Aston Martin’s latest Vantage isn’t a race car, but it could be the next best.
The British brand has just unveiled a new street version of its acclaimed sports car, the F1 Edition. The exclusive vehicle is to celebrate the return of the brand to the premiere competition of racing after 60 years of absence and is also based on the track-capable Vantage, which will be used as the official Formula 1 safety car in the 2021 season.
Aston Martin F1 Edition Coupe
Aston Martin
The F1 Edition isn’t an exact replica of the Vantage you’ll see racing this year, but it’s pretty close. In fact, you find it difficult to tell the difference from the outside. The road-legal version, which is available either as a coupé or a roadster, is available in the same racing green as the Formula 1 racing car and the official safety vehicle, as well as in Jet Black or Lunar White. Whichever hue you choose, it comes with a glossy or matte finish that is offset by an optional matte dark gray racing graphic in the center of the vehicle. Other special details include a grand piano grille, carbon fiber accents, four exhaust systems and a set of diamond-tuned 21-inch wheels in satin black.
The interior of the F1 Edition has also been improved a bit. Although the safety car’s roll cage is missing, it has a new Obsidian Black leather and Phantom Gray Alcantara upholstery and trim that you can personalize with accents and contrasting stitching in Lime Green, Spicy Red, Wolf Gray or Obsidian Black. You will also find a Formula 1 logo on the side of the threshold. The rest is the same as the Vantage.
Aston Martin F1 Edition Roadster
Aston Martin
Where the F1 differs most from the safety car is on the mechanical front. This includes a specially tuned version of the 4.0-liter AMG V-8 with two turbochargers from the Vantage, which develops 527 hp, that’s 24 horses more than before, and 505 ft lbs of twist. The mill is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts faster than the standard model and can accelerate the two-door car from zero to 100 km / h in just 3.5 seconds (3.6 seconds for the roadster) and push it to a top speed of 195 Miles per hour (190 miles per hour for the drop top). The chassis has also been strengthened and the suspension changed to provide better handling. The F1 Edition may not meet the standards of a true Formula 1 racing driver, but it should be able to hold its own on the track.
The Vantage F1 Edition will be on its way to dealerships from May. This is half of the Formula 1 season. Prices for the street-legal two-door model start at $ 162,000, which is $ 20,000 more than the standard Vantage.
The post Aston Martin’s new Vantage F1 Edition offers a taste of the racetrack – Robb Report first appeared on monter-une-startup.
