Geneva show: Aston Martin reveals special duo

ASTON Martin has transplanted the uprated 321kW V8 engine of the Vantage S into its standard Vantage as part of a package of extras for one of two special-editions to be released at next month’s Geneva motor show.

The limited-edition V8 Vantage N430 – which refers to the vehicle’s brake horsepower output – will come in Coupe and Roadster guises, also gets carbon-fibre and Kevlar sports seats and 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, which combined make for a 20kg weight saving.

Other additions to the cabin include unique seat trim patterns, N430 seat logos, machined carbon sill plaques, black-magnesium paddle shifters, Alcantara seat and door inserts and a leather steering wheel with contrasting stitching.

But the main attraction is likely to be the 4.7-litre 321kW/490Nm V8 powerplant that can blast the N430 from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds.

This powerplant drives the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed “close-ratio” automated manual transmission.

Aston has given the exterior of the V8 Vantage a dark theme, with a black finishes on the grille, headlight bezels, side window surrounds and tailpipe, while a Club Sports Graphics pack is available as an option, adding two-tone contrasting paintwork with “lipstick” around the grille that references the CC100 concept the company revealed last year.

The British sportscar-maker will also show the DB9 Carbon Black and Carbon White at Geneva, featuring carbon-fibre side strakes and window surrounds that contrast with the strong base body colours and red brake callipers.

The dark theme continues for the DB9 in the cabin, with carbon-fibre details and Carbon Black or White sill plaques, while the all-alloy 380kW/620Nm 6.0-litre V12 engine from the DB9 maintains its 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.6 seconds from the regular model.

European deliveries of both variants commence in September, but Aston has not revealed production numbers for either of the special editions.