Prodrive tweaks V8 Vantage

[Pebb]

Source: AutoCar

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is one of the most beautiful cars on sale, but it's not quite as quick as we'd like.

Thankfully Banbury-based rally specialist Prodrive – which runs the Aston DBRS9 GT cars – has now turned its attentions to the Vantage.

The 4.3 litre V8 has been tweaked to get an extra 45bhp (up from 380bhp to 425bhp, plus more torque (up from 302lb ft to 325 lb ft). That should help shave 0.3sec of the car's 0-62mph time, and increase the top speed by 8mph to 182mph. Prodrive also claims that new throttle mapping makes the V8 more responsive throughout the rev range.

You'll also be able to hear the engine better – there's a new exhaust that allows you to manually control the exhaust valve to get more of the V8's great engine note.

Alongside the engine mods, there is new adjustable Bilstein and Eibach suspension. A switch in the cockpit allows the driver to choose between normal and sports mode.

Naturally if you've got the Prodrive-tuned V8 you'll want people to know, so there are some special 14-spoke 19-inch alloys, and very discreet front and rear carbonfibre spoilers to reduce lift by a claimed 45 per cent.

All the parts go on sale in 2007.

 

[Danny]

That's all very well, but couldn't they have done this for the Vanquish earlier?

 

[JohnBM01]

I'm one of the few people who thinks the most recent Aston Martins are beautiful automobiles. First off, I'd probably want to immediately change the color to the gold standard of British sports cars- British Racing Green. There are some very subtle changes to this machine. Prodrive seemingly did a pretty good job making this already good sports car even better.

Out of 100% approval of this, I'll present Prodrive with 90%.

 

[Dave A]

you arn't in the minority liking the looks of Aston's newer cars john 👍.

That's all very well, but couldn't they have done this for the Vanquish earlier?

They arn't doing it to the Vanquish , and no the V8 Vantage isn't being upped inperformance out of the factory yet because that would have it stepping on the DB9 and Vanquishes shoes power and performance wise. The Vanquish however is due for one last power hike before being discontinued pretty soon, and I wouldn't be suprised if the DB9 got one around the same time which would probably fit in nicely with a higher performance version of the V8 Vantage coiming out.

 

[Danny]

They arn't doing it to the Vanquish

I meant that they should have done this to a Vanquish, earlier.

 

[Keef]

Gorgeous. I love these modifications. The aero mods are subtle, yet functional. I don't know about the exposed CF--an Aston should ahve a classier finish. Maybe black? And I don't like the wheels because they're not unique at all and are flat. They need some depth to look cool.

 

[Philly]

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is one of the most beautiful cars on sale, but it's not quite as quick as we'd like.

Definitly.

Hopefully this will do the trick, but I'm not sure the modifications will work that much magic on the car. After all, it is a luxury automobile, not a track car.

I may be a minority here, but I also think that Astons are among the few cars that look good with aero parts, as long as they are not overdone. Bring on the Vantage track car!

 

[JCE]

I give it a 95% approval rating...I took off 5% because of that stupid color.

 

[Tornado]

Being the only new Aston (which the Vanquish doesn't count under), I like how all of the addons to the exterior made it look better. Still nowhere near my favorite tuned Aston, but it is my favorite one in 20 years.
Edit: In hindsight, I can't claim that to be true. I forgot about the V12 Vanquish Zagato.

 

[YSSMAN]

I still love the car, and the mods only make it better. But here is a good question; Why couldn't Aston have done this in the first place? Hell, offer it as an option on factory-built cars? I don't like the idea of "tuning" a perfectly good luxury car, it just isn't my idea of things to do. If I want to spend $150K on a modified Vantage that will better compete with the Carrera S, I'd rather save my money and buy a Carrera S. Otherwise, I'm fine with a "standard" Vantage...

 

[Tornado]

I still love the car, and the mods only make it better. But here is a good question; Why couldn't Aston have done this in the first place? Hell, offer it as an option on factory-built cars?

The same reason Porsche won't offer the Carrera S engine in the Cayman S: It would butcher the sales of the model right above it. And Aston has to worry about it even more than Porsche, as all of their cars fit in more or less the same niche market of GT cars.

 

[Dave A]

^Bingo, if Aston offered the V8 Vantage with similar performance to the DB9 it's not going to improve DB9 sales. If they improved the performance too much they'd pretty much kill the Vanquish sales.

 

[JCE]

One problem with that arguement l4s is the DB9 looks 50% better than the Vantage. And I personally prefer the engine/exhaust noise of the V12 over that of the V8.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well, I wouldn't call the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (or most other Astons for that matter) as luxury cars. These are more of luxury-type cars that know how to tear up the race track. Surely Prodrive's Aston Martin DBR9 efforts will remind you what Aston Martins can be capable of. I usually said that I'd want an Aston Martin if I wanted something luxurious. These Aston Martins provide some wonderful luxury elements while also being sporty. The DB7 was the heaviest car in Gran Turismo 1 at just over 4,000 lbs. They are luxury car heavy, but sports car performing. It's still a good car. But again... give me British Racing Green, or give me dea... or give me British Racing Green! ^_^

 

[Tornado]

One problem with that arguement l4s is the DB9 looks 50% better than the Vantage.

Opinion alert: I personally hate the DB9 in almost every way (not even the V12 can save it, because that engine is also in the better looking Vanquish). I rate the V8 far above the DB9, mostly due to back end treatment.

 

[harrytuttle]

Very nice. I can only think of one thing to change: the option to paint the carbon fiber to match the body. And I agree that just about every modified Aston Martin (Zagato, Prodrive, Vanquish S) has looked better than the base model. Major 👍 to Aston Martin & Prodrive.