It’s always a special feeling when you drive an Aston Martin, especially when the car in question is the brand-new Aston Martin Vantage. You don’t need to be a James Bond fan to appreciate the carmaker or even follow their racing success to understand the value its badge holds.
When you take the car’s key in your hand, you’ll have an idea that this is something very unique indeed. Earlier referred to as the Emotion Control Unit (a fitting name, we think), the key is now finished in matte black and feels like a luxury watch, thanks to its satisfying heft. One glance at the actual car, finished in an arresting shade of blue, is enough to tell you why the key feels so special — because nothing less would suffice.
At the front, the Aston Martin Vantage is aggressive. It’s nearly impossible to look at the car and not stare at it for a few seconds, appreciating its menacing stance. The bold front-end styling is complemented by a sleeker profile — still just as appealing. The wide haunches at the rear lend it a muscular appearance, hinting that while it’s visually stunning, it has also got potent firepower hidden under that neat bodywork.
Covered in premium leather and soft-touch materials throughout, the cabin seems more luxury-focused than outright sporty. From seat controls to AC knobs, everything feels so well-damped and refined that you can easily mistake this grand tourer for a top-class luxury barge. The steering wheel isn’t completely circular but, surprisingly, feels great to hold. The metal pedals add a touch of the much-needed sportiness, and you don’t have to look too far to find the start-stop button.
A tactile delight, the button is the portal to another dimension. All it needs is a dab and the AMG-sourced 4-litre twin-turbo V8 comes to life. With 656 bhp and 81.57 kg-m, you don’t need to exert too much pressure on the accelerator pedal to know the car’s true potential but for those eager to know, the Vantage can reach 100 km/h from rest in just 3.5 seconds while the top speed is 325 km/h.
Smooth elegance: Covered in premium leather and soft-touch materials, the cabin seems more luxury-focused than outright sporty
| Photo Credit: Siddharth Dadhe
Mounted behind the front axle, the engine’s placement ensures better balance, further aiding the car’s handling. It deals with rough patches on the road without losing an ounce of grace but when you show it the open road, the car just about feels at home — the engine begins to roar, producing an intoxicating note that only gets better as the revs climb. The gearshift is accompanied by a bark from the exhaust, and when you shift down, the car’s exhaust emanates a nice crackle. The suspension, while happy to negotiate small bumps without any drama, offers a superb balance between grand touring comfort and sporty stiffness, while the precise steering is exceptionally easy to use even within the city.
While I appreciate that Aston Martin now offers a new 10.25-inch infotainment screen, replete with a modern UI and other bits, including a wonderful 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system, I would have loved to see an analogue display for the driver. The gearshift indicator too is tiny, making it difficult to read. None of that detracts from the impressive build and the unimaginably superlative cabin experience.
As I swung open the Vantage’s doors (the swan-wing doors open upwards), I couldn’t help but be amazed by how Aston Martin continues to offer a car that appeals straight to your soul, especially when more and more cars are, despite getting quicker, turning out to be numb. It seems as if Aston Martin’s sole agenda behind creating the Vantage was to inject as much emotion in a modern grand tourer as possible. No wonder its key is such an integral part of the experience. The Aston Martin Vantage can be yours for ₹3.99 crore, ex-showroom.
© Motoring World
