Aston Martin reveals hardcore Vantage GT3 special edition
Wed, Feb 18 2015
The ultimate evolution of Gaydon's nimble little sports car, the Vantage GT3 is lighter and more extreme than any version to date. Envisioned as a street-legal mid-point between Aston's successful racing cars and its coveted luxury GTs, the Vantage GT3 packs a number of key upgrades to make it lighter, more powerful and more hard-core than its stablemates.
For starters, the company's ubiquitous 6.0-liter V12 has been upgraded with a new intake manifold and torque tube made from magnesium and a full titanium center-exit exhaust system. Although final figures are yet to be announced, Aston Martin figures it'll crank out around 600 metric horsepower – 592 by our standards, more than any iteration of the engine to date (including the flagship Vanquish) or any road-going Aston this side of the One-77.
The other side of the power-to-weight ratio is optimized through the extensive use of carbon fiber. Aston has replaced the front fenders, hood and doors with the lightweight weave, as well as the center stack and Alcantara-trimmed racing buckets. Customers can even opt for a carbon-fiber roof and the rear glass to be replaced by plexi. The result is a projected curb weight of around 3,450 pounds, or a good 220 pounds lighter than the V12 Vantage S.
A more extreme aero kit (also made of carbon, naturally) includes a splitter jutting out from under the nose and a big rear wing, and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires sit at the edges of a wider track.
Only 100 examples of the Vantage GT3 will be offered after its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, with deliveries slated to begin later this year as Aston prepares its next generation of Mercedes-powered sports cars.
INSPIRED BY RACING: THE ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE GT3 SPECIAL EDITION
- Lightweight and extreme Vantage special edition limited to 100 cars
- Motorsport-derived chassis, aerodynamics and handling
- Bridges the gap between road and race track driving
18 February 2015, Gaydon: Aston Martin is today revealing the first details of its most potent and uncompromising Vantage to date: the track-inspired Vantage GT3 special edition.
With production strictly limited to just 100 examples, the new model combines all of Aston Martin's learning from its years of sports car competition around the globe to produce its most performance focused road-going Vantage.
Equipped with a new iteration of the brand's 6.0-litre V12 engine which is capable of generating up to 600 PS1, the car weighs in at 100kg less than a standard V12 Vantage S.
Comprehensively re-engineered, as well as significantly restyled, the GT3-inspired special edition is lower and wider than any of its siblings in the Vantage family. A broader track – front and rear – brings even more composed cornering thanks to a reduction in lateral load transfer, while the use of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres provides even more assured handling.
Thoroughly equipped with cutting edge motorsport-inspired features, from the extensive use of carbon fibre inside and out to the track-focused aerodynamics pack – which includes a prominent rear wing and pronounced front splitter – the race-derived new Vantage brings more focused and uncompromising capability and styling to a road-going Aston Martin.
The aerodynamics package in particular has a profound effect, producing significant downforce to provide even greater levels of grip and stability at higher speeds.
Inspired by Aston Martin Racing's successful campaigns, this new GT3-derived Vantage has been designed and engineered exclusively at Aston Martin's Gaydon Headquarters in Warwickshire, England, to be the most overt expression of everything that defines Vantage: an inspirational sports model offering supreme driveability on the road, and uncompromising dynamic performance on track.
New flared carbon fibre front wings, carbon fibre bonnet, a lithium ion race-derived battery, carbon-fibre door casings, optional carbon fibre roof, optional weight-saving polycarbonate rear window and rear quarter windows are just a few of the measures which illustrate the engineers' determination to eliminate mass wherever possible. That determination has paid off, too, as the new car weighs in at only 1,565 kg2.
Under the skin lie a number of bespoke engineering upgrades, aside from the new 600 PS1 V12 engine. Magnesium inlet manifolds with revised geometry, a lightweight magnesium torque tube and a full titanium exhaust system with centre outlets are just a few of the features that underline the rigorous re-engineering of this exclusive new Vantage.
The car's interior is comprehensively reworked, too, with a full carbon fibre centre stack and touch-sensitive control array; race-derived carbon fibre sports seats; Alcantara trim and the option of numerous bespoke features courtesy of the brand's popular personalisation service: Q by Aston Martin.
