Aston Martin Aims V8 Vantage at Porsche 911
Date Posted 02-23-2005
GENEVA, Switzerland — Aston Martin's new V8 Vantage will be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next week. Priced below existing Astons, it will go head-to-head with the Porsche 911.
The Vantage will be priced around $120,000 when it goes on sale in September — about $40,000 cheaper than a DB9. It will take Aston into Porsche 911 and Maserati GranSport territory, opening up a whole new market for the brand.
The Vantage is powered by a 4.3-liter V8 that produces 385-hp. Its aluminum body weighs around 3,300 pounds. The car has a top speed of 180 mph and a 0-to-60-mph time of under 5 seconds, making it at least as fast as the bigger V12-powered DB9.
Aston Martin will build only 3,000 a year at its new factory in central England. Demand is already outstripping supply; Aston is quoting deliveries in 2007 if you order one today.
What this means to you: If you're lucky enough to consider cars in this price range, the V8 Vantage is reason enough to rethink your options. The 911 may still prove to be a better sportscar, but the V8 Vantage has a shape that's almost too good to pass up.
