Whoever the next James Bond turns out to be, there’s a strong chance he (or, indeed, she) will drive an Aston Martin powered by batteries. The car manufacturer has promised to roll out an electrified powertrain option for each of its models over the next few years. On the off chance, however, that the franchise’s new producer, Amazon, will be looking to get 007 from A to B in something reassuringly old-school, they could do far worse than opting for the new, combustion-engine Vantage.

The first V8 Vantage, the original ‘brute in a suit’, if you like, debuted in 1977. The modern version arrived in 2005, as a hand-built grand tourer. It was significantly remodelled in 2018, before starring in 2021’s No Time to Die. Deliveries of the latest Vantage began in spring 2025. The newest model may be loaded with the same 4.0-litre, AMG-sourced V8 as the outgoing version, but Aston Martin’s engineers have enriched the twin-turbo with a massive power boost – a pure and potent combustion engine that defiantly bucks the hybrid trend.

The result? A mouth-watering 656bhp supercar, capable of 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph. And, because all that power is delivered to the road via the back wheels, one of the most thrilling, front-engine sports cars I’ve driven in yonks. Gone is the lifeless steering and lazy automatic gearbox of the previous model, replaced instead with an eight-speed ‘ZF’ automatic gearbox recalibrated for maximum enjoyment, both on and off the racetrack.

Naturally, Aston Martin is justifiably proud of its latest offering – one that stands shoulder to shoulder with both the Porsche 911 Turbo S and Mercedes-AMG GT 63. CEO Amedeo Felisa believes the Vantage will exist as one of this era’s stand-out performance cars, as the industry enters a pivotal period in the transition to electric vehicles.

“It was essential to remain true to the qualities on which our legendary marque was built,” says Felisa. “Any car bearing the name ‘Vantage’ has much to live up to. Class-leading power and speed are crucial, but it’s through the car’s balanced front-engine, rear-drive chassis set-up that we have created a sports car with addictive capability.”

He’s not wrong. Offering almost 130bhp more than the previous range-topper, the two-seater Vantage F1 Edition – essentially an F1 safety car for the road – is an absolute beast to drive. With no all-wheel drive grip and an array of highly-tuned driving modes, this is a car engineered to deliver maximum thrills.

From the moment those quad exhaust pipes roar into life, it’s clear the fastest Vantage ever is going to be a blast. Power comes from that heavily revised V8, which really is better than ever. Under the bonnet are larger turbos, improved cooling, and a modified engine that includes reworked camshafts and optimised compression ratios.

What impresses most on the road is that huge increase in grunt, which peaks at 665PS and 800Nm of overtaking torque. Compared to the previous model, that’s up 155PS and 115Nm. The boost in torque is instantly noticeable. It allows the Aston to barrel into corners in third gear and pull away the other side with no need to shift down to second. Such extensive retuning means this Vantage feels like a completely different animal to what came before. 

In fairness, the outgoing Vantage was pretty handy in the corners. But it lacked the ability to keep up with the likes of a Porsche 911. With an aluminium structure, perfect 50:50 weight distribution, and improvements  to torsional rigidity, the new Vantage is the car many Aston Martin enthusiasts have been waiting for.

That reworked structure means almost 30 per cent extra stiffness under cornering at the rear, while intelligent dampers provide an even sportier feel. So much so, that the Vantage can be a real handful in Track and Sport+ modes. Sport offers the best mix of comfort and performance.

Smart 21-inch alloy wheels are standard, shod in grippy Michelin Pilot Sport S rubber. Beefed-up brakes have also been retuned, offering more feel, which you will definitely need if track use is on your radar. An upgrade to carbon ceramic might be a sound choice, especially for those planning to make use of Aston’s new launch control system. Fully integrated with the car’s powertrain, transmission and electronic stability programme, the brakes allow the Vantage to deploy as much torque as conditions allow. For those who want tyre-squealing drama, the driver can dial up the exact amount of slip they desire by making changes to the adjustable traction control – reducing or increasing the amount of wheelspin.

The outgoing Vantage was a pretty car to look at, and Aston’s designers haven’t played too much with a much-loved design. Reconfigured LED headlights and a re-styled, wider grille are the most obvious differences. Elsewhere, the bodywork is 30mm wider, while new door handles and frameless door mirrors are relatively minor upgrades.

There’s no doubt the latest Vantage looks an even more muscular and dynamic package – note the return of the Aston Martin side strake, which now forms the focal point of the revised vents in each flank. Those throaty quad exhaust pipes are also slightly larger.

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, explains: “We are blessed with many evocative model names, but none conjure excitement and dynamism quite like ‘Vantage’. To capture the new car’s uplift in power and performance, we have accentuated its physique, increased its muscularity and sharpened its sculptural form. We took some inspiration from the One-77 supercar, but we wanted Vantage to express its intent and potency more explicitly. One look and you know it packs a real punch.”

It’s a different story on the inside, where the outgoing model was outdated and in need of a drastic overhaul. At last, this Vantage now has Aston’s in-house, touch-screen infotainment system and a single digital dashboard screen. Swathes of Bridge of Weir leather cover the cockpit, and an 11-speaker sound system provides an alternative to the car’s thumping exhaust note. There’s also the option of a Bowers & Wilkins upgrade.

While the (from) £165,000 fixed-head coupé is currently the only body style available, a Volante convertible is sure to follow with a price hike. The incoming coupé itself is around £20,000 more than the outgoing model, but Aston Martin will be confident that buyers will be suitably wowed by the boost in performance and update in technology.

This latest edition elevates the ‘Vantage’ badge to a new level entirely.

Aston Martin Vantage – By Numbers

Engine: 4-litre V8
0-62 mph: 3.5 seconds
Top speed: 202 mph
Max power: 656 bhp
Max torque: 800 nm
Price: from £165,000

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