The new Vantage S – the most performance-focused Vantage in British luxury car manufacturer, Aston Martin’s sports car range – has arrived.
With the already thrilling, driver-focused Vantage firmly established as the class leading front-engine sports car, Vantage S builds on its position with increased power and even greater dynamic prowess, blending distinctive exterior and interior enhancements to establish a new benchmark for Aston Martin’s acclaimed front-engine sports car range.
Vantage S is the next step – after the recently launched DBX S – in the revival of Aston Martin’s long tradition of applying the S suffix to special, high-performance derivatives of core models, which began with the public debut of the Vanquish S at the Paris Motor Show in 2004, followed by the exceptional V8 and V12 Vantage S models launched in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
Central to Vantage S is an upgraded version of the formidable Aston Martin 4.0-litre V8 Twin-Turbo engine which now boasts 680PS at 6000rpm, with peak torque of 800Nm delivered between 3000 and 6000rpm for immediate in-gear response – extending Aston Martin’s performance advantage in the front-engine luxury sports car sector.
Further enhancing driver engagement and performance feel, Aston Martin engineers have continued to refine and calibrate the throttle pedal weight and response aligned with S characteristics. By offering a resistance matched to a drive-by-wire throttle map bespoke to S, and tuned for each of the Drive Modes, Vantage S delivers an even greater sense of connection with all controls working in harmony.
Calibration changes have also been made to the powertrain, with optimisation of the Launch Control system resulting in a 0.1 second improvement in 0-60mph time, which is now just 3.3 seconds (0-62mph 3.4 seconds) and 0-124mph (200km/h) in 10.1 seconds. Top speed remains unchanged at a blistering 202mph. Plus, an extensive suite of detail changes to the new Vantage suspension hardware, powertrain mounts and control software bring greater agility along with improvements in feel, driver engagement and composure.
While Aston Martin’s chassis engineers were determined to extract more agility and front-end grip from the Vantage platform, they were also focused on ensuring those advances didn’t come at the expense of compliance and refinement.
Hardware tuning and software calibration changes to the Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers have brought increased front-end feel and response, while rear spring aid stiffness has been reduced to balance compression and rebound for improved low speed ride quality. A 10 per cent reduction in transmission mount stiffness brings in additional refinement by controlling the powertrain movement to the body and chassis, allowing the vehicle to breathe in harmony with the road.
Visually, Vantage S has the looks to match its performance prowess thanks to distinctive features that combine immaculate design form with true performance-enhancing function.
At the front, the new Vantage S is identified by new centrally mounted bonnet blades. Finished in gloss black or 2×2 Twill Carbon Fibre, not only do these vents provide a more assertive design character but they optimise the extraction of hot air from the hot-V configured V8 engine.
Model designation is restricted to discreet yet striking S signature badging on the front fenders. Each one hand-made, the brass forged S is a true piece of automotive jewellery; the S infilled in red glass enamel with the badge surround chrome plated in either bright or dark chrome to match the colour of the Aston Martin wings specified by the customer.
Ensuring Vantage S is as instantly recognisable from the rear as the front, a full width decklid spoiler is the most explicit indicator of the marque’s sharpened performance focus. Not only for visual design assertiveness, the new rear spoiler increases rear downforce by 44kg at Vmax, contributing significantly to the overall 111kg of downforce at Vmax. The new spoiler has been used to tune the aerodynamics of the Vantage S, adding stability while ensuring the overall balance of downforce is biased towards the front-end to generate exceptional turn-in response and sustain a high level of cornering grip. Further updates to the underbody make up the additional 67kg of downforce at Vmax, including the addition of a new front airdam and front venturi vanes.
Vantage S is also available to specify with a bespoke 21″ Y-spoke wheel in satin black with a red wheel graphic, continuing to tie in the red detailing synonymous with the S marque, elegantly paired with a contrasting bronze painted brake calliper.
Bespoke S cues also feature inside the car, with a unique Alcantara and leather Accelerate interior as standard with satin 2×2 twill carbon fibre trim inlays and colour-matched, embroidered S logos to the upper shoulder panel of the seats. With almost 2,500 individual stitches and over 16 metres of thread, each S leaves no doubt to the commitment of total luxury and performance in every Aston Martin S model.
Complementing the S suffix, the iconic Aston Martin wings are also embroidered onto the headrests. An industry-first technique using both embossing and debossing is also an option available to customers, applying extreme pressure (1.5 tonnes) and heat to sculpt the wings into the leather with impeccable precision, creating a subtle but beautiful detail. In addition, the S moniker appears on both the treadplates and engine bay final inspection plaque.
The car also offers customers a unique interior option package to highlight itself as the most sporting of all Vantage models; a choice of red or silver anodised finish to the knurled metal drive mode rotary, creating a bold centrepiece to the cabin. The rotary is colour matched to the seatbelt, contrast welt, contrast stitch and headrest embroidery to create a flow of cohesive highlights throughout.
For customers wishing to immerse themselves in even more luxury, Inspire Sport interior is available with either full semi-aniline leather or semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, in both monotone and duotone options. These all-new interiors feature diminishing chevron quilting, surrounded by placed perforations, giving an unmistakeable impression of speed.
Marking its global dynamic debut, Vantage S will be seen charging up the famous hill climb at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 10-13). Held at the Goodwood estate every July, The Festival of Speed is a highlight of the British summer season, drawing motorsport enthusiasts from around the globe.
Vantage S is available to order now, alongside Vantage, in both Coupe and Roadster, with first deliveries expected in Q4 2025.
For more information, please visit www.astonmartin.com.