May23
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is set for a refresh for the 2009 model year, marking the first update since the car’s launch in 2005 at the Geneva Motor Show. The biggest changes, however, will come underhood.
The V8 Vantage’s V8 will see a bump in displacement from 4.3L to 4.7L and a horsepower increase to 420 — an 11 percent increase over the former powerplant. Torque is also up for 2009, totaling 470Nm (346lb-ft) — a 15 percent increase.
Those new numbers are good enough to net a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds, but perhaps the most impressive part about the new powerplant is its fuel economy. Despite a bump in size and power, fuel economy is 13 percent better than the out-going model.
Inside the 2009 V8 Vantage, the car sports a new center console and revised switchgear as well as a new ECU replacing the previous V8 Vantage key.
The V8 Vantage’s standard manual stick-shift gearbox and the optional Sportshift transmission have undergone improvements, which have resulted in a 0.5kg weight saving and a quicker engine response. A revised suspension should also help the V8 Vantage handle the twisties better.
The exterior of the V8 Vantage remains the same — a good thing in our books — except for new standard and optional 19-inch wheels.
Where are all the idiots on this site that say Ford can’t build a world class luxury car? This is the only brand they should have kept!
RSPINAJR, but they did not keep this brand! Does this still makes them geniuses? Ford is misguided company, no matter what leg you stand on.
xyunya, so is GM, so is Dodge, & with all of the quality control issues & recalls, Toyota isn’t looking that great either.
I don’t disagree. I concur they all got recalls, but my reply was to the fact that management at Ford sucks. BTW, I believe that our American engineers are the best in the world, given the opportunity. Very same engineers create ALL cars sold in US, including Honda, Nissan, etc.
This is good news for the V8 Vantage. All the people who wanted the V8 Vantage to have more power and more go now have it. This car will be the one to beat. The 911, the V8 Vantage’s main competitor, will truly be outdone now.
beautiful car….Stunning.
But what is the deal with the curved line of LEDs in the headlights. Audi does it now everyone follows? Marketing departments hard at work!
It is a beautiful car. What’s amazing that after several generations Aston didn’t screw it up.
@ asu_lee
The V8 Vantage started the LEDs in the headlights. Audi followed suit and is now putting them on all of their cars, they look damn good too. The V8 Vantage was definitely first, I know for a fact, because the first Audi to use them was the S6 that came out in 2006 and the V8 Vantage came out in 2005.
True Comment Astonman, However I would say that it stands out better on the Audi’s than they Auston Martin. Didn’t really notice it untill the comments.
true it does stand out more on the Audis. But the thing with Aston Martin is that they and their characteristics are meant to be subtle beauty.
The’re indicators, not driving lights. Red LED’s have been used since the first Cadillac STS, but until now (Lexus LS600h) whites were not powerful enough.
Is there a better-looking car than this on the market right now? I can’t think of one and it only gets better when you sit in it, such a sense of occasion.
very true got handling, it gets even better when you drive one! trust me…
@Astonman12
good point. Just like the white taillight reflectors on the old IS300s. Everyone copied those too. No sure who had that idea first.
I wonder if these upgrades will help the Vantage in its war to compete with the Porsche 911
Lamborghini is the King of the Jungle!
Lamborghinis are for 12-year-olds and footballers.
@ Comment by asu_lee
Lexus did not start the “Altezza” tail light craze with the IS300/Altezza, the ricer kids were doing it on the early 90’s editions of the Civic and Accord.. Lexus just brought them mainstream.