Aston Martin Vantage AMR Editions Mark the End of a Long Farewell Tour
It feels like we’ve been telling goodbye to the Aston Martin Vantage for several years, but the fresh AMR limited editions truly do represent the final few dates of a long-running farewell tour. We know that a next-generation car powered by the Mercedes-AMG twin-turbocharged Four.0-liter V-8 engine will be appearing imminently—expect to see it in the next duo of months—meaning the various AMR versions mark the end of the current generation.
While they mark a stylish departure, don’t go rushing to your local Aston Martin dealer if you’re interested. We’re told that the AMR variants won’t be coming to the United States, so buying one would mean wielding property in one (or more) of the territories where it is going to be sold: Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The AMR will be a stringently limited run, with just two hundred V-8 and one hundred V-12 versions set to be produced, with that further split inbetween coupe and roadster versions according to request.
As we reported in March from the Geneva motor showcase, the AMR brand will be used to designate Aston’s higher-performance models. Or maybe that should be “even higher performance” models; it’s not as if the stock Vantage is grievously lacking in firepower. The Vantage AMR Pro that was shown at that time was a limited-to-seven, track-only special, but the “regular” AMR will be street-legal and is inspired by the company’s various GT3 and GTE Vantage racers (hence the decision to launch it just before this year’s twenty four Hours of Le Stud’s race.)
While the lesser AMR uses the same 430-hp Four.2-liter V-8 as the regular Vantage S, the brawnier V-12 version has a more powerful 595-hp engine, a 30-hp build up on the workaday V12 Vantage S. This will be one of the last applications for the mighty naturally aspirated Aston 12, and as such its passing should be mourned, ideally with frequent excursions toward the redline in proximity to acoustically reflective surfaces. While we’ve no doubt the fresh Vantage will be quicker than this one, we’d be amazed if it sounded anywhere near as good.
Buyers of the AMR variants can choose either Aston’s automated single-clutch Speedshift transmission or a decent manual, one with either six speeds in the V-8 or seven in the V-12. Albeit we’re told that there are suspension revisions, the official release spends more time detailing the many and varied personalization options. The most eye-catching of these is the so-called Halo Pack, inspired by the livery of Aston’s two thousand sixteen World Stamina Championship–winning racer, and including what are described as “boldly contrasting colors including lime-green welts and accents.” Further options include a functional race-look aero kit, lightweight forged aluminum wheels, and a titanium harass (for the V-12) that saves a claimed thirty pounds over the standard system.
Aston Martin Vantage AMR Editions Mark End of a Long Farewell, News, Car and Driver Blog
Aston Martin Vantage AMR Editions Mark the End of a Long Farewell Tour
It feels like we’ve been telling goodbye to the Aston Martin Vantage for several years, but the fresh AMR limited editions truly do represent the final few dates of a long-running farewell tour. We know that a next-generation car powered by the Mercedes-AMG twin-turbocharged Four.0-liter V-8 engine will be appearing imminently—expect to see it in the next duo of months—meaning the various AMR versions mark the end of the current generation.
While they mark a stylish departure, don’t go rushing to your local Aston Martin dealer if you’re interested. We’re told that the AMR variants won’t be coming to the United States, so buying one would mean wielding property in one (or more) of the territories where it is going to be sold: Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The AMR will be a stringently limited run, with just two hundred V-8 and one hundred V-12 versions set to be produced, with that further split inbetween coupe and roadster versions according to request.
As we reported in March from the Geneva motor display, the AMR brand will be used to designate Aston’s higher-performance models. Or maybe that should be “even higher performance” models; it’s not as if the stock Vantage is grievously lacking in firepower. The Vantage AMR Pro that was shown at that time was a limited-to-seven, track-only special, but the “regular” AMR will be street-legal and is inspired by the company’s various GT3 and GTE Vantage racers (hence the decision to launch it just before this year’s twenty four Hours of Le Stud’s race.)
While the lesser AMR uses the same 430-hp Four.2-liter V-8 as the regular Vantage S, the brawnier V-12 version has a more powerful 595-hp engine, a 30-hp build up on the workaday V12 Vantage S. This will be one of the last applications for the mighty naturally aspirated Aston 12, and as such its passing should be mourned, ideally with frequent excursions toward the redline in proximity to acoustically reflective surfaces. While we’ve no doubt the fresh Vantage will be quicker than this one, we’d be amazed if it sounded anywhere near as good.
Buyers of the AMR variants can choose either Aston’s automated single-clutch Speedshift transmission or a decent manual, one with either six speeds in the V-8 or seven in the V-12. Albeit we’re told that there are suspension revisions, the official release spends more time detailing the many and varied personalization options. The most eye-catching of these is the so-called Halo Pack, inspired by the livery of Aston’s two thousand sixteen World Stamina Championship–winning racer, and including what are described as “boldly contrasting colors including lime-green welts and accents.” Further options include a functional race-look aero kit, lightweight forged aluminum wheels, and a titanium harass (for the V-12) that saves a claimed thirty pounds over the standard system.