Reach the heights of luxury motoring with the V8 Vantage
The V8 Vantage cuts through its competition as efficiently as you would expect for a performance car from Aston martin. With excellent technical credentials and show-stopping style details, this Aston Martin is for keeps. If you want to experience its elegant beauty, pick this car as your first choice for self drive hire.
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Performance
Deliver the heights of speed and verve with the V8 Vantage's engine prowess. The 4.7 litre V8 engine at the centre of this Aston Martin is the reason why this car beats the competition: the top speed of 180 mph is enabled because of this engine. The passion for performance is etched into the V8 Vantage's engine's personality - after all, it is the driving force behind the acceleration time of 0 - 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The engine is positioned in the front mid-section, which enables it to give the V8 Vantage a rear wheel drive focus. If you are looking for a supercar that has innovation glazed all over it, take a look at the technical aspects of the V8 Vantage's engine. Innovation is clear from the fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system which is sharpened by active bypass valves. With this attention to detail, when you turn on the V8 Vantage you know that the 4.7 litre V8 engine is working for you at all times. It is this focus that makes the V8 Vantage a one-of-a-kind car that all passionate supercar motorists should experience. The style in which you drive the V8 Vantage is defined by the transmission system. Aston Martin has fitted this supercar with a six-speed manual transmission which should guarantee an exciting drive. Six-speeds are more than enough to keep you happy while you are driving our V8 Vantage.
Driving controls add spice to the V8 Vantage's personality. Being safe while you drive a car is paramount to Aston Martin's vision for performance cars. This is why this Aston Martin is loaded with different driving controls which are determined to keep you secure. Use the traction control feature to keep the V8 Vantage steady while you drive it. The dynamic stability control and anti-locking braking system are also included to give the Aston Martin the complete security that it will share with you. The braking system is given another level of power with the emergency brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution controls. These features are moulded into the complex braking system that consists of front and rear ventilated grooved steel discs. If fluid driving is important to you, you will like the power-assisted steering system of the V8 Vantage. With column tilt and reach adjustment integrated into the leather sports steering wheel, this is the Aston Martin that is easy to control for all types of driving occasions. The performance qualities of the V8 Vantage highlight Aston Martin's commitment to creating a car that lives up to the spirit it evokes: power and beauty.
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This cars performancefigures do not tell the whole story, however, for the V8 Vantage represents the epitome of design and engineering excellence, most notably through the use of lightweight materials, excellent weight distribution, efficient aerodynamics and a truly remarkable engine. Aston Martin’s 4.7-litre V8 is hand-assembled at the company’s purpose-built engine facility in Cologne, Germany. A light, compact, all-alloy unit, it provides high performance, yet is responsive even at the lower end of the rev range. At 5750 rpm, the engine delivers maximum torque of 470 Nm (346 lb ft), 77 per cent of which is delivered at just 1500 rpm – barely more than idle – making the cars extremely tractable and great fun to drive. Push harder, and the V8 revs freely, delivering refined, exhilarating pace.
Exterior
The body of the V8 Vantage is sharp and defined in its structure. Made from a mixture of magnesium alloy, aluminium and a composite and steel body, the shell of the V8 Vantage is moulded in an extruded bonded aluminium body structure. This means it is as tough as it looks. If you want a car that is serious about its exterior, look no further than the V8 Vantage. What makes the exterior of the V8 Vantage stand out the most is how the smooth Casino Royal colour is. This shade is perfect for the Aston Martin because it makes the body look fluid. This points to the powerful hallmarks of the car's exterior such as extruded aluminium door side-impact beams. The two-seat and two-door coupe style of the V8 Vantage make it a polished car to choose for car hire. It is ideal if you want to share your passion for motoring with your best friend, spouse or family member. The tyres of the V8 Vantage add flair to a car that is spell-binding to look at. The 19" 20-spoke alloy wheels are given an extra dash of style by the fact that they are silver painted. They look stunning if you drive them at any time of the day because they stand out against the road.
