Aston Martin this week began producing the new Vantage, the most sporting model in the luxury carmaker’s series production range.
With the first Vantage coming off the British brand’s Gaydon production line this week, deliveries to customers would begin later this month.
The first model, in lime essence, is expected in New Zealand in either July or August.
Aston Martin President and CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, said: "Today marks an exciting moment for the entire company and an important day in the history of Aston Martin.
"The outgoing Vantage was the single most successful model in Aston Martin’s history and we believe its successor will surpass that."
He said the new Vantage unashamedly aspired to be the best in the luxury sports car segment of the market.
Aston Martin wason track to replace each of its existing two-door sports car models by the end of the year, with the imminent launch of the DBS Superleggera.
Marking the start of Vantage production at the Aston Martin headquarters in Warwickshire, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy said Aston Martin was an iconic brand, and an integral part of Britain’s proud automotive heritage.
“Through our modern Industrial Strategy we are building on this success, and the new Vantage is a British-built car exemplifying the skill and innovation that sets the UK auto sector apart from its competitors,” he said.
Hand-built at the company’s sports car production plant and headquarters, in Gaydon, Warwickshire, the new Vantage joins the Rapide S, the DB11 family, and the soon to be launched DBS Superleggera.
The new Vantage is the second of seven new Aston Martin models to be launched over seven years, in line with the company’s ‘Second Century Plan’, which takes the 105-year-old company into its next century of operation.