Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT – The Art of Performance
Bond fever is spreading across the world, with the latest installment of the film franchise, Spectre, already breaking records at the international box office. The film releases in the U.S. this Friday, November 6th, and is a perfect endcap to my very first drive in an Aston Martin, the carmaker of choice for Mr. 007 himself.
My hero car for the day was a 2016 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT Roadster painted in Mariana Blue with red accents — an homage to Bobby Parkes’ DB2/4 race car from the 1950s, the iconic “UWL 333.”
I approached this encounter a virgin to the craftsmanship and power of Aston Martin, and after a full day of blasting through some of Southern California’s most picturesque beach cities, I emerged a changed man. I’ve always appreciated the British company’s styling direction – sleek silhouettes with a low, long front nose – and now I’m happy to have finally discovered first-hand why Aston Martin is the preferred brand for the world’s most famous fictional super-spy.
Image courtesy Aston Martin
Let’s start with the Vantage GT’s specs. At its core is a 430 horsepower 4.7-liter V8 engine that sits low on an aluminum structure. This is the same engine that powers all of Aston Martin’s GTE and GT4 race cars, with only minimal modifications. Top speed is 190 mph, and the car catapults to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. With a 7,300 RPM rev limit, the Vantage GT feels like it accelerates forever. Passing power comes in the form of 361 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 5,000 RPM.
For many Americans, the idea of anything British probably conjures up images of a posh and dainty Mary Poppins. While posh is accurate — the interior of this Vantage GT is adorned with soft leather, red contrast stitching and carbon fiber — dainty it is not. It’s a bare knuckle boxer wearing a tailored suit; think Daniel Craig, not Roger Moore.
Everything about the car feels solid and like it was built with a true driver in mind. From the weight of the steering to the feel of the clutch pedal – yes, this car has a proper gearbox! – the Vantage GT reminds you of what it really means to drive; you’re rewarded for your efforts with a more analog and emotionally satisfying experience. The 19″ alloy wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE050 rubber provide plenty of grip while the quick-ratio steering and adaptive sports suspension produce a nimbleness that will impress even the most seasoned drivers.
And when you need to play the part of the debonair gentleman, the Vantage GT follows suit with a smooth and quiet demeanor. Active bypass valves keep the sports exhaust system purring gently when the revs are under 3,200. Of course, you can always wake the beast by pressing the Sport mode button or simply flexing your right foot to hear it sing its glorious and throaty V8 song. The Vantage GT is going to turn heads whether you like it or not.
And as if I hadn’t already attracted enough attention with the car alone, I added fuel to the fire by inviting actor Sung Kang to join me for the afternoon (he happened to be in the area working on his “FuguZ” SEMA car build). This was also Sung’s first experience with an Aston Martin, and being no stranger to exotic cars, driving the Vantage GT simply “felt right.”
Taking my turn in the passenger seat allowed me to appreciate the finer aspects of the car, like the instrument cluster, which is reminiscent of a luxury watch face. Evidence of tasteful design and master craftsmanship can be seen throughout the cabin, even down to the inconspicuous details like the key fob, a piece that’s more jewelry than key.
There are a lot of subtleties about the Vantage GT that add extra style points. I’ll never get bored of seeing the Bang & Olufsen speakers rise from the dash, or tire of the ignition sequence where the key fob becomes part of the center console.
Another characteristic that is unique to Aston Martin is the angle at which the doors open. With a slightly upward movement, they offer flair as well as functionality, creating more room for you to enter/exit the vehicle.
The 2016 V8 Vantage GT Roadster is a perfect blend of style, performance and everyday usability. I drove this car for hours and I still wanted more. And with the coupe version of the GT starting at $99,900, this rolling work of art is “closer than you think.”
Aston Martin may be a boutique-like company, but its cars are equipped to hold their own against the best in the business, and look fabulous while doing it.
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Photos by Andrew Chen