Interior
The capsule of the V8 Vantage holds special treats inside if you are ready to uncover them. The full grain leather interior is absolutely sumptuous: within this leather enclave, touch the smooth gunmetal alloy facia trim matched with the graphite centre console finish. Beyond this beauty of the interior, the practical nature of the V8 Vantage stands out. Aston Martin has taken note that style does not have to mean that function is left at the door. There are many practical details entrenched into the cabin of the V8 Vantage such as automatic temperature control. This is the control you should use to keep the V8 Vantage at the temperature level you want whether that is cold, cool or mild. The heated rear screen within the cabin adds a touch of warmth to this functional supercar.
Sorting out where you want to go with this Aston Martin becomes an exercise in pure excitement when you use the on-board trip computer. If you need to look at maps to assist you in navigating your car journeys, try using the satellite navigation feature. The V8 Vantage also has LED map-reading lights. The entertainment features within the cabin are exciting for drivers who love music and hi-tech audio support. Turn on the 160 watt audio system made by Aston Martin. This entertainment system allows you to use a six CD changer for variety during car journeys. There are also USB and iPod connectors if you have portable music players that you want to connect.
Control
The V8 Vantage delivers superb, responsive handling. Aston Martin’s unique all-alloy Vertical Horizontal architecture provides an excellent backbone to this supercar, while the use of lightweight alloys, magnesium and advanced composites reduces body weight and creates class-leading rigidity. The car’s natural agility is also aided by a low polar moment of inertia and excellent weight distribution. Engineered to accommodate as much weight as possible within the wheelbase, the V8 Vantage has minimal front and rear overhangs. The engine is positioned well behind the front axle line, just ahead of the cabin, creating what is effectively a front mid-engined car. Dry sump lubrication enables the engine to sit lower in the car, dropping the centre of gravity and preventing cornering G-forces from restricting oil supply to the engine.
Engineering & Safety
Inherently taut and agile the V8 Vantage has an all-alloy structure which creates an immensely strong passenger cell. Further protection is provided by deformable front and rear crumple zones designed to absorb crash energy. Excellent side impact protection is also inbuilt, thanks to the large sills, strong roof pillars, door impact beams and the substantial dashboard and footwell structures. Both driver and passenger benefit from dual-stage airbags (deployed in one of two stages, depending on the severity of the accident) and side airbags. The mid-mounted aluminium-encased fuel cell is not only safe but also improves balance and handling.
Design
It is hard to argue that the V8 Vantage is one of the world’s most beautiful cars: elegant, yet with a controlled aggression; perfectly proportioned, with a low, purposeful stance; modern, yet incorporating classic Aston Martin design cues. A stunning example of design purity, the V8 Vantage is, above all, instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin. The long, low bonnet line and two-seater cabin provide the perfect balance between beauty and sporting intent. The V8 Vantage sits low and close to the road, while the front and rear overhangs have been purposely minimised. The side profile forms a simple sweep, a curved line like a bow under tension, while the rear haunches are wide and muscular, like the flanks of a powerful animal. From the outset, Aston Martin’s engineers and designers focused on reducing size and weight, as well as optimising weight distribution, to maximise agility. At just 4380 mm (172.5 inches) long, not only is the V8 Vantage the smallest model in the Aston Martin range, but it also benefits from the inherent agility that accompanies compact design and excellent weight distribution.
Craftmanship
Starting an Aston Martin is a moment to savour. Sit behind the three-spoke steering wheel and set the multi-position, electrically adjustable seats. Feel the quality of the hand-stitched leather rim and sense the intuitive layout of the primary controls.The driver’s first interaction with the powerful V8 engine is a blend of tradition and high technology, with a touch of theatre. The ignition is controlled by a stainless steel and glass ECU (Emotion Control Unit), designed to be as tactile and refined as a fine timepiece. The ECU is inserted into a special docking station set within the traditional clear glass starter button. Pressing the ECU fully into the starter button fires the engine. After pressing once again to stop the engine, the ECU rises slowly out of its slot within the button so that it can be removed.
The instrument pack is carefully crafted from aluminium and has a three-dimensional profile for easy reading. To maintain a clear, simple design, with the warning lights hidden behind the aluminium mesh faces, becoming visible only when illuminated. The central message displays use organic electroluminescence (OEL) – a process pioneered by Aston Martin – making them easier to read than conventional LCDs.
