Aston Martin continues it's resurgence with the all new Vantage, the brand is back and back big time.

• New Vantage defined by bold new look, intensified performance and dynamics
• Powered by 4.0-litre, 510PS/685Nm twin-turbo V8 mated to eight-speed ZF transmission
• Maximum speed 195mph. 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds
• First Aston Martin to be fitted with an Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff)
• Deliveries scheduled to begin second quarter of 2018

Vantage. An evocative name for a magnificent bloodline of thoroughbred sports cars. For seven decades the heartbeat of Aston Martin’s purest models, the Vantage nameplate has been worn by some true icons. First used in 1951 on a high-output engine option for the DB2, Vantage was quickly established as a model in its own right. Highlights include the William Towns-designed V8 Vantage, spectacular twin-supercharged V600 Le Mans and the much-loved V8 Vantage. Today this formidable sporting dynasty is poised to hit new heights with the introduction of the new Vantage.

A spectacular new Aston Martin sports car demands a bold and distinctive design language. Pure, sculptural forms create an athletic, predatory stance, while the minimal front and rear overhangs, muscular flanks and broad haunches express the agility and dynamism inherent within the car. New head and tail lights form dramatic new signatures giving the Vantage unmistakable road presence and contribute to a strong and individual identity within the growing Aston Martin model range.

Aerodynamic performance was central to the Vantage design concept: the front splitter directs airflow underneath the car, where a system of fences channels cooling air where it is needed, and also ensures the rear diffuser is fed with clean airflow. The design of the diffuser creates an area of low pressure air, while simultaneously preventing turbulence generated by the rear wheels from disrupting the flow of air exiting centrally from beneath the rear of the car.

Together with the new side gills, which have been integrated into the body surface and bleed air pressure out from the front wheel arches, and the pronounced upswept rear deck lid, the Vantage generates a significant level of downforce - a rarity on any production car and a first for a core production Aston Martin model.

The design story continues inside the Vantage, with a dynamic and focused sports car cockpit that rejects long, fluid curves in favour of sharp, focused lines denoting the more aggressive nature of the car. A high waist interior theme and lower driving position creates a more immersive driving experience, and contributes to significant gains in occupant space and significant improvement in headroom compared with the outgoing Vantage. A combination of rotary and toggle style controls have been used for their tactile and intuitive functionality. Likewise, the PRND transmission buttons have been moved into a triangular formation so as to cluster major controls into clearly defined zones. The interior also offers generous stowage space, with useable room behind the seats and generous double-tier storage areas.

The heart of the Vantage is Aston Martin’s potent new alloy, 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine.  Set low and as far back in the chassis as possible for optimal centre-of-gravity and perfect 50:50 weight distribution, this high performance, high efficiency engine returns a CO2 figure of *245g/km yet develops 510PS at 6000rpm and 685Nm from 2000-5000rpm. With a dry weight of 1530kg this gives the Vantage formidable power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios - something vividly demonstrated whenever the throttle is squeezed. Detailed tuning of the induction, exhaust and engine management systems has given the Vantage a truly intoxicating character and soundtrack.

The Vantage deploys its impressive power and torque to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 195mph, it employs a sophisticated suite of integrated electronic systems to offer maximum control and driver enjoyment. These include Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Torque Vectoring. The speed-dependent electric power steering has 2.4 turns lock-to-lock for an outstanding combination of responsiveness and precise, intuitive control.

For the first time on an Aston Martin the new Vantage also features an Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff). This differential is linked to the car’s electronic stability control system, so it can understand the car’s behaviour, and react accordingly to direct the engine’s power to the relevant wheel. Unlike a conventional LSD, it can go from fully open to 100% locked in a matter of milliseconds.  At higher speeds, the Electronic Differential’s speed and sensitivity of response enables the system to take very fine control of the car’s dynamic behaviour. It makes the car feel much more composed both in terms of its straight-line stability and its cornering performance, providing the driver with increased levels of confidence to explore and enjoy the car’s capabilities to the full.

The chassis is an evolution of the latest generation bonded aluminium structure first seen on the DB11, though some 70 per cent of the structure’s components are new for Vantage. Balance, strength, rigidity and weight efficiency were all priorities in the new Vantage design, as was handling purity and consistency. Highlights of the chassis include a solidly mounted rear subframe for an enhanced feeling of direct connection for the driver, new Pirelli P Zero tyres developed specifically for new Vantage and the latest generation Adaptive Damping System which incorporates Skyhook technology and offers the choice of Sport, Sport Plus and Track modes.

Thanks to full integration of engine, transmission, E-Diff, Dynamic Torque Vectoring, Dynamic Stability Control, Adaptive Damping and the electric power steering systems, each mode optimises every area of the car as one. With each step the Vantage gains in agility and responsiveness, its character becoming progressively sharper, more vocal and more exciting. This is the essence of the Vantage driving experience - a car that’s never less than connected and engaging with the breadth of capability to revel in challenging roads and bare its teeth on track. 

The Vantage features a high level of standard equipment, including keyless start/stop, tyre pressure monitoring system, parking distance display, park assist and front and rear parking sensors. The In-Car Entertainment system - controlled and viewed via a centrally mounted 8” LCD screen - comprises of the Aston Martin Audio System, Bluetooth® audio and phone streaming, iPod®, iPhone® and USB playback and an integrated satellite navigation system.

