2012 Aston Martin Vantage Facelift - What's Different?

Both the Coupe and the Roadster benefit from the changes and the new cars are due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month, although you can order them now.   

 

The Vantage V8 has been given a lower bumper complete with splitter and a larger air intake for the engine and front brakes. The changes are mirrored at the back with the addition of a diffuser, while ‘race-derived’ sills link the two. 

 

 

Whether they are successful will depend on the beholder of course, but it does look a bit of an afterthought in our eyes; if Halfords did body-kits for an Aston they might well look like this, although the factory claim that they have been ‘inspired’ by the Vantage S and limited-edition N400.

 

We are more impressed with the news that the tyres are now 10mm wider helping to improve the already prodigious roadholding, while bigger brakes and quicker steering keep it all feeling nice and rounded. 

 

 

Hill Start Assist is now fitted as standard too, which will be good news for drivers who don’t know how to pull away on a slope without electronic intervention.

 

There have been no changes to the interior, which is probably no bad thing as it’s a lovely place to be.
 

The Vantage’s V8 engine remains untouched and still produces a healthy 420bhp. The six-speed manual gearbox remains unaltered too, but the six-speed Sportshift gearbox has been replaced with the seven-speed Sportshift II, which Aston claim gives faster and slicker gearchanges, as well as providing more refinement at higher speeds thanks to the extra ratio. 

 

 

The Vantage S hasn’t been forgotten, although the changes are less dramatic; it gets the seven-speed auto box and sat-nav fitted as standard.

 

 

The V8 Vantage Coupe starts at £84,995 and £93,995 for the Roadster, savings of around £5,000 compared to the older model. The Vantage S now starts at just £99,995.

 

The gorgeous V12 Zagato will be available in very limited numbers from the end of the year priced at just under £400,000. If you’re interested then you’d better order one now as they’ll only be making 150 of them.

 

 

The Vantage V8 was an enormously impressive car before the changes, and the upgrades and price reduction haven’t harmed it one iota. If you are thinking of buying one then the list of reasons not to has just got a little bit shorter…