The current Vantage S is the benchmark from which the new radical version will start. The official images illustrate the S model, not the camouflaged prototype. Photo source: Aston Martin
Aston Martin is preparing a more radical Vantage. The prototype tested at the Nürburgring aims at the Porsche 911 GT3’s territory
Aston Martin is testing at the Nürburgring a Vantage version closer to a circuit car than the current Vantage S. The camouflaged prototype has a large fixed rear wing, an extended front splitter, vented wings and four exhaust outlets grouped in the centre.
The British manufacturer has not presented the model and has not confirmed its name. The motoring press provisionally calls it Vantage RS, but that designation, the engine power, the price and the launch date remain unofficial.
What can be seen on the prototype tested at the Nürburgring
The visible changes go beyond the styling package of a Vantage S. The front bumper has larger intakes and a splitter with vertical aerodynamic elements at the extremities. The air outlets in the upper part and behind the front wings should reduce pressure in the wheel arches.
On the sides, wider sills appear, and the rear end is dominated by the fixed wing mounted above the boot lid. The diffuser has a new shape, and the four exhaust outlets have been moved from the corners of the bumper towards the centre.
These elements indicate a version developed for more aerodynamic downforce and cooling in circuit use. The photographs do not, however, allow calculation of the mass, the downforce or the lap-time advantage over the Vantage S.
The V8 engine is probably retained, but power is unknown
The Vantage S uses a front-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which delivers 680 hp and 800 Nm to the rear wheels. The gearbox is an eight-speed automatic, and the rear differential has electronic control.
The S model reaches 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 325 km/h. These are the only official figures that can serve as a benchmark for the new prototype; Aston Martin has not announced that the tested version will exceed 700 hp, nor has it confirmed a manual gearbox.
Higher power is possible, but it would not be enough to define the car’s character. Mass reduction, tyres, brakes, suspension geometry and aerodynamic balance will matter more on circuit than a difference of a few dozen horsepower.
The Vantage S has a discreet spoiler on the boot lid; the prototype spotted at the Nürburgring uses a much larger fixed wing. Photo source: Aston Martin
Why it is compared with the Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is the benchmark frequently used for road-legal sports cars developed with circuit use as a priority. The current GT3 combines a naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine, functional aerodynamics and a specific chassis, in a configuration very different from the Vantage, which has a front-mounted twin-turbo V8.
The new Aston Martin appears to pursue the same category of use, not to copy Porsche’s technical solution. The fixed wing, the wing ventilation and the ample diffuser show that the version will sit above the Vantage S in dynamic orientation.
There is not yet an official Nürburgring time, nor an Aston Martin statement naming the Porsche 911 GT3 as a direct rival. The comparison is an interpretation based on the prototype’s configuration and on the probable position in the range.
The Vantage S is already more aerodynamically loaded than the standard model
The current Vantage S produces 111 kg of aerodynamic downforce at top speed, according to Aston Martin. The rear spoiler contributes 44 kg, and the rest comes from modifications made under the body and in the front area.
The S version has recalibrated Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers, a rear subframe mounted directly on the body and its own settings for suspension geometry. Carbon-ceramic brakes, a carbon-fibre roof and lightweight seats are available as options.
For the new prototype, the fixed wing and the larger splitter suggest a further increase in downforce. The exact figure will be comparable with the S model’s 111 kg only after the technical presentation.
When the new Vantage could be presented
The prototype appears to use body elements close to series production, but Aston Martin has not published a timetable. A presentation during 2027 is possible, without yet being confirmed by the company.
The number of examples, the European price and availability in Romania are also unknown. Until the manufacturer’s announcement, “Vantage RS” should be treated as a working name, and the circulated specifications remain estimates.
