask, you can't afford it.There's a lot of product in the pipeline this year but only one all-new car. The X1 will switch to front-wheel drive when the second-generation model arrives in the third quarter. The X1 will look more mini-SUV than compact wagon, aligning it with the X3 and X5. Top-end versions will be all-wheel drive. Updates and new variants include the 2 Series convertible, X5M/X6M, 6 Series/X6, 3 Series, X4 M40i and X5 e-Drive.The 458 range has a Speciale A due next month. The 499 examples of the alloy hardtop model are already sold, meaning the $635,000 two-seater is likely to be a smart investment. Keep an eye on the classifieds.The struggle to be a serious prestige player continues for Infiniti with a major model overhaul due in 2016. A refreshed Q70 flagship is due midyear with a nip-and-tuck for the bumpers, updated interior trim and more safety software.The transition from niche player to prestige powerhouse is predicated on the XE sedan being a genuine rival for the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and BMW C-Class. Specs indicate the engines are up to the job, so it comes down to how well it can be priced in Australia. There will be updates for the F-Type coupe and convertible and XF sedan.Styling that echoes the Evoque and a premium interior mark the Discovery Sport, debuting in May. Essentially a replacement for the Freelander, the Sport is a serious off-roader with 600mm wading depth and four-wheel drive. Also expect a Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover hybrid and updated Evoque.A compact performance sedan, the RC F will cost $133,500, making it a 'budget' alternative to the Germans. The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 isn't quite on par with the Euro competition but neither is the price. The GS F mid-sized sedan will use the same engine and is due later in the year, price undisclosed. The NX200 will get a new turbo engine.No new news is still good news for Lotus aspirants. An automatic Exige - the brand's first self-shifter - is due in the second quarter. Expect to pay around $9000 for the clutch-less version, putting the price above $135,000. An updated Evora should land late with less weight and improved interior.An 'affordable' McLaren is due late in the year with an entry level Sport model priced at more than $300,000. That puts it in the higher echelons of Porsche 911 territory - but still well below typical McLaren prices.Australia's top-selling prestige brand rolls out a range of new toys this year to expand its appeal. The action starts with the AMG GT and C63 AMG in the second quarter, both using a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. Skip ahead to Q3 and there's the new GLE (formerly known as the ML) and GLE coupe SUVs, followed by the CLA Shooting Brake and the much-needed GLC compact SUV. Other updates or variants include the S63 coupe, CLS, B-Class and S500 coupe.The action starts with an entry-level five-door Mini Cooper One at $25,600 in February. It is powered by a three-cylinder engine with 75kW/180Nm. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the John Cooper Works three-door hatch, which will be the Mini with the most mumbo ever when it arrives midyear at an estimated $48,000.There's plenty to whet the appetite for performance enthusiasts, even if it is all clad in existing bodywork. The base V6 and performance GTS Cayenne SUV models are due next month, followed by the Turbo S midyear. An update of the 911 should make it before Christmas and Santa may deliver the new GT4 Cayman at the same time.The XC90 large SUV is due midyear with prices starting from about $90,000. A more affordable alternative will be the V60 Cross Country due late in the year from $65,000. The elevated version of the V60 wagon will be sold in FWD and AWD guise.

N stands for Nurburgring heritage at Aston Martin, which has over the years released several special editions celebrating the brand's success racing at the famed German circuit.We've seen the V8 Vantage N400 in 2007 and the N420 in 2010, and at Geneva motor show on March 4 we'll get to see the wraps come off the latest in the N line -- the V8 Vantage N430.Named for the 4.7-litre V8 engine's peak 430 horsepower (320kW in our metrics) delivered at 7300rpm, the N430 offers the choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automated manual with race-style paddle-shifters. Aston Martin is claiming a 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 305km/h.Like its forbears, it adapts track experience and technology -- largely from the Vantage GT4 race car and the GTE endurance racer -- with tweaked suspension and steering, plus some aerodynamic fiddling on the lighter body, which has trimmed about 20kg from the standard V8 Vantage.It also gets a slew of extra features, including machined carbon-fibre doorsill plates and gearshift bezel, black magnesium paddle-shifters, a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system -- and an unmistakeable green and yellow livery that salutes  the icon DBR1 race car.The N430 will be rolled out in both coupe and droptop form, and go on sale in overseas markets in the final quarter of 2014, but there's no confirmation yet that Australia will get a quota.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincottWatch the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430 video on our desktop site. 

Aston Martin is reportedly looking at building an even hotter version of its current-fastest V12 Vantage S, with much of the performance boost coming through weight reduction.Speaking with Autocar, Aston Martin engineering boss Ian Minards suggests that significant weight loss is possible from the existing 1665kg V12 Vantage S. "It would be relatively easy to lose 100kg from the current car," he says. “That much could be saved by removing the air conditioning, simplifying the interior and fitting lightweight seats."Following a similar approach to Porsche with its 911 GT3, such a car would build on Aston’s significant experience with racing the Vantage in production-based categories. Beyond weight loss, Aston CEO Ulrich Bez suggests there’s more to be squeezed out of the 6.0-litre V12 than the current 421kW/620Nm outputs. "We could get more power than we have now even if we made the engine smaller to help with economy and emissions."Such an improvement to the V12 Vantage S’ power/weight ratio could exceed the current 911 GT3 and approach that of the Ferrari 458, and could see the Vantage S’ 0-100km/h figure of 3.9 seconds drop significantly.The project is still yet to be given the go-ahead from Aston however, which would make any production debut before 2015 unlikely.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn