Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

Recommended. Go-faster V8 Vantage S increases the intensity level with a sharper gearshift, bigger brakes and more power. Glorious.

Aston Martin seems to be following the Porsche 911's 'fill every conceivable niche' product plan with its V8 Vantage. New editions and specials arrive frequently, with the latest being this V8 Vantage S.

The range-topper in the V8 range the S gains some performance enhancements including more power - up 10bhp to deliver 430bhp - a revised, quicker steering ratio, bigger brakes, more focussed suspension and some weight reductions. The biggest revision though is the addition of a completely re-designed seven-speed, paddle-shifted automated manual transmission. Named Speedshift II, it's lighter, faster and more efficient, though, unlike the majority of rivals' paddle-shifted transmissions, only features one clutch.

Given its status in the range Aston Martin has made a few styling revisions inside and out. The interior gains a unique stitching treatment on the leather but otherwise it's largely the same as its siblings. That means an ancient Volvo-sourced sat nav housed in a beautifully hand-finished cabin.

Outside the S wears its increased performance with lightweight alloy wheels, a re-profiled front bumper with bigger air intakes and a carbon fibre splitter. It's much the same around the back, with the gloriously vocal exhausts sitting in a revised lower bumper diffuser and the bootlid topped by a neatly integrated spoiler.

Ally all that to a re-calibrated Dynamic Stability Control system, bespoke Bridgestone tyres and a limited slip differential and the S is a more hardcore driving proposition than its V8 relatives. There's a Sport button, sharpening up the throttle response, further speeding up the gearshifts and opening a naughty valve in the exhaust that allows the 4.7-litre V8 shout a little louder a little earlier.

It all looks like Aston's just been fiddling with the details, but the net result is a car that's far more engaging to drive. It should be though, with a price tag of £102,500 before you've added any of the desirable options like lightweight sports bucket seats. Unquestionably the best Aston Martin V8 Vantage yet, but that sticker price puts it up against some very serious rivals, many of which are cheaper and just as capable.