Simply Abu Dhabi XXXI

Unlike a conventional diff, it can go from fully open to locked in milliseconds so at high speed its sensitivity enabled it to take control so that it felt more composed in terms of its straight-line stability and cornering performance. Its track composure was certainly confidence inspiring, and as I grew more comfortable with the vantage, my times tumbled. I could brake far deeper into corners that I thought was possible, stay on the gas through sweepers where other high-performance cars I’d driven couldn’t and it would take a high-speed change of direction without so much as an ounce of body roll. That’s because the new vantage is markedly stiffer than the old one and even the newdB11 v8, but it’s also 20kg lighter at 1,530kg. The previous vantage v12 S, which is closest in terms of performance, was 1,570kg, while the dB11 is 129kg heavier. Styling-wise, apart from the new-shape grille that’s designed to give it a predator look as if it’s sniffing the ground, the rear is dominated by a large diffuser that stood out even more by being painted a contrasting colour. It’s not just for looks, though, as it helps with the overall grip by adding nearly 80kg of rear downforce compared to 25kg on the dB11, whereas the old vantage was actually lifting at its terminal speed. This is great on a track, but how did this translate to a nice weekender on the road? The vantage is stiffer than the dB11 and a bit noisier inside, too, due to its rear suspension being solidly mounted for better handling, whereas the dB11’s is isolated to reduce noise. At this level, though, it’s nit-picking as the vantage performed superbly on the open road and better, from memory, than the AMG GT which felt heavier through the steering and has a longer nose making it less nimble through twisty bends. The ZF eight-speed transmission is operated solely through paddle shifts behind the wheel that have been extended for better reach, however Aston tells us that a manual box will be offered next year. Our ‘Onyx Black’ road car had the standard exhaust system of two pipes compared to the quad pipes on the ’Lime Essence’ track cars, so was quieter on the road, but still provided some nice pops and crackles from the pipes on downshifts. In true Aston style it’s not as dramatic as the staccato noises from the AMG Mercs, preferring instead to offer a more refined, GT experience. Aston Martin even has a ‘quiet start mode’ which is activated by holding the start button for longer which will be a hit with the neighbours if you need to leave home early every morning. The new Aston Martin vantage is a worthy successor to its long-time predecessor, welcoming some desperately needed technology as well as new powertrains and styling. Yet it’s maintained the thing that has carried the marque its whole life, an air of bespoke quality wrapped in a stylish body for the road-and-track weekend warrior just as the company’s founders, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, envisaged back in 1913.