The ultimate driving experience: Aston Martin Vantage redefines perfection

At last, an Aston that appeals to both heart and head

Aston Martin vantage rear

Andrew Frankel

When the history of Aston Martin is written, people will look back and name the DB11 as the car that started the most recent and, so far, most profitable chapter of this enigmatic brand. And they will be both right and wrong to do so. Right, because the DB11 marked the starting point of what is known as ‘the second century plan’ which has already turned around the long-term loss-making history of the company; wrong because it was conceived and underway before the current administration, led by Dr Andy Palmer, arrived in Gaydon.

So the first new Aston to be delivered in its entirety on his watch is the car you’re looking at, the new Vantage. Palmer describes it as “The most exciting car that I’ve launched in my 34 years in the business.”

It is, of course, derived from many of the same modules that make up the DB11, but when Matt Becker – the former Lotus chassis guru now responsible for determining the way every Aston drives – was recruited, not a single functioning Vantage existed. So, and for the first time, here is an Aston that is exactly as its creators intended it to be.