Can you leave one on my drive too please?

Been waiting in anticipation....may be time to switch out the DB9!  Now
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2022 SVR
2021 Bentley Continental GT
2020 Defender 110
2022 Defender 90 V8
Plus 16 other toys!

Yes, I have decided to change my DB9 for...

a Lexus LC500 V8

This may seem a "left field" choice but it is fabulous to drive, has excellent build quality, is just as fast and is £30K less expensive than the Aston.

P.S. It also makes a great noise. Regards

Malcolm

Ok, the colour woukd not be my choice...😄

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And the official blurb....

21 November 2017: ​Earlier today Aston Martin revealed the new Vantage: a dynamic successor to the biggest-selling road car in the British marque's history. This evening, in an unprecedented synchronised launch, Aston Martin Racing revealed the new Vantage GTE: the spectacular new FIA World Endurance Championship challenger poised to replace the team's most successful competition car of all-time, the multiple Le Mans-winning V8 Vantage GTE.

Built to comply with the FIA's strict GTE class regulations, the new Vantage GTE takes the road car's core design and dynamic capabilities to a whole new level through extensive optimisation of the powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics. Designed and engineered in-house at Aston Martin Racing's headquarters in Banbury, the project is led by Technical Director Dan Sayers, who also led the design and development of the current V8 Vantage GTE - the car credited with 36 of the team's 50 international race victories, including two Le Mans 24 Hour class wins.

Though the new Vantage road car has only just been launched, development of the new Vantage GTE race car is well advanced, with more than 13,000km of testing completed, including a successful 30-hour run at the Spanish circuit of Navarra. The car has also been through a rigorous durability programme at the notoriously rough Sebring circuit in Florida. All of Aston Martin Racing's current drivers have contributed to the test programme.

Reliability has been exceptional straight out of the box, while the drivers have reported the car is easier to control on the limit than its predecessor - something that will make the Vantage GTE especially attractive to competitors in the GTE Am class where top-level amateurs race alongside professional team mates. Together with Aston Martin Racing's engineers, the factory drivers have worked hard to optimise the drivability and performance of the base Mercedes-AMG 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine, that has been developed for use in the Vantage GTE application by Aston Martin Racing.

Aston Martin Racing is working with new technical partners: Alcon for the braking system, Öhlins for the suspension and Michelin for a bespoke tyre programme to maximise the performance of the Vantage GTE. Also, the in-house Aston Martin Design team, led by Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman have taken their intimate knowledge of the road Vantage styling and amplified it for the WEC version. The result is an extreme and exciting evolution of an already aggressive road car design - a lesson in Aston Martin's ethos of pure form and function.

With a new car to develop, Aston Martin Racing has kept its highly experienced and successful driver line-up. This year's Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro class winners Darren Turner and Jonny Adam have been retained, as have the Danish duo and 2016 FIA WEC GTE Pro world champions, Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen. In addition, AMR has recruited ex-GP2 race winner and now Formula E racer Alex Lynn. Further driver announcements will be forthcoming.

Aston Martin Racing is also proud to announce a range of partners who will support the team throughout the 2018/19 season.

Hackett London remains the long-term Official Clothing Partner for Aston Martin Racing, supplying the team with all technical wear throughout each race weekend and range of Aston Martin Racing clothing in stores worldwide. Likewise, Immun'Age, who produce immune system boosting natural papaya food supplements, continue their association with the British marque.

The team are also proud to confirm that Total will continue as Official Lubricant Partner. After joining the team at the beginning of 2016, Aston Martin Racing and Total have together delivered one world championship and a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, underlining the success of the relationship.

Aston Martin Racing is also proud to announce a range of new partners to the fold. One of the world's most prestigious Hotel brands, Waldorf Astoria, becomes the team's Official Hotel Partner, while renowned audio specialists Beats, joins as Official Audio Partner.

Aston Martin Racing Technical Director, Dan Sayers said of the 2018 Vantage GTE: "Designing and developing this new car has been an extremely satisfying process. We've collaborated closely with the Aston Martin's Gaydon headquarters to develop the road and race cars in parallel. Attention to detail has been a priority at every step of this process and we've made big improvements in each area of the car. We've spent every second optimising the design right until the build of our test car, which has paid dividends during our current testing schedule. This project has been one of the most intensive but also rewarding of my career so far".

Managing Director, Aston Martin Racing John Gaw said, "It's terrific to be involved in this exciting new chapter for Aston Martin Racing. The increasingly tough competition in the GTE class and the prospect of two visits to Le Mans and a return to Sebring within the 2018/19 super-season is thoroughly tantalising. To conduct the development process of this car so closely with Aston Martin's design and engineering teams was essential for both road and race car to retain the same underlying DNA. We believe the Vantage GTE will bring further success worldwide to Aston Martin Racing in the coming years".

President of Aston Martin Racing, David King said, "Motorsport is fundamental to the DNA of Aston Martin and our commitment to the FIA World Endurance Championship is stronger than ever. This is a golden era for GT racing and today's launch of the new Vantage GTE will ensure that Aston Martin Racing remains at the forefront of the world's greatest endurance series. The team has enjoyed incredible success over recent years with the outgoing V8 Vantage GTE and while this will hold fond memories for me, I can't wait to see the new car race in anger at Spa next year and continue to write motorsport history".


ISSUED BY GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS Just bought a RRS 06 MY HSE TDV6 136,000 miles, to be a second car to my bland, boring Mitsubishi Outlander 68 plate 2.0 petrol 4

Painted that colour I immediately assumed that it was an electric car like the AMG SLR E........... 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

In time........ Just bought a RRS 06 MY HSE TDV6 136,000 miles, to be a second car to my bland, boring Mitsubishi Outlander 68 plate 2.0 petrol 4

Sad to see AM follow LR down the "smack it with the ugly stick" road...

Interior shot seems to be a cross between Germanic and Italian influences.

Sort of glad I can't afford one really.  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Of course, you could buy the LE Mans GTE version......

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Not entirely sure the latest designs are as appealing as previous models which were achingly pretty and in keeping with the brand. Power, Beauty, Soul etc, as AM liked to put it but then again, remember when the DB7 launched, plenty said it wouldn’t sell.
I genuinely hope the new Vantage sells as well as the outgoing one and a desirable hybrid is coming soon to secure AM’s future. A great company which hopefully will continue to thrive.
The race version will no doubt do very well, anything Dave Richards touches, doth turn to gold

Lots of blurb about racing but...

How much is it?

I have configured a typical car on the AM website but there is no price given at the end, just a reference to the dealer. Regards

Malcolm

malcolmw wrote:

How much is it?

If you have to ask the price ...


Not very keen on the styling but I'm sure it would have grown on me by the time I can afford one, if ever. Current: Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro PHEV with some optionals on top
Gone: MY16 RRS2 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic, Carpathian Grey & Santorini Black Sliding Pano/Ebony & Ivory 2 Tone
Gone: MY13 RRS 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition, Orkney Grey/Ivory
Gone: MY09 RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Santorini Black/Almond

malcolmw wrote:

Lots of blurb about racing but...

How much is it?

I have configured a typical car on the AM website but there is no price given at the end, just a reference to the dealer.

I have just found out about some optional extras which you can pay for with the new Vantage.

Unlike all previous Astons, this one has ASTON MARTIN in lettering across the back. If you want the more discrete winged AM badges like in the past, these are extra! Regards

Malcolm