More Power, But Softer Suspension

When new CEO Adrian Hallmark joined Aston Martin, he said he’d be pushing the brand to come out with more model variants. That brief led to the DBX S, and now this, the Vantage S, a hotter version of Aston’s entry-level sports car, arriving about 18 months after the standard version. The headline is more oomph from its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, 671 horsepower and 590 pound-feet, plus lots of detail changes throughout.

Aston Martin says the Vantage S benefits from much calibration work. There are lots of suspension tweaks, with revisions to both the damper hardware and software for a bit more grip at the front and a softer rear. The rear subframe is now rigidly mounted to the body, but the mounts for the rear transaxle are 10% softer. Aston also tweaked camber, caster, and toe settings to compensate. The sum, the automaker says, is a car with more agility and steering feel, better low-speed ride, and more straight-line stability. 

Photo by: Aston Martin

In standard form, the Vantage is an outrageously fast car. Aston Martin claimed 656 hp, but if you told this author the power figure actually started with a 7, he’d believe you. Naturally, Aston’s increased the output from its AMG-built V-8, and claims a 0.1-second reduction in 0-60 MPH time, now down to 3.3 seconds. The company also tweaked the throttle mapping for better “feel and precision.”

There are a number of aerodynamic tweaks, most prominently a larger spoiler on the trunk lid. Aston Martin says the Vantage S develops 245 pounds of downforce at its 202-mph top speed.

Other than the spoiler, there aren’t a ton of major exterior changes to the Vantage S. Really, the only clue is the red “S” badge on the fenders and the blades in the hood vents. There’s also a unique 21-inch forged wheel option, which features red accents.

Photo by: Aston Martin

Inside, there’s all sorts of “S” stuff, standard carbon-fiber and Alcantara trim, “S” badges on the seats, and an optional package that brings with it more red accents. This being an Aston Martin, the interior is totally customizable, so you can choose how much you want to let your passengers know you got the special version. 

Aston Martin hasn’t announced pricing yet, but you can presume it’ll be a decent bit more money than the around $200,000 MSRP for the regular Vantage coupe. It’s only showing the coupe for now, but the Vantage S is available in Roadster form. If you want one, you can order it now, and Aston is aiming for first deliveries in the last quarter of 2025.