Overview
Few cars blend beauty and driver delight like the 2023 Aston Martin Vantage. In both coupe and convertible form, it casts a striking silhouette in its couture-inspired suit of impeccably pressed sheetmetal. Most models are powered by a twin-turbo V-8 making more than 500 horsepower, while a lucky few buyers will wind up with an even more powerful twin-turbo V-12. No matter the powertrain, the Vantage impresses with an athletic chassis, lively handling, and explosive acceleration—not to mention some of the most melodic exhaust notes available today. The interior is snug and can be customized with several high-end options, though we have one complaint: a relative lack of luxury for the Vantage’s six-figure price tag. Still, with styling this sleek and moves this exciting, the Vantage is a highly desirable driver’s car with an iconic heritage.
What’s New for 2023?
A V-12 engine returns to the Vantage lineup for 2023 and it’s a whopper of a powerplant featuring twin-turbocharging and 690 horsepower. The twin-turbo V-12 will be offered in both the coupe and convertible Vantage models, along with a special aerodynamics package for greater downforce. Aston claims a 3.4-second zero-to-60-mph time, which may be conservative. Unfortunately, the order book for this exclusive model is already closed, and only 333 will be produced.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
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Choosing between the Vantage coupe and convertible is difficult. The hardtop is better for structural rigidity, but the softtop version lets us feel the wind in our hair—and better appreciate the Aston’s glorious engine notes. In the end, we think the money we’d save by selecting the coupe would influence our final decision. Plus, that money would let us personalize our Vantage with the myriad interior and exterior treatments that are offered. We’d also opt for the heated and ventilated front seats to help keep our backsides hot or cold on demand, but we’d pass on the carbon ceramic brakes.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Beneath the Vantage’s clamshell hood lies either a thrilling, thundering twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 or a monster of a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V-12. The base V-8 engine develops either 503 or 528 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque. The higher output V-8 is reserved for the track-inspired F1 Edition. The V-12 engine makes 690 horsepower, and Aston claims it’s good for a 3.4-second zero-to-60-mph time—but we think that’s a conservative estimate. We drove the F1 on track and discovered a meaningfully sharpened driving experience and recorded a 3.5-second run to 60 mph. The Vantage’s V-8 sounds beautiful, starting with a low baritone rumble at idle and finishing with a high-strung shriek as it nears its redline. An electronically controlled limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers are standard. The Vantage’s handling is lively but predictable, which makes it hilariously good fun on a race track; the suspension is compliant enough for daily-driver duty, although harsh bumps will be obvious to passengers no matter which drive mode is selected for the adaptive dampers. Unfortunately, the optional carbon-ceramic brakes are less amicable during daily driving. While they’re excellent when enlisted for track duty, the upgraded brakes are too grabby for everyday use. We did get behind the wheel of the Vantage Roadster, praising its look-at-me personality as well as its ability to transition between behaving like an athlete and a lounger.
