This eye-watering base price for the updated Vantage of course includes duties, but not personalisation.
Following on from its global debut but just three short months ago, the updated Aston Martin has since landed on our shores. And while this may be the baby within the British supercar marque’s lineup, it certainly doesn’t carry a small price tag.
In fact, Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur currently quotes for the price of this updated Vantage to start from RM 2.37 million. And let it be noted too that this astronomical sum of money is BEFORE any options or personalisation touches are added!
Though funnily enough for this segment of car launching locally, that aforementioned seven-figure price tag does include the duties paid. So just to enlighten those living in Langkawi or Labuan then, the duty free sum for this newly-revised British sports car currently stands at RM 50,000 below the million ringgit mark.
Now in an attempt to move on from all this talk of its astronomical price, it is perhaps worth highlighting here too that this particular Vantage has gained quite a few changes from this recent update. The most obvious of which being its massive (by 38% from its pre-facelift predecessor) front grille, which in combination with its new slimmed-down set of LED matrix headlights does unfortunately make this once-sleek sports car look like an open-mouthed catfish.
This gaping-mouthed look is nevertheless a necessary evil though, as it provides the additional cooling capacity demanded by its freshly-fettled 4.0-litre AMG-derived V8, that now churns out a colossal 665 PS and 800 Nm of torque!
Up by a whopping 155 PS and 115 Nm of torque over its pre-facelift predecessor, this healthy boost in power in this newly updated Vantage comes courtesy of new cam profiles, optimised compression ratios and improved cooling (from a new lower radiator and two new auxiliary coolers). There is of course to be a pair of bigger turbochargers thrown into the mix too, with a few adjustments to the ratios in its 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and an improved launch control system further helping propel this sports car to the century sprint in just 3.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph).
What more is that while Aston Martin may have mucked up the front, it has fortunately managed to redeem itself in the aesthetics department round this facelifted Vantage’s rear. Such is as the 30 mm increase in width that has been brought along with this updated has translated to an even more sumptuously curvaceous rump on this sexy sports car, which is complimented by its widened rear bumper that now incorporates four newly-enlarged pipes within it.
The new child-bearing rear hips of this facelifted Vantage also has incidentally tucked beneath it a new standard staggered set of forged alloy 21-inch wheels shod in custom ‘AML’ coded Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S tyres. And behind those meanwhile hide 400 mm steel rotors with six-piston calipers up front and 360 mm rotors with four-piston calipers round the rear, with new intelligent Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers fitted on all four corners of its extensively re-engineered bonded aluminium chassis as well.
Turning towards the inside now, this functional rework of the facelifted Vantage’s cabin has seen the return of physical buttons to control everything from the climate settings to the vehicle configuration. Those who insist on tapping on a screen too will also be glad to know that there is to now be a new 10.25-inch central infotainment touchscreen running a bespoke in-house developed OS and featuring dedicated smartphone app, though Android Auto integration will curiously only be available at a later date.
“From Silverstone to Sepang, the Aston Martin Vantage has developed a reputation as one of the most iconic nameplates in sports car history. The new Vantage epitomises the most dynamic period in Aston Martin’s 111-year history, deriving track-proven racing DNA from the brand’s exploits on the most competitive motorsports grids in the world. Bolstered by state-of-the-art technology and sophistication, the unique Vantage formula befits first-time Aston Martin owners and long-time brand enthusiasts alike. We are extremely thrilled to give it a home here in Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur,” said Mr. Chris Chia Kok How, General Manager of Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur.
Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur is currently accepting bookings for this newly updated Vantage, which incidentally comes with a (not-at-all-class-leading) three-year factory warranty package. Fortunately though, this can be extended to 20 years of coverage if customers so choose.
