In an industry caught between combustion nostalgia and electric inevitability, Aston Martin’s new Vantage S roars into the spotlight, unapologetically analogue, unapologetically British. The Vantage has always played the role of Aston’s sharpest blade, but the S variant turns it into a scalp-precise, lighter, and more committed than its base counterpart.
This is not an all-new car. It’s a focused evolution. But in Aston Martin tradition, the details matter, and this is where the Vantage S distinguishes itself.
Powertrain & Performance
Under the vented bonnet sits the same AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, but it’s been retuned—again. Output now stands at 665 BHP and 800 NM of torque, gains of 30 BHP and 115 NM over the standard 2024 Vantage. More than numbers, it’s the delivery that’s changed. The torque curve has been widened, the throttle response sharpened, and the redline creeps higher.
The 0-100 KM/H sprint is now dismissed in 3.4 seconds, shaving a tenth off the standard Vantage, while top speed climbs to 325 KM/H. Aston claims gearbox software tweaks to the 8-speed ZF automatic have reduced shift times significantly, especially under hard braking and mid-corner corrections, where the S wants to live.
Chassis & Dynamics
The headline change lies beneath. The Vantage S gets retuned adaptive dampers, stiffer springs, and revised anti-roll bar calibrations. Aston Martin’s engineers claim it brings greater lateral fidelity at the edge of grip without compromising the car’s long-distance comfort.
Michelin Pilot Sport 5S tyres wrap 21-inch forged alloys, developed in collaboration with Michelin specifically for this car. They’re not just stickier, but engineered to offer more consistent lateral grip beyond 0.98G, especially under heat soak in Middle Eastern summer climates. Brake cooling ducts have been revised, helping mitigate fade.
There’s also a quicker steering rack, offering 2.1 turns lock-to-lock, paired with recalibrated electronic power steering for sharper inputs and better weight distribution across the rack.
Carbon ceramic brakes are now standard on the S trim. 400 MM front discs and 360 MM rears help drop unsprung weight and maintain stopping power lap after lap, which is critical in a car this track-leaning.
Aerodynamics
Where the regular Vantage aims to turn heads, the Vantage S wants to hold them. It gets an aerodynamic overhaul, subtle but significant. The front fascia wears a deeper splitter, flanked by enlarged corner intakes feeding both brakes and radiators. The grille is now wider, with active vanes behind it to regulate airflow as needed, opened for cooling, closed for aerodynamic drag reduction.
Down the sides, side skirts have been reshaped to improve airflow toward the rear axle. At the back, the fixed Gurney flap atop the ducktail spoiler increases rear downforce by 20%, working with a new rear diffuser to optimise high-speed stability.
Total downforce at 250 KM/H stands at 85 KG, 45% more than the base car. That’s trackday confidence you can feel, not just measure.
Interior
The Vantage S retains Aston’s updated interior design language introduced with the 2024 Vantage: cleaner, more tactile, less screen-heavy. You get a 10.25-inch central infotainment system running Aston’s own interface, not Mercedes’, with native Apple CarPlay, but no Android Auto yet. Aston Martin is one of the only carmakers to support Apple CarPlay Ultra.
More importantly, the seats are different. Lightweight carbon-fibre bucket seats, wrapped in Alcantara with leather accents, sit lower in the chassis, improving hip-point positioning and overall driver feel. They’re not over-bolstered either.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel is Alcantara-wrapped, paddle shifters are now carbon fibre, and even the gear selector buttons have a tighter throw. It’s minimalism with intent, not tech-for-tech ’s-sake.
Design
Visually, it’s still unmistakably a Vantage. The proportions remain: long bonnet, short rear overhang, low-slung stance. But the Vantage S is more aggressive in its detailing.
New carbon-fibre trim pieces line the mirror caps, front splitter, and rear diffuser, as standard. The hood now features functional vents, not faux garnishes. Wheel arches are slightly flared, giving it a planted, ready-to-pounce profile.
Aston Martin offers a wider range of bespoke liveries through Q by Aston Martin, with Gulf Blue, Satin Titanium Grey, and Bronze Tan expected to be favourites in regional showrooms. Inside, the same level of customisation applies, from stitched logos to custom embossing and woven carbon inlays.
Price & Availability
The Aston Martin Vantage S is expected to arrive in Middle Eastern markets by Q4 2025, with pricing starting at approximately AED 720,000 before options. With full-spec builds pushing that closer to AED 850,000, this is not entry-level sports car territory, but aimed squarely at Porsche 911 GTS buyers and the more driver-focused end of the GT spectrum.
Importantly, this isn’t a limited-run model. It’s a production variant that will sit above the standard Vantage but below the hardcore V12 or AMR derivatives, should they arrive later in the product cycle.
