Okay, Aston special edition fatique is definitely setting in pretty hard lately. But this is one special Vantage to really get – and keep – your attention in focus. But there is a big catch.
What is special about this Vantage GT3? Based on the Vantage V12 S Coupe, the new GT3 model is 200-pounds lighter and nearly doubles the aerodynamic grip generated at high speeds. How?
Through an all-new nose with deep splitter and ductwork, a fresh hood vent design to free any trapped air in this ultra-tight engine bay, and full reprofiled intake and bumper design in carbon-fiber.
To the side, the front fender vent is now a giant and deep 3D scoop out of the bodywork, leading to another gigantic intake ahead of the rear wheels. This handles cooling for the brakes, transaxle and differentials in the most-extreme racing scenarios.
In back, a widebody overflare is visible atop the rear fenders, which pack duct outlets in their inner edges and a humongous ducktail trunk spoiler. Atop that action lives a gigantic wing that comes up and rear-ward from the bodywork like a real racecar.
Below these wings, the rear bumper is all-new as well with central and higher-placed exhaust cans freeing the underbody for the venturi channels and rear diffuser. It is a serious makeover, to say the least.
The catch? It will not be road-legal in the US or China.
Even so, it is a thrill to see this GT-R-battling overhaul of the Vantage. A strong statement of what is coming in the future of two-seat Aston Martin supercars.
2015 Aston Martin VANTAGE GT3
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.
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1 Predicted power output
2 Predicted kerb weight
Note to editors:
This car will not be available in North America and China
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
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