Aston Martin Vantage V8 HP400+ by Eibach

[Blayde]

Presented at Essen Motor Show

The exhilaration of speed or, as some might put it, “the need for speed” is more deep-seated in than almost anywhere else on earth. Even the legendary engineer George Stephenson named one of his first locomotives “The Rocket”. The fascinating unit of horsepower (HP) also has its origins in the era of the steam engine; it managed to establish itself as the reference standard for the car in general language usage over the more banal unit of “kW”.

It soon became clear that the first non-tracked automobiles were not only judged for their power. Hence, the relatively under-motorised Mini Cooper became very successful in motor sports thanks to its agile handling properties. It therefore comes as no surprise that the Eibach company – which can look back on decades of experience in motor racing and in suspension design for regular road cars – uses the advertising slogan “Horsepower for the turns” in America.

The quintessence of these efforts – a combination of technical fascination and the endeavour for speed – is currently the Eibach Vantage V8 HP400+ project vehicle which has been realised with the cooperation of the technology partners Prodrive, Pirelli and Alpine Electronics. It makes an appearance as stylish as a gentleman’s suit from ’s , and its performance is as superior as the unbeatable cheese rolling races from Gloucestershire. This is no joke, by the way: for years, this rolling food has been winning every mountain race against its human competitors, who try to catch it on its uncontrolled roll down a steep hill.

“The Will To Win” is also a characteristic of the Eibach V8 HP400+. Rail vehicles and the rolling cheese (not to forget many automobile competitors) are lacking the precision of almost-perfect handling properties. With its minimum body roll tendency and optimum steering behaviour, the suspension impresses with its Eibach Pro-Kit Performance Springs which brings the high-performance sports car by 10 mm closer to the road at the front and 5 mm at the rear. Thanks to the progressive design, the springs become tighter with increasing deflection and always ensure optimum traction. Electronically adjustable shock absorbers made by Bilstein assist a razor-sharp cornering speed: the driver can change the characteristics at the click of the switch from the cockpit at any time. Another convincing dimension is the extreme residual comfort offered by the car. Whereas the track determines where the train goes to, with Eibach the driver has everything under control: in addition to the Pro-Kit, the Eibach Anti-Roll-Kit – developed specifically for this car – ensures that practically every manoeuvre can be performed with a minimum of body roll. The Performance Stabilizer Bars are made from high-strength tubular steel whose cavity also keeps the total car’s weight low.

Eibach Pro-Spacer, made from aluminium, further improve the road stability and give the Aston Martin Vantage V8 an appearance as far removed from a narrow-gauge railway as the bottom of the Marianas Trench is from . This was first climbed in 1953 by a British expedition. In the guise of the Prodrive company, the Britons reached a further peak in the broader sense of the word with the Eibach V8 HP400+, namely when it comes to power – let’s not forget that the HP in the project name stands not only for high performance but also for a good dose of horsepower: the result is around 425 bhp (431 DIN-PS) which the tuning team – with whom Eibach also cooperates in the Aston Martin Racing project – gets out of the eight-cylinder engine (series: 380 bhp - 385 DIN-PS) of this Vantage V8. Prodrive did not scrimp when it came to torque either, providing the Aston Martin with an increase from 410 to 440Nm. The result of these impressive figures is a top speed faster by 15km/h, i.e. 295km/h, and an acceleration time improved by three-tenths – making a total of only 4.7 seconds from 0 to 100km/h! With so much power under its bonnet, the high-performance sports car possesses perfected aerodynamics. Following extensive tests in the wind tunnel and using computer simulations, Prodrive managed to reduce the high speed lift by 45%. To this end, a front lip and an effective rear spoiler are used – both of which are made from the high-strength material carbon fibre which is also very light.

The weight of the unsprung masses is also crucial to the optimum handling of the car. Rims as big as those on a freight wagon yet light as a feather? No problem! Prodrive uses 19-inch forged wheels made from light metal which reduce the weight by approx. 1kg per wheel compared to standard wheels. Add to this the formidable design which pays homage to the Aston Martin DBR9 GT1.

Whereas locomotives scatter sand to overcome traction problems, Eibach prefers to rely on its tyre partner Pirelli, which uses the P-ZERO CORSA system with tyre mixing: CORSA Direzionale in the dimensions 245/40ZR19 XL TL AM8 on the front axle and CORSA Asimmetrico in 285/35ZR19 XL TL AM8 on the rear axle. With its ultra-efficient lateral water expulsion capacity, the Direzionale prepares the road surface for the Asimmetrico, allowing it to maximise grip, and thus, driver safety. The rubber compound is a result of Pirelli’s experiences in motor sport.

