2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

A Brash and Beguiling Brit

Aston Martin's 'entry-level' coupe, the V8 Vantage, is quick, nimble, and sleekly styled.

Even with a sticker price above $100,000, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is the storied British automaker’s smallest and least-expensive vehicle.

The V8 Vantage is a stylish low-slung two-seat coupe designed to take on the Porsche 911 and other similar near-exotic sports cars, but with a decidedly upper-crust British accent.

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Recent updates to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage include new front seats with lumbar adjustments and electric seat-back releases. Also incorporated in the seats are side-impact airbags and occupant-sensing technology to determine how fast and with how much force the front airbags should deploy during a collision. Heated cushions and memory settings for the power seat adjustments are optional. A remote trunk release, LED illumination in the door handles, and full leather trim are now standard; non-standard leather colors may now be ordered, along with the ability to special-order the upholstery to match any color sample.

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Items recently added to the options list also include a garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror, 19-inch anthracite-painted alloy wheels, and Pirelli performance tires.

The V8 Vantage has a long hood and wide front grille. Its sleek bodywork bears more than a passing resemblance to its larger stablemate, the Aston Martin DB9 Coupe. Constructed from a combination of steel, aluminum, and composite panels, the V8 Vantage body shell is draped over a lightweight yet rigid bonded aluminum structure that yieldsexceptional agility and ride comfort. Its rear hatchback design has a fairly generous luggage shelf located behind the seats, which adds an element of cargo-carrying practicality not typically found among small sporty cars.

• Aston Martin V8 Vantage Vehicle Summary

The V8 Vantage is powered by a hand-assembled, all-aluminum 4.3-liter V8 engine that generates a strong 380 hp. It includes a dry-sump lubrication system that can keep the engine oil fully circulating throughout even the most extreme high-speed cornering maneuvers. Transmission choices are a close-ratio, slick-shifting, six-speed manual transmission or a new automatic with manual-shift capability.

The V8 Vantage has a nearly ideal 49/51 front-to-rear weight distribution, combined with a double-wishbone suspension and 18-inch wheels and tires. This affords superlative handling with a reasonably smooth ride. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, dynamic stability, and traction control are all standard and assure secure cornering and stopping abilities no matter what the weather or road conditions.

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The car’s handsome-but-snug interior features aluminum-finished gauges and trim work. The car comes well-equipped, but a few items you’d expect on a car that costs six figures are optional, such as cruise control and high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlamps.