When Aston Martin launched its V8 Vantage back in 2005, we had a lot of good things to say about it. We loved the look, power, handling, and solidness of Aston's everyday supercar - and we loved its deep V-8 growl. We also liked the idea of the British firm giving us a car that could take on Porsche's 911 as a direct competitor. Now, three years later, Aston has updated the car with even more of what we loved -- and fewer of the niggling concerns we had. For example, the engine is still a V-8, but it has increased in size from 4.3L to 4.8L. With thinner cylinder liners, increased bore and stroke, a new forged steel crankshaft and aluminum pistons, a larger cylinder-head intake port and inlet valve, improved oil circulation from the dry-sump system, and an optimized intake manifold, power now comes in at 420 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque. The transmission has undergone some changes, too - well, both of them, actually. The standard six-speed manual and optional Sportshift have been given a modified clutch and flywheel that saves weight, reduces rotating mass, and - in the manual version - lessens clutch effort. The Sportshift transmission has a few additional changes, including a revised control program for smoother power delivery and Dual Throttle Map software allowing for "Sports" and "Comfort" modes that alter throttle tip in to make around-town driving a smoother exercise while allowing for sharper inputs in spirited driving. Sensitivity to steering and hill decent have also been added, allowing the current gear to be held midcorner and a lower gear to remain engaged to optimize engine braking on steep mountain declines. Combined with the V8 Vantage's increased power, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is down to a paltry 4.7 sec, while top speed is up to 180 mph. Amazingly, Aston also claims the new engine, when coupled with the revised Sportshift transmission, provides greater fuel economy and fewer emissions despite the increased performance - a refreshing trend. Despite our praise for the V8 Vantage's handling, Aston also saw it fit to make some tweaks to the suspension to give improved body control and low-speed ride quality. Most of the improvements come directly from the V8 Vantage Roadster, a car that featured a revised suspension over the early coupe. The changes include revised upper shock mountings and bump stops along with stiffer front and rear spring rates (up 11 and 5 percent, respectively). Bilstein dampers are now specified as standard equipment. One of the few complaints we had regarding the original V8 Vantage was its slight lack of steering feel. Aston's addressed that by changing up the steering geometry and stiffening the front lower suspension arm bushings to improve feel - and handling to boot. Inside the V8 Vantage, another complaint has been addressed - that of complicated, untactful switchgear that we found difficult to use while focusing on the road. That's been revised in the new car with a completely restyled center stack - constructed from die-cast zinc alloy and finished in graphite silver -- containing new controls designed to be easier to operate than their predecessors. A new electronic key fob, dubbed ECU, mimics that of the DBS's glass, stainless steel, and polycarbonate unit, and replaces the old car's traditional key. A new Hard Disk Drive Navigation System allows for faster route processing, improved graphics, and additional features. Outside, Aston's Vantage is largely unchanged, though a range of new standard and optional 19-in. wheels has been added. Those looking for ultimate performance from their V8 Vantage aren't likely to be disappointed either. Aston has decided to offer a new Sports Pack on both its Coupe and Roadster, which is designed to appeal to the less-compromising driving enthusiast. All the traditional elements of increased performance are here: Lightweight wheels, retuned dampers with stiffer springs, and a stiffer rear anti-roll bar (Coupe only) all conspire to reward the skilled driver with an even more focused driving experience.
New Car: 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
