the A.M vantage is losing its identity in my opinion, side strake "gone"
front grill barely resembles the brand name from the past.

 

To be honest, it's exactly the opposite. The side strakes and grill being nearly identical across products in the last gen means those things were not part of any car's identity... and making them unique by product gives them a unique identity.

But what they've done is still not as aesthetically pleasing as the original side strakes and grill.

 

Aston Martin of Washington, DC held a viewing event for the new Vantage last Thursday. There were a lot of people in attendance so I wasn't able to take good pictures. Luckily I was able to get a private viewing this afternoon.

 

I purchased my new MY14 V8V from this dealer in DC. Excellent experience.
Thanks for the pics. Not a car I would ever consider purchasing.

 

Just hate those large cut lines on the front fender. Much rather have the narrow ones on either side of the hood like on the previous gen cars. Plus this hood type (as well as the clamshell of the DB11) results in a bunch of black plastic and rubber under the hood. When you would open the hood with the old cars, you were proud to show off the real metal under there as compared to more mundane cars like Jaguars. Now, not so much.

Would never buy this new Vantage or the DB11...too ordinary under the hood and in the cabin. So of the 3 current production cars, only the Vanquish gets the nod.

 

Ditto

 

I echo every single point you made, it's almost like I wrote it, but

>and a massive trunk, which a small human like myself can actually fit into with relative comfort.

Relative being the operative word!






How did Texas turn into Florida?! LOL

 

I've been playing around with the configurator and I think the black mesh option makes it more subdued (i.e. less offensive).




It was nice catching up. I hope Clare gets well soon

 

The nice thing about that expanded metal grill is that repair material can be found at Home Depot. It's a serious downgrade from the Aston Martin that we've come to know. Now Lotus, I can see them using it

 

Damn it! I just checked and the matte black mesh grille comes as part of the "Exterior Black Collection" which includes the matte black mesh grille and matte black window surround for $2,700!!

 

Not really digging the wheel options. The older models across the board had nicer pattern wheels.

 

I don't know how they are going to fix it when they do the soon to come facelift. Maybe shrink the grille a bit by lowering the top of it by a couple inches and add the bars back?

 

Pretty much guarantee AM will have some trim around the grill similar to the V12 Vantage. Just makes design sense.

 

Following an agonizingly long tease, a major disappointment. What happened to our "most beautiful car on the road"?

-Cheap expanded metal grille, a disaster. I bet Aston is tooling a bladed alternative to fill that void as I am typing this. Grey/black expanse is the most criticized feature of the new appearance.

-Massive black grille surround and chin spoiler appear to be the size and shape to pick up the US impact barrier hits, frontal and at angles. Same rationale for rear black surround. That's also the reason for the "nose cone" front end fascia. Too many expensive hoods and fenders are being replaced, the result of very low speed hits to the current Vantage.

-Rear end is a hodge- podge of shapes and materials. There is enough styling back here for two cars! Although the diffuser looks like it might function.

-Instrument panel, another confusing mess of angles, shapes and materials. I had hoped for more info from my current Vantage, like an ammeter and oil pressure gauge. They are still missing on the new sporty car.

-Underhood, the biggest mess of all, just like MB Gull Wing and GT cars. Did AM outsource engine compartment responsibility totally to Mercedes?

Dimensions have been difficult to confirm but the following have been hinted.
Overall length, +3 in.
Overall width, +5.5 in. Hard to believe, what about all those narrow UK
garages?
Weight, nothing firm but carryover or less, implied. Has to be up, there is more car here.
Price, +20K, that might have been pounds?

Conclusion: After the initial flurry of "I will take at any price" buyers, AM will be in trouble. These are the opinions of a very happy owner of a very modified 07 Vantage Coupe.

Auto photography rule of thumb. You can never be too low! Many professional shots were taken with a slight rise in the pavement or grass in between the lens and the subject car to visually lower and stretch it at the same time. Often seen in new car brochure broadside views.

 

http://europe.autonews.com/article/2...a-as-rich-snub

http://europe.autonews.com/article/2...rcedes-predict

This new direction in design with the DB11 and new Vantage is to appease the chinese market. That is were the future growth of the high end luxury car market is. I would think they "Aston Martin" consulted with what buyers in China want and delivered accordingly. I would have to see the new Vantage in real life to make a judgement.