A hand-built grand tourer, the 2013 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a supercar available in both coupe and convertible body styles, standard or S trim levels. The standard V8 Vantage is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces 420 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel-drive can be paired with a standard 6-speed manual transmission or optional 7-speed automatic transmission. Upgrading to the S trim grants the driver a tweaked 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces 430 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. The sole transmission offered on the S trim is a 7-speed automated manual. New for 2013, Aston Martin now offers an SP10 trim level that offers a standard manual transmission, premium trim material, and special grey metallic paint. Safety is comprised of dual-stage front airbags, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), traction control system (TCS), emergency brake assist (EBA), electronic brake distribution (EBD), anti-lock braking system (ABS), and dynamic stability control (DSC). The Vantage V8 is backed by a 3-year/unlimited mile warranty.
2013 model year changes
After a round of significant improvements last year, the 2013 V8 Vantage gets a new sport suspension option, as well as a newly standard rearview camera and rain-sensing wipers.
The Vantage is also the lowest-priced point of entry in the Aston Martin lineup with a starting base price of $122,400.
Competitive comparison
Mighty powertrains with strong acceleration; great seats; opportunities to customize; a shape that looks great in coupe or roadster form
Special features for 2013
The Vantage is the most affordable car from Aston Martin, and is neither a light-and-lean roadster nor a performance-oriented grand touring coupe. Rather than taking on other exclusive high-performance cars, it's positioned against other sport-touring models like the BMW M6, Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG and Jaguar XKR-S.
A simplified, more 'honest' driving experience is one argument for the Vantage, in this age of seemingly endless custom settings in some models for driving characteristics. EPA fuel economy ratings for the V8 Vantage, at 13 mpg city, 19 highway, aren't bad, considering this car's performance focus and traditional V8 engine.
