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2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT First Drive

Only one thing is going through my mind as I blast down the Autobahn at 170 miles per hour: If someone were to give me $100,000 today, I'd go buy a new Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT tomorrow. I know there are a dozen other choices out there – cars that are more powerful, quicker around a road circuit and much less expensive, but you can keep your Corvette, your 911, your F-Type, your GT-R and your top-spec pony cars. My money would go towards this entry-level Brit with the metallic green paint and bright-yellow race-inspired accents. Aston Martin has always crafted alluring – and expensive – automobiles. Yet this is the first time one of its offerings has come close to making sense to both the enthusiast's heart and to his or her accountant. It may sound absurd, but considering the GT's engineering, design, pedigree and hand-crafted execution, its $99,900 sticker price (plus $2,825 destination) makes it an absolute bargain. To experience the new V8 Vantage GT, a model sold as the N430 in other markets, the British automaker invited me to attend this year's grueling Nurburgring 24-hour race. Before I watched its race-prepared siblings lap the famed circuit for a full day (all four Vantage models that entered finished), I was handed the keys to my very own example – in Alloro green exterior paint with yellow club sport graphics – configured with a welcomed six-speed manual gearbox. Vantage is the smallest, lightest and most agile of the Aston Martin lineup, and it's been around for a good while already. As you'll likely recall, the Vantage is the smallest, lightest and most agile of the Aston Martin lineup, and it's been around for a good while already. First launched at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, today the model is offered in Coupe and Roadster bodystyles with the buyer's choice of either a V8 or V12 powerplant. The coupe, like all of the automaker's production models, rides on its modular VH platform, a lightweight bonded aluminum and magnesium monocoque structure fitted with aluminum body panels for Vantage duty. Aston Martin is proud of its aerospace-like chassis, and it's historically been eager to promote its ability to offer its affluent clientele customized vehicles, with personalized upholsteries, colors and options – think of it like ordering a custom-tailored suit. But that exclusivity has previously come at a considerable price, starting at $121,225 (including destination) for its least-expensive V8 Vantage.

What does Aston Martin have planned for the name Aeroblade?

Aston Martin is working on something called Aeroblade, and the company recently filed a trademark application for the name. According to AutoGuide, the paperwork suggests the name could be used for a component, not for a model designation. The word indicates some kind of aerodynamic element, potentially in the form of an adaptive wing like those seen on the McLaren 650S, Bugatti Veyron, and so many Porsches over the years. Deployable spoilers allow a sports car to keep the airflow clean and undisturbed in some conditions and generate extra downforce under others. The use of the Aeroblade name for a component makes more sense than an actual model name. Aston typically starts its nameplates either with the letter V (as in Vanquish or the Vulcan pictured above) or DB (as in the current DB9 or forthcoming DB11). It has been known to make exceptions – like in the case of the Rapide four-door coupe or Cygnet city car – so we could be in for a surprise. The British manufacturer of luxury vehicles is working on a new generation of models to replace its current lineup. That includes a new platform to replace the aging VH architecture and a new engine under development with Mercedes-AMG. It's also working on bringing its first crossover to production, as previewed by the DBX concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Related Video:

Aston Cambridge celebrates British Spitfire with bespoke V12 Vantage S

Update: These special-edition Aston Martins are a creation of Aston Martin Cambridge, a dealer. They are being built in cooperation with Aston's Q bespoke division. The Supermarine Spitfire is well-known in the UK for its role in World War II. To commemorate the plane's first flight, which took place 80 years ago, Top Gear reports that Aston Martin Cambridge has created a limited-edition model of the V12 Vantage S. The automaker will only build eight units of the Spitfire 80, and it's safe to assume that none will make it to the US. As a special-edition model, the V12 Vantage S is finished in "Duxford Green" – aptly named after the Royal Air Force base where the first Spitfire squadron was stationed – with a yellow pinstripe along the side of the vehicle. The special edition isn't just a fancy paint job, as Duxford's Aircraft Restoration Company hand-built several components for the vehicle. The most prominent include the tailpipe finishers that have a rainbow bloom effect to match the original Spitfire's exhaust. Aston Martin's Q division added special touches to the interior with bespoke embroidered logos on the headrests, and the RAF's iconic roundel is integrated directly into the central dash. According to a Facebook post by Aston Martin Cambridge, the seats and inside of the glovebox feature Kestral Tan leather with black stitching, while the rest of the interior has black Alcantara with Kestral Tan stitching. Because of the car's exclusivity and unique touches, Aston Cambridge priced the Spitfire 80 at roughly $240,210, which is almost $50,000 more than a standard V12 Vantage S. An unspecified percentage of the vehicle's price will be donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund. All eight owners will receive their vehicles at IWM Duxford – a historic airfield and museum – on October 18th and go for a flight in a Spitfire. Related Video: