With Aston Martin’s thrillingly driver focused Vantage already established as a class leading front-engined sports car, the British marque has now proudly announced the arrival of its new Vantage S that aims to set even higher benchmarks with increased power & more honed dynamic prowess. There is historical precedence to Aston Martin’s special bloodline of S designated high-performance variants too, beginning with the Vanquish S which debuted at 2004’s Paris Motor Show, followed by 2011 & 2013’s exceptional V8 and V12 Vantage S models respectively that have enjoyed much acclaim from the brand’s most loyal adherents.
Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark, said, “For many decades the illustrious Vantage nameplate has stood for the very best in performance, excitement and driving thrills. Those qualities were very much at the forefront when the new Vantage was launched to global acclaim last year. Exceeding those qualities was the challenge and motivation behind the new Vantage S. The result is a new benchmark in the front-engined ultra-luxury sports car sector; a car to excite Aston Martin’s passionate and discerning customers, and a vivid demonstration of the talent, scope and drive which exists within the marque today.”
An enhanced version of Aston Martin’s formidable AMG-sourced 4 liter twin-turbo V8 engine gives the Vantage S an even greater performance advantage amongst its front-engined luxury sports car peers, now producing 680 hp at 6,000 rpm, while delivering peak torque of 800 Nm from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm for more responsive in-gear acceleration. Powertrain calibrations & optimisation of the Launch Control system have resulted in improved 0-60 mph and 0-124 mph (200 km/h) times of 3.4 & 10.1 seconds respectively, while maximum speed remains a true supercar class qualifying 202 mph.
Aston Martin’s engineers have also refined and calibrated the Vantage S’ throttle pedal weighting and response, to further increase its feelsome driver engagement. With the pedal’s firmness matched by a bespoke drive-by-wire throttle map tuned specifically for each individual Drive Mode, this gives the driver an even greater sense of connection with a harmonious performance-focused feel across all control elements.
For greater agility & increased driver engagement, feel & composure, the Vantage S’ suspension hardware, powertrain mounts and control software have been extensively optimized by Aston Martin’s chassis engineers, who also ensured that they came without any compromise in compliance or refinement.
Its Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers are tuned & calibrated for better front-end grip and response, while low speed ride quality is improved by reducing the rear spring stiffness to balance compression & rebound. As further proof that stiffer isn’t always better, a 10% reduction in transmission mount stiffness further improves refinement by controlling powertrain movements between the body and chassis, letting the car ride in greater harmony as one with the road.
The Vantage S’ rear subframe is now directly mounted to its body rather than being rubber bushed, further enhancing steering directness. Maximizing these hardware and software changes’ compound benefits, the suspension’s setup is also finessed for sharper responses, a grippier front end during higher G force lateral movements, and a more precise overall dynamic balance. All of this results in the Vantage S having an eager appetite for hunting corners, backed up by reassuringly steadfast stability at speed.
New Vantage S visual identifiers start from the centrally mounted bonnet blades, finished either in gloss black or 2×2 Twill Carbon Fibre and enhancing hot air extraction from the V8 engine’s ‘hot-V’ configuration. Round the back, a full width decklid spoiler is the most explicit indicator of the car’s sharpened performance focus.
Not only does this increase rear downforce by 44 kg, it has also been sculpted to aid stability while ensuring a more front-biased aero balance for exceptional turn-in response & high cornering traction. Underbody updates including a new front air dam and venturi vanes provide a further 67 kg of downforce, for an overall total of 111 kg at maximum speed.
Moving inside, specific Vantage S cues include a unique standard ‘Accelerate’ Alcantara & leather interior with 2×2 twill satin carbon fibre trim inlays. Colour matched ‘S’ logos are embroidered into the seats’ upper shoulder panels with nearly 2,500 individual stitches and over 16 meters of thread, further embodying the luxurious craftsmanship that has always gone into every Aston Martin.
As always, Aston Martin’s iconic wings are embroidered into the headrests, while a newly available option uses an industry-first technique to sculpt them into the leather with extreme heat & pressure exceeding 1.5 tonnes, creating a subtle yet gorgeous detail. An even more characterful interior option appears in the form of a red or silver anodized finish for the knurled metal drive mode selector, colour matched to the headrest embroidery, seatbelts and contrast stitching to form a boldly cohesive flow of highlights throughout the cabin.
To be held this weekend at the Goodwood Estate, the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed will see the Vantage S making its dynamic debut by charging up the venue’s famous hill climb. Orders are now open for the Vantage S in both Coupe and Roadster variants, with first deliveries expected to be in 2025’s final quarter.
