It's finally here. Today, Aston Martin revealed the all-new Vantage at a private event for its employees at its UK headquarters following an onslaught of teasers. As we suspected it looks a lot like the DB10 concept that was made specifically for the James Bond film Spectre in 2015. That's a very good thing. The new Vantage sports noticeably sharper looks than its predecessor, with elegant lines, minimal front and rear overhangs, and muscular flanks that give it an athletic appearance.

Ultra-slim front and rear LED lights add to the car's sleekness. Its beautiful body features an array of aerodynamic components. A front splitter directs airflow underneath the car, while the cleverly designed rear diffuser creates an area of low pressure air, while preventing turbulence generated by the rear wheels from disrupting the flow of air exiting centrally from beneath the rear of the car. New side gills and a pronounced rear deck lid also help the Vantage generate significant downforce for the first time in a mainstream Aston Martin production car. Powering the all-new Vantage is the same Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as the DB11, tuned to produce 510 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque.

That's a slight increase over the 503-hp, V8-powered DB11 and 80 more horses than the previous V8 Vantage GT. 0-62 mph takes 3.5 seconds before the Vantage tops out at 195 mph. A V12 version is also likely to follow. The engine is set as low and as far back in the chassis as possible, ensuring an optimal center of gravity and perfect 50:50 weight distribution. With a dry weight of 1530 kg, the Vantage has formidable power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios that should make it more satisfying to drive than the DB11. Power is fed through an eight-speed automatic transmission, although a manual gearbox will also be offered next year.

For the first time in an Aston Martin, the new Vantage features an electronic rear differential that's linked to the stability control system. Compared to a conventional limited-slip diff, Aston Martin's system adapts its characteristics more cleverly to make the car feel composed in straight lines and corners. The chassis is based on the DB11's aluminium structure, but Aston Martin says that 70 percent of the structure's components are new for the Vantage. Double-wishbone suspension features at the front, with multi-link suspension at the rear. The rear subframe is also solidly mounted to the car unlike the DB11 to increase the car's rigidity.

Adaptive damping is also offered with three different modes: Sport, Sport Plus and Track. "It speaks volumes for the outgoing Vantage that it is the single most successful model in Aston Martin's history," said CEO Andy Palmer. "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."

Aston Martin is currently accepting orders for the new Vantage with prices starting at $149,995. Deliveries are slated to start in the second quarter of 2018. Aston Martin will also be revealing the Vantage GTE racecar variant later today, so stay tuned.