Being an Aston Martin, the new Vantage also features a high level of craftsmanship, evidenced by flawless paintwork, luxurious Alcantara® and leather upholstery and the levels of finish optimised through the use of tactile natural materials of the highest quality. There is also extensive scope for personalisation via a generous choice of options. These include forged alloy wheels in a variety of finishes, Sports Plus Collection (comprising Sports Plus seats and Sports steering wheel), carbon fibre interior and exterior detailing and a Premium Audio System. 

Aston Martin President Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Palmer said: “It speaks volumes for the outgoing Vantage that it is the single most successful model in Aston Martin’s history. Creating a worthy successor has been a challenge to relish and a huge source of motivation. I’m enormously excited by what we’ve created: a new Vantage that’s more explicit in looks and intent, wrapping heart-pounding performance and dazzling dynamics into an everyday usable package. A true sports car with a sharper look and a keener dynamic edge, the new Vantage is the Aston Martin pure driving machine enthusiasts have been waiting for.”

The new Vantage is on sale now with a recommended retail price from £120,900 in the UK, €154,000 in Germany and $149,995 in the USA. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2018.

TMW - The 2016 mitsubishi Shogun - A tale of two cars in one body, one better than the other.

The 2016 Mitsubishi Shogun is a tale of two cars, firstly the general car then the off road vehicle, the off road car is one that most fail to emulate, it has the power and low down grunt to keep the car going in the most difficult of terrains, the car is set on two wheel drive, but you can easily change that to other wheel combinations upto a full four wheel drive car.

Off road is something that i would like to try out at some point in this car, as i am sure that it would just demolish all styles of driving from deep ruts and deep water to steep inclines/declines and side inclines as well, but that will have to wait to another day and event.

The interior of the car is brilliant, loads of room, and lots of glass so that you never feel like you are hemmed in, unlike similar cars that take fashion over functionality, however, the interior is a great place to be, the great feeling switches and knobs are all damped to make them feel like quality switches, not many can do that, make something out to be better than what it actually is, and the rest of the interior follows suit.

Leather upholstery and leather covered door cards give you the feeling of quality, along with electric movement and heated front seating, you are at least comfortable, well, I say comfortable, you sit on the seats, and not cossetted in them, for a car this expensive, the comfort is a little left wanting, however, i did manage to fall asleep whilst being driven, and i dont do that in every car.

The satellite Navigation is great, once you get it set up, it is precise, direct and instructions are clear and concise, again, i have been in cars that are not that good, so another plus point, the steering wheel has reach and rake, so, along with the electric seats, getting into a position of reasonable comfort for driving is easy.

Once on the highway, things change a little, the 3.2 litre diesel engine struggles, and you have to give yourself plenty of room to pull out of a junction or roundabout, there is some lean on sharp corners, which is more fun than not, the steering is more heavy than not, but it makes for precise driving, rather than the flakey steering that a lot of cars have these days, you can tell where the car is actually going to go, and with some of the over powered cars, that can be difficult.

On the road you will be more than aware of the noise, the big tyres give a lot of road roar, then you have the oversized wing mirrors, again, they cause wind noise, a slight redesign might make that noise less intrusive, but you can not get away from the size of the car, it is a big box, so again, this will cause some wind noise, especially once you get the car upto motorway speeds, at least the radio can drown this out.

The Fuel consumption is one thing you dont talk about, if you can afford to buy one of these, then you should be able to afford the fuel, but for the sake of being open and honest, the claimed fuel consumption is :-

• Urban - 26.9mpg
• Extra Urban - 32.8mpg
• Combined - 30.4mpg

We managed to get, via the cars info, just shy of 28mpg over the course of the 10 days we had the Shogun, added to which the first year taxation of £885 and £500 per year thereafter (for the moment-Tax rates change on 1st April) makes the initial outlay high, but you do know you are getting a really well made, and reliable car, one that can do all you ask of it, both on and off road.

The car is well specified, with lots of toys gadgets to play with, some of the items that come as standard are:-

• Leather Upholstery
• Leather Door Facings
• Electric Sunroof
• Carpet Mats All Round inc Boot
• Premium HD Sat Nav
• DAB Radio
• Stainless Steel Front Door Entry Guards
• Front Power Seats
• Front Heated Seats
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Rear View Camera
• Mood Lighting
• Climate Control
• Bonnet Badge
• Twin USB Ports
• Hidden CD Slot
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• HiD Xenon With Auto Levelling Headlamps

And this is just a small amount of the standard fit items that you will find on this car, however, no amount of toys and gadgets can disguise the fact that this car needs to be updated, its very good, dont get me wrong, but it cant compete with the Range Rover or Discovery, which is  the market the Shogun is competing in.

CONCLUSION

Give the car some more comfy seats, a better cleaner engine, try and reduce wind noise and make it less agricultural, and you will have the perfect car, as it stands, you are getting a very good car, let down by some small defects, is it good enough ? Well, yes, it really is a great car to be in, you feel like your lording it over all and sundry.

it can take all the luggage you could need, and even some really large items can be taken without having to adjust the rear seats, and talking of rear seats, there is acres of room for your passengers, another plus point, keeping the kids or family happy.

The five year/62,500 mile warranty is another plus point, where you get only three years elsewhere you get five here, which shows that they have confidence in the product, you even get a 12 year anti perforation warranty and three year pan european roadside assistance including home start, would i have one, well, if i could afford to pay for fuel then yes i would, it really is a good car, and if they sorted out the other bits and pieces it would become unbeatable.