2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Will Make You Feel Alive – Jalopnik

Upon moving into the brand new Aston Martin Vantage S, it is instantly obvious that this automobile desires you to have an excellent time. Not due to the loud exhaust on startup, the cocooning format of the cabin, or the implausible styling you see earlier than even opening the door. No, what separates the Vantage S from different sports activities vehicles and supercars just like the Porsche 911 and Lamborghini Temerario is that there is no Normal or Comfort or GT drive mode. You press the chunky begin button within the heart console, the V8 roars to life and also you’re in Sport mode. This will not be a automobile for individuals who wish to have a refined time.

The common Vantage has GT, Sport and Sport+ modes (plus a Wet mode), and it is a very thrilling automobile to drive, however the Vantage S dials issues up greater than I used to be anticipating. Aston Martin did not make any main adjustments right here; there is a bit extra energy, a barely stiffer chassis, a extra exact entrance finish. But its drive modes go Sport, Sport+, and Track (plus Wet and Individual), and that tells you mainly all you should know in regards to the Vantage S. Its upgrades add as much as a hell of an excellent time, a automobile that can make you’re feeling alive whether or not going to the grocery retailer or hitting the canyons.

Full disclosure: Aston Martin invited me to drive out to Westlake Village to spend a day with the Vantage S within the hills round Malibu.

Powering the Vantage S is identical AMG-derived twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that has been utilized by this technology of Vantage because it got here out, however the automobile’s facelift in 2024 introduced the motor’s efficiency approach up, surpassing even the AMG GT that makes use of the identical engine. The Vantage S will get a slight bump from 656 horsepower to 671, and torque stays the identical at 590 pound-feet. Normally that change would not actually be noticeable, and it is only a tenth faster to each 60 mph and 124 mph, taking 3.3 and 10.1 seconds, respectively. But Aston additionally recalibrated the throttle to be extra responsive, tuning the mapping extra particularly for every drive mode, and the automobile undoubtedly feels extra desperate to speed up on a regular basis.

As you’d hope, it sounds superior when that gasoline pedal is even barely squeezed. There’s no exhaust {hardware} adjustments particular to the S, however Vantage did not want any assist in that division. This automobile is loud, and just about at all times loud particularly given how Sport is the baseline. It’s acquired a completely completely different character from the Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro, which is down a complete 68 hp from the Aston. (The AMG has a lame-o Comfort mode, too.) Because of how rev-happy and reactive the engine is, it is powerful to not drive round like an enthusiastic pet pulling on its leash, eager to run free on the park.

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Once I’ve gotten out of the suburbs and into the canyons the place I can actually begin to exploit all that energy, the automobile virtually begs me to step on it. I am unable to consider one other gas-powered automobile this facet of a McLaren 750S that accelerates with such vigor regardless of the scenario. It’s fast as hell off the road — there is no mistaking that it is rear-wheel drive, both — however extra spectacular is the way it accelerates within the mid and higher ranges of the tach. Aston did not tweak the 8-speed transmission for the S, however it did not really want to. The massive paddles are good to click on, and even left to its personal units it’s going to shift simply if you’d need, with a severe kick within the extra intense drive modes.

And talking of drive modes, the adjustments made to this have additionally been fairly profitable. In a variety of vehicles, even sports activities vehicles, there is not a giant distinction between Sport and Sport+ and Track (or no matter different names are used for analogous modes), however twisting the knurled dial adjustments up the automobile’s character greater than in the usual mannequin; Sport+ is so intense that even attempting Track on the road feels pointless. Even although there is no GT mode, the Sport mode could be calm sufficient to be pushed on the town or on a street journey with out being annoying.

Can I inform that the S-specific ducktail spoiler provides 97 kilos of downforce on the automobile’s 202-mph prime pace? Uh, that may be a detrimental, however Aston does say the spoiler makes the stability of downforce extra biased in direction of the entrance for higher turn-in and grip. The engineers additionally mounted the rear subframe proper onto the physique as an alternative of utilizing rubber bushings, made {hardware} and software program adjustments to the Bilstein adaptive dampers, and adjusted the camber, caster and toe.

Aston describes the Vantage S as having “a thrilling appetite for corners,” and that’s actually true. It’s sharper and extra direct than the bottom Vantage, with higher steering weighting and accuracy. This is a freaking extensive automobile that does not have the best outward visibility, however even with out assistance from issues like rear-wheel steering it feels fairly nimble and lightweight on its ft. Aston’s drive route has me happening a number of the tightest, narrowest canyon roads round Malibu, and I can assault them much more fervently than I’d count on. The Aston-specific Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 rubber helps with the automobile’s grip and cornering prowess.

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Despite its rip-roaring angle, the common Vantage is already a a lot nicer automobile to day by day drive than the pre-facelift mannequin was, and the S does not mess issues up in that division. To compensate for the added sharpness, the transmission mount stiffness was decreased by 10%, and the rear spring help stiffness was additionally decreased for higher experience high quality at low speeds. Any automobile with 21-inch wheels sized 275/35 up entrance and 325/30 within the again may have a kinda uneven experience, and the Vantage actually tramlines, however it’s actually not a lot worse than a Porsche 911 GTS, and the cabin is sweet and quiet. Both as a grand tourer and an outright sports activities automobile, the Vantage S feels extra well-balanced than the usual automobile.

I might discuss how nice it seems, how a lot better the facelift Vantage’s inside is, or how Aston’s construct high quality is certainly beginning to get higher. (I might additionally discuss how a lot I do not take care of Apple CarPlay Ultra, even when Aston’s personal infotainment system is not nice.) But none of that actually issues. What’s essential with the Vantage S is the way it will make you’re feeling. This is not essentially the most exact sports activities automobile, essentially the most refined or essentially the most dynamic. No, it is one thing a lot better: a sports activities automobile that can immediately put a smile in your face and have you ever hooting and hollering like a “Top Gun” pilot, as for those who’re up within the sky pulling 7 G’s.

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Do you’ve cats? I’ve acquired two, and I at all times take pleasure in watching one in every of them get the form of zoomies the place their eyes develop big, they hunker down and begin wiggling, after which blast off into the opposite room as if looking a ghost. That’s what driving the Vantage S is like. Whether merging onto the freeway, exiting a nook or going when the sunshine turns inexperienced, once I hit the gasoline the Vantage S lunges ahead, squirming round as these large rear tires hook up and the quad pipes bellow, and I’m rocketed towards the following exit, nook or gentle.

That’s why you need the Aston Martin Vantage S as an alternative of some other sports activities automobile — each second behind the wheel is electrifying. And Aston Martin is charging simply $5,000 greater than a standard Vantage for the pleasure of getting these enamel S badges. The Vantage S begins at $199,500 together with vacation spot (however not together with the $7,400 “import costs” tariff charge that is on the window sticker). That’s solely round sixteen grand greater than each the 911 GTS and AMG GT63, and the Aston is definitely just a few thousand cheaper than a GT63 Pro. Granted, you may in all probability need some choices. My Plasma Blue check automobile had a dozen choices like a $10,000 Bowers & Wilkins sound system, $10,800 carbon-ceramic brakes, $2,900 distinction stitching and $1,900 ventilated seats, all coming to a complete of $248,400. A small value to pay to actually really feel alive.