Aston Martin V8 2011 Overview

YOU can buy a version of the Vantage, Aston Martin's junior sports car, with a V12 engine under the hood, and although I've only briefly tried it, I can tell you that 380kW in a hatchback-sized car can be quite intimidating. It comes with a manual transmission that won't suit everyone and costs more than the Virage.

It's also $104,000 more than the V8 engine version. The Vantage S, like the Virage, is in a happy place between the two extremes of this car. And like the Virage, the new car is the best in the lineup.

TECHNOLOGY

Compared to the standard V8, which is $16,000 cheaper, the S gets a host of performance upgrades. The engine has been tuned to provide a bit more power and torque, increasing the top speed to 305 mph, and the seven-speed gearbox is a faster version of Aston's auto-shifting robot with revised gear ratios. It has been reprogrammed to make parking maneuvers easier by removing the previous "crawl" feature.

There's also quicker steering, bigger brakes with six-piston calipers up front, a wider rear track, new springs and dampers, and a recalibrated electronic stability control system.

The exterior includes mesh hood vents, a carbon fiber bodykit (with front splitter and rear diffuser), side sills and a more pronounced rear lip.

The changes were influenced by the GT4 racing version and the result is a compact yet purposeful package. The car I drove had light seats and, contrary to expectations, they were comfortable all day long.

DRIVING

But this car is not a grand tourer. Neat stitching and other interior amenities are the veneer on a pocket sports car that is as raw as anything on this level. Vantage S will never let you forget you're driving.

The chassis is balanced and alert, and the steering is direct with great feel. The throttle and brakes are nicely weighted, and the car rewards precision and technique, such as straight-line braking.

As a bonus, the engine excites the ears no matter what rev range it's in, whether it's accelerating, coasting or accelerating. However, it is more than a soundtrack. This Vantage S picks up speed, especially when moving. The gear indicator turns red at 7500 rpm to let you know to upshift. You must follow this.

Robot manuals are no match for traditional torque converter automatics in terms of improvement, and this is no exception. There is a lumpiness of change and a clang from below. In automatic mode, you will nod every time you upshift.

The dampness is also evident in the ride, which is on the livable side of a fragile sports car. But the worst aspect of the car was the excessive tire noise that gets in the way most of the time. Soundproofing is not an aftermarket option, so the Bridgestone Potenza will have to be replaced.

And, unlike the Virage, the Vantage S is hard at work with clunky old Aston sat-nav and a control system that bordered on rebelliousness in our test case.

So get your street catalog together and plan a trip to Bob Jane's, because otherwise the Vantage S deserves to be on the shopping list of anyone considering a Porsche 911.

ASTON MARTIN VANTAZH S

ENGINES: 4.7 liter petrol V8

Outputs: 321 kW at 7300 rpm and 490 Nm at 5000 rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed automated manual transmission, rear-wheel drive

Price: $275,000 plus travel expenses.

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