Announcing the arrival of the Vantage GT3 special edition, Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: "Motorsport is in our blood at Aston Martin. The Vantage is the car we campaign in top level sports car racing around the world and so it seems only fitting that we offer an exclusive, limited edition Vantage that expertly fuses our motorsport know-how with our road car prowess."
He added: "The Vantage GT3 special edition is an uncompromising example of our design and engineering expertise and I'm sure the 100 owners who secure one of these cars will savour every second behind the wheel; whether on the road or on the track."
The Vantage GT3 special edition will make its public debut on 3 March at the 85th Geneva International Motor Show (Hall 5, Stand 5253), with first customer deliveries beginning in the third quarter of 2015.
- Lightweight and extreme Vantage special edition limited to 100 cars
- Motorsport-derived chassis, aerodynamics and handling
- Bridges the gap between road and race track driving
18 February 2015, Gaydon: Aston Martin is today revealing the first details of its most potent and uncompromising Vantage to date: the track-inspired Vantage GT3 special edition.
With production strictly limited to just 100 examples, the new model combines all of Aston Martin's learning from its years of sports car competition around the globe to produce its most performance focused road-going Vantage.
Equipped with a new iteration of the brand's 6.0-litre V12 engine which is capable of generating up to 600 PS1, the car weighs in at 100kg less than a standard V12 Vantage S.
Comprehensively re-engineered, as well as significantly restyled, the GT3-inspired special edition is lower and wider than any of its siblings in the Vantage family. A broader track – front and rear – brings even more composed cornering thanks to a reduction in lateral load transfer, while the use of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres provides even more assured handling.
Thoroughly equipped with cutting edge motorsport-inspired features, from the extensive use of carbon fibre inside and out to the track-focused aerodynamics pack – which includes a prominent rear wing and pronounced front splitter – the race-derived new Vantage brings more focused and uncompromising capability and styling to a road-going Aston Martin.
The aerodynamics package in particular has a profound effect, producing significant downforce to provide even greater levels of grip and stability at higher speeds.
Inspired by Aston Martin Racing's successful campaigns, this new GT3-derived Vantage has been designed and engineered exclusively at Aston Martin's Gaydon Headquarters in Warwickshire, England, to be the most overt expression of everything that defines Vantage: an inspirational sports model offering supreme driveability on the road, and uncompromising dynamic performance on track.
New flared carbon fibre front wings, carbon fibre bonnet, a lithium ion race-derived battery, carbon-fibre door casings, optional carbon fibre roof, optional weight-saving polycarbonate rear window and rear quarter windows are just a few of the measures which illustrate the engineers' determination to eliminate mass wherever possible. That determination has paid off, too, as the new car weighs in at only 1,565 kg2.
Under the skin lie a number of bespoke engineering upgrades, aside from the new 600 PS1 V12 engine. Magnesium inlet manifolds with revised geometry, a lightweight magnesium torque tube and a full titanium exhaust system with centre outlets are just a few of the features that underline the rigorous re-engineering of this exclusive new Vantage.
The car's interior is comprehensively reworked, too, with a full carbon fibre centre stack and touch-sensitive control array; race-derived carbon fibre sports seats; Alcantara trim and the option of numerous bespoke features courtesy of the brand's popular personalisation service: Q by Aston Martin.
Announcing the arrival of the Vantage GT3 special edition, Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: "Motorsport is in our blood at Aston Martin. The Vantage is the car we campaign in top level sports car racing around the world and so it seems only fitting that we offer an exclusive, limited edition Vantage that expertly fuses our motorsport know-how with our road car prowess."
He added: "The Vantage GT3 special edition is an uncompromising example of our design and engineering expertise and I'm sure the 100 owners who secure one of these cars will savour every second behind the wheel; whether on the road or on the track."
The Vantage GT3 special edition will make its public debut on 3 March at the 85th Geneva International Motor Show (Hall 5, Stand 5253), with first customer deliveries beginning in the third quarter of 2015.
By Noah Joseph
See also: Aston Martin DB10 spied in action on James Bond Spectre set, 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible fetches record $2 million in Paris, Aston Martin Vulcan teased in video.