With an all-new Vantage model on the way, Aston Martin have clearly been fishing for ways to try and clear out the current model.
We've already seen a Red Bull edition, AMR racing edition, and Spitfire-themed edition added to bolster the Vantage's already quite busy range. And now there's another one — perhaps the last for the eternal 'VH-Vantage' sports car.
Produced by Aston Martin's Q Division, it's called the V600. It features an upgraded version of the company's 6.0-litre NA V12 engine. It now produces 600PS (hence the name. That's 441kW), coupled with a lighter weight and a seven-speed manual transmission.
Yeah, a manual. Remember those things?
Aston Martin say that this is the "ultimate analogue" Vantage, and on paper it's hard to dispute. Suspension has also been tinkered with, via dual independent wishbone suspension with adaptive damping tries to balance analogue gruffness with comfort many Aston buyers desire.
The Vantage's sleek styling has been beefed up through various tweeks, including an aggressive set of forged and machined wheels, a muscular vented bonnet, and hungrier grill. The biggest exterior change, however, is one you can't really see. All of the panels are carbon fibre, helping the Vantage's weight come down.
The pursuit of analogue has been a predictable counter-point to the current fascination among sports-car manufacturers' for chasing tenths in every element of performance through cutting-edge tech. The new V600 is simply the latest in a line of 'anti-tech' analogue machines that also includes Porsche's (now highly sought after) 911 R.
The V600 name might sound familiar, particularly for AM faithful. It's the label previously worn by the company's 1998 V8 Vantage V600 — a bruising supercharged slab-sided coupe that helped Aston Martin build a platform for performance in the late '90s.
“This is precisely why we created our ‘Q by Aston Martin - Commission’ service," said Aston Martin Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman.
"Our customers can create truly bespoke sports cars by personally collaborating with myself and Aston Martin’s design team. The V600 name remains a classic in Aston Martin’s heritage and I’m proud to see it adorn the V12 Vantage V600 once again”.
The V600 (the new one, I mean) is customer commissioned and produced in very slight numbers. Only 14 of them will be built; split down the middle between seven coupes and seven roadsters. Get them while they're hot.
