2023 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe Performance

If you want the fastest or the quickest of a certain type of car, you generally have to get the limited-run models. Not so in the case of the Vantage. Here, the regular Vantage is the quickest accelerating version. It gets from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 195 mph. That's made possible by the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with its outputs of 503 hp and 505 lb-ft.

The F1 Edition puts out a more potent 527 hp but the torque output remains the same. Aston quotes exactly the same 0-62 mph time for this model as for the normal one. Yes, the Porsche 911 is ultimately quicker but the Aston's sonorous engine note outclasses even the 911's six-pot. A near-perfect weight balance of 50:50 on the regular Vantage helps the car prove itself in the corners, as does a standard electronic limited-slip differential, helping you keep the rear end where you want it. Both Vantage models direct power to the rear wheels exclusively.

The engine in every Aston Martin Vantage is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG. The V12 Vantage that was introduced later is reviewed separately. Of all the companies that Aston Martin could have chosen, opting for the one that also supplies marques like Pagani Automobili is a guaranteed recipe for success. The engine produces an impressive 503 hp and up to 505 lb-ft of torque in the regular model. The most potent variant, however, is the F1 Edition, which retains the 505 lb-ft torque figure but increases power to 527 hp. Throttle response is good, and the Vantage behaves like a slingshot out the gate, with a low-down rumble increasing to a wailing crescendo - an impressive feat considering how muffling turbochargers can be.

An eight-speed ZF automatic controls ratios in the Vantage, and it's well-tuned, with Sport, Sport+, and Track modes providing progressively sharper responses. In the most laidback Sport mode, however, downshifts can be a fraction too slow, but overall, this is a refined transmission that reacts well to your inputs. Regrettably, Aston has discontinued the manual transmission which leaves only the automatic. As great as the auto is, it was a joy to experience the manual in a car like this.

The Vantage is surprisingly efficient considering the output of its V8, returning official EPA estimates of 18/24/20 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. With a 19.2-gallon gas tank, estimated range with mixed driving is expected to be around 384 miles.