Aston Martin Reveals Lightest, Quickest Vantage Yet

Aston Martin has stripped all remaining comforts off the Vantage to produce their new super-light V12 Beast.

With a hardcore version of its Vantage coupe, the Vantage GT3 special edition, Aston Martin has targeted competing track-day offerings such as the Nissan GT-R Nismo, Ferrari 458 Speciale and Porsche 911 GT3. The ultimate Vantage is set to come with a refurbished 6.0-litre V12 Vantage engine having a minimum power of 440 kW. The vehicle is predicted to have a bulk of around 1565 kilograms, and Aston Martin claims that it is lighter than a standard Vantage S by at least 100 kg.

The new limited-edition model, according to Aston Martin, is inspired by the sports car racing experience around the globe. The GT3 model sits wider and lower than any of the other Vantage models. It comes with a wider track at the rear and the front. Its wheels come fitted with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires which can offer sticky on-track grip. A big rear wing is integrated in the fresh sports car-inspired bodykit which, according to Aston Martin, enhances downforce significantly at high speeds.

In order to reduce its weight, the engineers and designers of Aston Martin equipped the model with cost-optional carbon fiber roof, carbon-fiber door casings, a lithium ion race-derived battery, carbon fiber bonnet and flared carbon fiber front wings. There is also weight-saving and cost-optional polycarbonate rear quarter windows and rear window. All these have helped lower the weight of the car by at least 100 kg.

The interior of the car has also been comprehensively refurbished with the help of race-derived carbon fiber sports seats, touch-sensitive control array and a full carbon fiber centre stack. The internal cabin has been crafted stunningly with full Alcantara. The carbon sport seats and the center stack continue the use of carbon in the surroundings. On March 3, this special edition model will come to light at the Geneva Motor Show.

Dr Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, said while announcing the coming of the Vantage GT3 special edition:

“Motorsport is in our blood at Aston Martin. The Vantage is the car we campaign in top level sports car racing around the world and so it seems only fitting that we offer an exclusive, limited edition Vantage that expertly fuses our motorsport know-how with our road car prowess.”

Source: Data and information presented on this blog have been sourced from http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/02/aston-martin-reveals-lightest-quickest-vantage-yet.html