2017 Aston Martin V12 Vantage 5

Aston Martin’s New Vantage GT8 Revealed

Somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of Aston Martin’s hypercar project with Adrian Newey, the Warwickshire based firm have unveiled the new Vantage GT8 – a hardcore, limited edition racer for the road.

An Aston Should Never be Kept in the Shadows, Tell me More?

It’s based on the 2016 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE race car and is the lightest and most powerful road-going V8 Vantage ever. Aston claims a weight saving of 100 kg over the standard car, whilst power is up to 440 bhp.

Drive is sent to the rear wheels via either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed Sportshift single-clutch automated manual gearbox. And yes –  we’re equally as disappointed that Aston’s new dog-leg 7-speed manual is not being offered.

440 bhp is Only 10 bhp More Than the Regular Vantage, so What’s all the Fuss About?

We’ll give you a hint, this car isn’t about power figures. The full-fat GTE racer ‘only’ puts out 480 bhp, 85 bhp less than a road-going V12 Vantage S. No, the real story here is the weight saving and how Aston Martin have gone about it.

I see, so Which of the Creature Comforts are up for the Chop This Time?

None really. You still get sat-nav, climate control and a radio, plus many other amenities that make the Vantage’s interior a pleasant place to sit. What they have done though, is festooned the GT8 with swathes of lovely carbon fibre. So much so, that the front and rear bumper, front splitter, side sills, door panels, sports seats and rear diffuser are all formed from the lightweight synthetic weave.

If you want really want to shed the pounds, there’s even an option for a carbon fibre roof, polycarbonate rear screen and a titanium centre-mounted exhaust. Go for any of these add-ons though, and you’d really have to spec the optional Aero Pack, giving you extra winglets and the dirty great big spoiler as seen in the pics. Well, it would be rude not to wouldn’t it?

I do Like a Nice Big Spoiler, Anything Else to go With That?

To make absolutely sure people won’t confuse the GT8 with a lesser V8 Vantage, there’s some new 7-spoke ultra-lightweight 19 inch magnesium rims on the options list, plus 3 erm… striking two-tone colour schemes. In the press release, Aston Martin are also very keen to  highlight the GTE mimicking cutaway front wheel arches, so we should probably mention those too. To keep Aston Martin happy, we should also mention the GTE mimicking cutaway front wheel arches, something which  the company appears rather proud of in the GT8 press release

Who Could Resist Cutaway Front Wheel Arches? When can I buy one?

Priced at £165,000, the GT8 is strictly limited to a run of 150 examples with deliveries commencing in late 2016. Better get your order in fast.

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