Aston Martin Cranks The Vantage Up To 11 With New Hardcore Variant

Two months ago, spy photographers snapped a hardcore Aston Martin Vantage prototype with eight exhaust tips. It certainly piqued our interest, but there was little doubt the production model wouldn’t be that extreme.

That has now come to pass as a more production-ready prototype has been spotted at the Nürburgring. It sports a lightly revised rear end with a four-tailpipe exhaust system that moves from the outer edges to the center of the vehicle. The diffuser has also been fine-tuned, while the rear wing means business.

More: The Regular Vantage Has Four Exhaust Pipes, This Prototype Has Eight

Elsewhere, we can see a wide grille that appears to be flanked by updated air curtains. The model also has a more pronounced carbon fiber front lip than the Vantage and Vantage S.

Additional changes are limited, but the car rides on awesome 21-inch wheels that are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero R tires. They’re backed up by a beefy braking system, which appears to have larger front calipers.

Baldauf

Spy photographers only got a few glimpses inside, but we can expect a familiar cabin with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a matching 10.25-inch infotainment system. They’ll likely be joined by lightweight sport seats, carbon fiber trim, and special accents.

Powertrain details remain a mystery, but there’s little doubt the car will outgun the Vantage S. That model features a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 pumping out 670 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which enables the coupe to rocket from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h).

The car’s name is also up for debate, but it could be called the Vantage AMR or RS. We’ll likely find out sometime next year as the model is expected to be introduced in 2027.

Baldauf