Aston Martin Vantage
Vantage is raw and instinctive, unwavering in its singular purpose: to overwhelm the senses through its world-renowned design, agile performance and dedicated craftsmanship. Its heart beats with a high powered 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8, producing that visceral Aston Martin roar. A rare breed and a statement of independence on the road, Vantage embodies all that is beautiful in our performance sports car range.
The heart of Vantage beats with a 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Impressive acceleration of 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds and a speed of up to 195 mph deliver raw athleticism and an enticing performance feel.
Race track, winding country road or the everyday commute, Vantage is an Aston Martin of outstanding class, delivering a drive so intensely felt that it demands to be experienced time and time again.
History
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited - British manufacturer of luxury sports cars based in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom. The company name comes from the Aston Clinton Hill Climb race and the name of one of the founders, Lionel Martin.
From 1994 to 2007, Aston Martin was part of the Premier Automotive Group, owned by Ford Motor Company. March 12, 2007 was sold to a company which includes: David Richards (owner of Prodrive), John Sinders and Kuwaiti Investment Dar and Adeem Investment. Ford has retained a 15% interest.
From 2013, Daimler AG purchased a 5% stake, sharing the latest technology. Talks are under way on the partial or total purchase of Astona Martina Lagonda Limited's shares.
The Aston Martin company was founded in 1914 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, who had previously dealt with the sale of Singer cars. Martin also dealt with car mountain races on the Aston Hill hill near Aston Clinton. Martin and Bamford decided to produce their own racing cars, better quality than the Singer. They put the production in a workshop in London, the name of the company was created from Aston Hill and Martin's name. The first car was produced in March 1915, but then there was a break caused by the First World War.
After the war, the enterprise was strengthened by funds of the motoring enthusiast, Countess Louisa Zborowski. In 1922 the Aston Martin "Bunny" car participated with great successes in the French Grand Prix. Martin left the company in 1925, and the following year the company was taken over by a group of investors, including Lord Charnwood, under the name Aston Martin Motors. The production was transferred to Feltham. Initially, cars used engines from other manufacturers. The first model of Aston, mass-produced together with the engine at Feltham was International. Successful Le Mans and Ulster racing models were then produced. In 1933 the factory was taken over by Sir Arthur Sutherland. In 1936, next to the Aston Martin Speed Model, the company introduced a simpler, cheaper and easier to drive 15/98 model. This model was a more usable car, it was offered in two- and four-seater versions, with an open or closed body. Model 15/98 achieved relative market success. In 1939, a modern and technically advanced Atom model was developed, but production plans were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Until the outbreak of the war, the company produced only 671 cars of all models. During the war, the company produced war equipment for government orders.
In 1947, the company was bought by David Brown Limited. David Brown also bought Lagonda and both companies merged into Aston Martin Lagonda. The new DB1 model was produced in a small number, but it started a series of Astonów Martinów DB (from David Brown). The 1950s DB2 model, with 6-cylinder Lagonda engine, was already sold in a significant number of copies, especially in the DB2 / 4 version of 1954, which introduced two additional seats at the back and, what was new at that time, the rear third door. The last stage of development of this series was DB Mark III. The body of the DB2 models met the then Italian designs. Aston Martin thus obtained the status of a manufacturer of luxury and expensive sports cars with coupé bodies. These and subsequent models also had their versions with stronger engines, also called Vantage. Although most users did not make use of the athletic character of the aston, these and subsequent cars also took part in all major auto races, including in 1959 Aston Martin won at Le Mans. In the 1960s, however, the company withdrew from racing.
In 1954, David Brown moved production to a newly purchased factory in Newport Pagnell. In 1958, the DB4 model was introduced to production, and in 1964 DB5, which brought the company the greatest publicity (among others thanks to popularization in the James Bond films). These models have become relatively popular for their high price, built in the number of more than 1000 pieces, and the best-selling model has become an enlarged DB6 from 1965 (1753 pieces). Also produced in the small series of sports versions of DB4 with the body of the Zagato company. During this period, the company stabilized its image as a manufacturer of exclusive GT sports cars - grand touring (2 + 2 local coupé and convertibles), with the engine at the front. This image was supported by new models of the new series: DBS from 1967, DBS V8 from 1969 and V8 from 1972.
Two engines: 6-cylinder, 3.7-liter inline model used in the sports model DBR2 and civil DB4 (this car was equipped with a Bond car in the book Casino Royal), and also designed in 1968 V8 with a capacity of 5.3 liters ( used in the V8 Vantage model, for example known from the Bonnie films), were designed by a Pole, Ing. Tadeusz Marek. The V8 was so modern that it remained in production until 2000, ie for 32 years.
Despite high recognition for the brand, the company was in financial trouble, partly caused by the fuel crisis of 1974. In 1972 it was bought by a consortium of investors from Birmingham, and in 1975 by American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden. The new owners modernized the older models, creating the Aston Martin Vantage V8 with a more powerful engine in 1977 and the Volante convertible in 1978. In 1980, a prototype sports Bulldog with a centrally located engine remained, which remained a prototype. From 1978, the exclusive and extravagant four-door limousine Aston Martin Lagonda was produced in a small series, which is a derogation from the coupé cars, continuing the Lagonda brand. However, in 1981, CH Industrial became the new owners of the brand, in 1983 Automotive Investments, and in 1985, Peter Livanos and Victor Gauntlett. In 1986, 75% of shares in Aston Martin Lagonda were bought by Ford Motor Company.
During this time of change of owners, the model line originating from 1967 was not practically modernized. Only in 1986 on the basis of the V8 model, the company produced only 87 copies of the exclusive two-seater sports coupé Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato and roadster Volante Zagato. It was not until 1988 that the production of old V8 models was discontinued, introducing the new Virage series, which was well received. In 1993, Ford finally bought the entire company, and then presented a slightly smaller and more affordable DB7 model, returning to the classic markings. This model met with relatively large interest. In 1995, the company produced a record number of 700 cars, and by 2002, 6,000 DB7 models were built, thus exceeding the production of all previous DBs. In 1999 DB7 Vantage with the V12 engine was added to the DB7 series, and in 2001 a more sporty Vanquish model was introduced.
In 2003, a new studio project AMV8 Vantage and a model DB9, the successor to DB7 were presented. In 2004, his version of the DB9 Volante cabriolet was presented. Aston Martin also announced a return to motor racing since 2005.