The Vantage is the brand’s entry model. Unveiled and tested two years ago under a new concept in both exterior and interior design and, above all, with a considerable leap forward in terms of technological development, the new car captivated both enthusiasts and casual observers with a design that is very Aston Martin and a philosophy that combined the pleasure of driving a GT with the sportiness of a Vantage.
In recent months, Aston Martin has begun to launch S variants of some of its models. From the DBX S to the DB12 S, and so far this Vantage S. Only a Vanquish S remains to arrive, which I don’t think will take long to present. In the meantime, we can revisit the test of the Vanquish we did last year around this time on the road to Le Mans or move forward with this first test of the Vantage S.
Focused on performance and sporty sensations
As befits an Aston Martin with an S suffix, it is a special, high-performance variant, something the brand began doing with the Vanquish S, which was unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in 2004, followed by the V8 and V12 Vantage S launched in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
Under its sculpted front hood, the Vantage S houses the 4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8 up to a maximum power of 680 HP at 6,000 RPM and a peak torque of 800 Nm that sits in the range between 3,000 and 6,000 RPM.
It is a small and hard-to-perceive increase in the driver’s seat compared to the 655 HP the Vantage produced. As I always say, once you reach 600 HP or more, cars are so fast that noticing these tiny power gains is almost impossible.
But the truth is that behind the wheel, it feels like a different car for several reasons. To verify how the Vantage S differs from the base model, the British brand lent me a test unit and gave me two hours to drive it on exactly the same roads of Guadalajara where two years ago I drove the Vantage for the first time. Perfect for keeping the same references in my head and comparing.
The first thing you notice is that there is a more direct connection with the car. One of the reasons lies in the driving modes, which are different since the default mode when starting it is Sport. There is no Road or Comfort mode; you move in sport right away.
That makes the accelerator responses more immediate, thanks to the electronic management and its programming to always deliver the maximum performance.
In all driving modes the Vantage S features a dedicated drive-by-wire acceleration map tuned for this “S” version. The launch control system has also been recalibrated to deliver more power and torque, allowing a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds, shaving a tenth off the stopwatch in this sprint.
These differences are barely noticeable on paper when driving, but at the wheel the car feels faster and more direct. It is quicker, more precise, and more finely tuned. That is also due to changes in the setup to gain more agility and grip on the front axle.
Three quick, linked corners on the beautiful, deserted roads of La Alcarria show up the difference: despite the wheel being unusually large in diameter, the car enters corners with greater precision as you wind on the steering.
The sum of many small changes makes it feel more direct and more sporty. For example, the rear subframe is mounted directly to the body instead of using rubber bushings.
Adjustments to camber, toe and the front axle’s scrub radius have also been worked on to improve response and grip under high lateral loads and to fine-tune the overall dynamic balance.
The Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers deliver a better response and sensitivity at the front axle, and the rear suspension springs have been softened to balance compression and rebound.
The rigidity of the transmission mounts has been reduced by 10%, which brings greater refinement because the engine and transmission move more harmoniously with the body and chassis.
All of this results in a car that is capable of exciting you as much as the standard Vantage, but at the same time does everything faster and, above all, instills more confidence when pushing it to the attack.
As for the sound experience, Aston Martin hasn’t issued a statement, but I think at the very least it deserves mention: the enormous roar that greets you every time you accelerate. The 4.0 V8 Twin-Turbo engine that Mercedes‑AMG provides produces a wonderful, addictive melody, rare in its class.
It is a gritty, coarse, and captivating sound that enchants the ears of anyone who hears it. Moreover, while it is already quite noticeable in the standard driving mode with the exhaust valves closed, it improves considerably when you select a Sport+ or Race mode, or simply press the dashboard button that activates the sportiest of the four rear exhaust outlets.
Raw sound and necessary drifts, the recipe for the Aston Martin Vantage S
When the people at the British brand left the car with me in Brihuega, I told them I would simply take it for a 40-minute test and come back to record. But that didn’t happen. The truth is I left with it, and the car completely charmed me.
Its sound is thunderous when you floor the accelerator, with a bravura not seen in cars of its segment today. It is a thick, heavy-sounding roar, accompanied by a surprisingly effective kick given that we are at the helm of a car that sends all its power to the rear axle.
That’s one of its keys: like its brand siblings, the Aston Martin Vantage S remains faithful to pure internal-combustion mechanics without resorting to electrification or hybridization.
The electronics are very well tuned for traction control and electronic stability, making the car’s effectiveness surprising. It is capable of gripping with surprising ease in a straight line, and it also convinces in curves.
It convinces because it’s one of those cars you have to let the rear slide slightly with the gas and steering to round off the corners and make it effective. At first, that nervous and somewhat lively character can generate a bit of mistrust, but once you understand that this car has come to dance and you learn to dance with it, everything becomes marvelous.
It still features differing levels of traction control intervention. That allows you to play with it according to your driving style and the road conditions, dry or wet, and the driving experience becomes simply sublime.
Slight exterior and interior changes
The Aston Martin Vantage S hardly changes in design compared to a Vantage. You will mainly identify it by the S badges on the fenders, a feature that denotes the level of this car as they are handmade.
It is a brass “S” letter with red enamel filling. The outline of the insignia is chromed in a bright or dark finish to match the color of the Aston Martin wings chosen by the customer for the front and rear of their car, as the level of customization available is absolute.
Also slightly different is the rear spoiler, which runs the full width of the vehicle and increases rear downforce by 44 kg at top speed, contributing significantly to the total aerodynamics load of 111 kg.
Inside there are details such as the S embroidered on the backrests that indicate this car doesn’t skimp on production quality. I say this because each S has almost 2,500 stitches and more than 16 meters of thread.
Otherwise, the interior in Alcantara® and Accelerate leather is standard with 2×2 Twill carbon fiber inserts and a satin finish. Emphasizing its sporty look and offering a slight weight reduction compared to the Vantage, this interior perfectly captures the essence of the “S”.
Finally, the Aston Martin wings are also embroidered on the headrests. Additionally, as an option, they offer this with a pioneering technique in the sector that uses both relief engraving and hollow carving, applying extreme pressure of 1.5 tons and heat to sculpt the wings into the leather with impeccable precision, creating a subtle but greatly beautiful detail.
The “S” also appears on the side sills as well as on the final inspection plate in the engine bay. They are small details for a car that remains a visual spectacle and, in my view, the most attractive Aston Martin in the entire current lineup.
A very attractive price
All things considered, the new Aston Martin Vantage S is a car that convinces and is highly recommended for anyone seeking an elegant, passionate, and effective supercar in equal measure.
But without a doubt, its price is another of the car’s positives. It represents barely an extra €6,000 over the cost of a standard Vantage, which, considering we are talking about cars that exceed €200,000 in price, seems anecdotal given all the improvements and specific equipment this Vantage S offers over the conventional version. So, if you want a beautiful Aston Martin Vantage with an extra kick, the S version is the one to get. It won’t disappoint you.
