Each week our team of experienced senior road testers pick out a new model from the world of innovative, premium and performance badges, and put it through its paces.
AUG 01st 2016
The Goodwood Test: Aston Martin Vantage GT8
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Heritage
Big changes are coming to Aston Martin as the DB11 ushers in the first significant generational shift since the introduction of the V8 Vantage and DB9. The former still has something left to give though, as evidenced by some of the additional variants and special editions launched lately; we've driven the new manual version of the V12 Vantage S and recently saw a one-off convertible version of the extreme, track influenced GT12 make its debut at the Festival of Speed. Inspired by that car but more faithful to the racing Vantages that have long been a fixture of GT and endurance competition is this, the GT8. Lighter, harder and faster than any other Vantage in the range it's arguably the purist's choice of all the recent derivatives.
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Design
That the GT8 is still recognisably a V8 Vantage is no bad thing. The GT8 adds to this genuinely race-inspired athleticism in the form of wider wings over fatter Cup tyres, the front bodywork aerodynamically sculpted exactly like the current Vantage GTE race car's. The 4.7-litre V8 is basically the same as the regular Vantage S but gets a small power increase to 440bhp (446PS); the impact of this is increased by slicing out at least 80kg from the kerbweight. This can increase to 100kg if you opt for the full carbon fibre package, polycarbonate rear windows, magnesium wheels and titanium/Inconel exhaust system. The wing is… faithful to that used on the race car. It is at least optional.
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Performance
Aston Martin's Sportshift III automated manual gearbox would seem to finally have found an appropriate home in the GT8, its jerky shifts at least an accurate replication of a race sequential. But, unlike the 911 GT3, the GT8 is also available as a manual. There are no switchable driving modes and it's all refreshingly simple, leaving you free to appreciate the effort that's gone into the chassis set-up, pedal feel and other driver-focused details. Lighter if not light, it lacks the insane punch of the V12. But offers instead a more natural balance, conducive to carrying speed round the corners rather than just shrinking the gaps between them. As Porsche makes its comparable 911 variants more advanced and tech-laden the Aston remains refreshingly old-school.
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Passion
The passion in this car is best summed up by the simply outrageous noise that erupts from the centre-exit exhausts. It's raw, raucous and harder-edged than any other Vantage that's gone before, V12 included. Hefty controls, uncorrupted feedback and a genuine racecar feel all tap directly into Aston Martin's formidable motorsport heritage, past and present. You sense its talents are probably best explored on the track too. Perhaps surprisingly it's also a richly rewarding road car, even if the looks are possibly a little over the top in this context. A fine celebration of over a decade of success on road and track for the Vantage range then. The only problem? Only 150 will be made and they're already sold.
Price tag of our car: £200,000 (approx) (£165,000 basic + c. £35,000 options, exact pricing not disclosed)
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