The Aston Martin Vantage V8 engine starts with a brutal growl and settles into a low burble. Four black exhaust pipes set amidst the carbon-fibre diffuser announce it’s at the ready to slay tarmac. It sets off eagerly as I get a feel for the steering, which is precise and sharp. And, as I switch from the gravel to the paved surface, I find that it offers excellent feedback, too. Ground clearance is in double figures on paper, six millimetres short of 100, but the relatively short wheelbase of 2,705 mm means it can handles some fair changes in surface. The nose is the concern at first, with the carbon-fibre lower lip making for a 10° approach angle. However, once on the road, the Vantage gets into its zone.
A sudden prod of the right pedal is enough to unstick the massive 325/30 ZR21 bespoke Michelin S5 AMLs while the 275/35 ZR21 fronts try to stake their claim again. The whole episode is over in a couple of tenths of a second. The Aston Martin Vantage has power peak at 6,000 rpm with the red-line set at 7,000 rpm, but torque peaks from just 2,000 rpm. So, to ensure it’s done right, it’s both pedals held down and, with the tacho needle on 2,000, a quick lift off the brake and the ravenous lungs let loose an angry howl accompanied by a blurring of surroundings and the front end going very light. The Vantage will do 0-100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds, with 120 km/h feeling like lazy coasting. It will head up to a very illegal—unless you’re on the main or back straight of a racing circuit—325 km/h.
But those are just numbers. The visceral feel of the power delivery, the heart-stopping split-second when the rear breaks traction, and the guttural audio blaring from the V8 all make it an experience to be savoured. Yes, it’s supercar power, but the Aston Martin Vantage is also quite usable on half-decent roads. When not being a maniac on the throttle, the quick-shifting ZF 8HP eight-speed auto ’box climbs ratios like the next local fellow on his 100-cc bike trying to attain 100 km/l. I get up to 50 km/h and see fourth gear in the display. Smooth.
There is also a “manual” mode which puts full control of the gear-changes in my hands with the steering-mounted long, slender, and metallic paddle-shifters. The revs hold. The growl intensifies. The crest of the howl changes to an angry bark with a flick of the right paddle. It’s best to have a firm hold on the wheel as the paddles move with it. Corners are dismissed with near-violent G-force as the wide rubber claws into its contact patch and sticks to its line at anything below triple-digit speeds. Yet, here I sit, cosseted in a mix of luxurious upholstery, optimal body support, and unyielding power, all simultaneously making for a cocktail of experiences to be savoured.
The Aston Martin Vantage, then, is a luxury sports car which loves to be driven. Nay, which longs to be enjoyed being driven. It can satisfy the most puerile desires and bring a smile to faces with experienced hands alike. Its raw persona and purpose don’t leave you second guessing its role. It was meant to be driven. It was made to race. It was made to make you feel alive. And at Rs 3.99 crore (base, ex-showroom), you’re going to wish for a life long enough to enjoy it. And fret not, because there are more bits which make it usable. The digital cockpit, the large touchscreen infotainment, the premium audio system, ventilated seats, reverse camera with a 360° surround view, stowage in the centre console and behind it, and a boot volume of nearly 350 litres under its rear hatch all add to its dose of practicality. It even has an engine start-stop system to save fuel. Advantage Aston? From this vantage point, yes.
Story: Jim Gorde
Photography: Kalidas M