In days gone by, steam engines were very noisy – as were automobiles, too. The entire, unbridled power of the Eibach V8 HP400+, however, comes across as a melodious sound. The Prodrive exhaust system, which is volume-controllable via an automatic override option for the exhaust valve, makes an important contribution towards this lovely sound. Yet the hi-fi and multi-media system from the technological partner Alpine Electronics is also a first-class treat for the eyes – and the ears! The 8-inch pulse-touch display by Alpine in the middle of the dashboard looks as perfect as if it had been inserted during the assembly work in the Aston Martin plant in Gaydon. Not only does it act as a playback medium for DVD films embedded in a dream of the finest Conolly leather and boasting the best 5.1 cinema sound as a special treat for passengers, the likes of which not even the ICE (German high speed train) can offer: the perfect interplay between the components is enabled by the innovative Vehicle Hub Pro, the interface solution from Alpine, which makes it possible to equip practically any vehicle system with additional components. An example of this is the innovative, weight-saving digital amplifier by Alpine, which combines the perfect sound with the power of a steam boiler. Its polished aluminum look is a further delightful feature. Corresponding light metal decorative elements can be found on the sill tread plates and the door handles of the Eibach project car. Incidentally, the Alpine DVD navigation system will guide you to your destination as easy as can be in even the worst of urban jungles. Then again, with so much driving fun to be had: who wants to get there?!

[fbc]

Erk, those stickers are killing it. I prefer it on the stock wheels too - so far I haven't seen a tuner version that I've prefered over the factory model.

[BlaRo]

Attention, press release writers: jeez guys, it's a tuned Aston Vantage. It isn't exactly the next Industrial Revolution or anything. I don't think James Watt is worrying about getting booted out of the Smithsonian and being replaced by this...

[SL65]

If Aston just gave the Vantage a bigger, more powerfull engine, there wouldn't be any need for these tuners. Its not as if they're making it look any better....

And yeh, those stickers kill it.

[LeMans GTR]

why do we need this ? we already have the Aston aproved prodrive vantage with 400+bhp its the one in my avatar

[un-dee]

Isn't that the same car as the ProDrive? I remember reading in that thread, that the Prodrive had a new Eibach developed suspension, and this here says it has a Prodrive exhaust system.
The body kit looks exactly the same to me, too, they only added these stickers
Maybe they did all that because Prodrive is largely unknown in Germany?

[No Boss]

Originally Posted by SL65

If Aston just gave the Vantage a bigger, more powerfull engine, there wouldn't be any need for these tuners.

That could be said about every car maker.

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by No Boss

That could be said about every car maker.

but a lot of cars arent as lame as the Vantage

[wooflepoof]

I always tell myself if i were to ever be given or win a supercar like an F430 or the like i'd drive it fer a week then sell it and buy a nice classic car or two and invest the rest so i can pay for insurance and servicing, but i dont think i would even drive the vantage before i put it up for sale theres nothing about it that would inspire me to take it out i'd just be too nervous that i'd scratch it and hafta sell it for less. For a Ferrari or the M5 or even the DB9 i'd be willing to take that risk. Plus c'mon is 400hp all these tuners can ink out of the engine i havent seen much higher in any of these done up aston martin vantage threads. i'd be interested if they gave it 760 and taped a live eagle to the front that would be pretty cool

[scoops]

Originally Posted by wooflepoof

I always tell myself if i were to ever be given or win a supercar like an F430 or the like i'd drive it fer a week then sell it and buy a nice classic car or two and invest the rest so i can pay for insurance and servicing, but i dont think i would even drive the vantage before i put it up for sale theres nothing about it that would inspire me to take it out i'd just be too nervous that i'd scratch it and hafta sell it for less. For a Ferrari or the M5 or even the DB9 i'd be willing to take that risk. Plus c'mon is 400hp all these tuners can ink out of the engine i havent seen much higher in any of these done up aston martin vantage threads. i'd be interested if they gave it 760 and taped a live eagle to the front that would be pretty cool

i'm in agreement, 380-425 hp is weak sause. i have more then that in my 2.0 4cylindar and it's fairly reliable. Comon!!!! as for the prodrive tuning and the eiback suspension i agree with undee, is this not the same car? even the light weight prodrive rims look the same as the light weight prodrive rims on the prodrive.... I think all the suspension work is great, it could use more grip as well as downforce, but let's get some meat in that engine bay!!! why didn't they go for a V10 instead of sharing an 8 with the Jag or have even developed their own v8.... they wimped out making this car. has anyone heard a %age of how many shared components there are between this and the Jag? i'm curous.

[un-dee]

I think the problem is that if they'd really go for it, they would easily outclassed the million years old V12 from the DB9, so they were held back to have the car compete with the 911. Which it doesn't, because its slower and a lot more expensive, but anyway, I still think its a great car, they should just give it some more horses or cut the still way too high weight.

[marcos_eirik]

Slower? According to the Sport Auto Super Test the V8 Vantage is faster than the 997 Carrera S in it's fastest setting around the Nordschleife. 8:03 vs 8:05, yes it may only be two seconds, but anyway; "It doesn't matter wherther you win by an inch or a mile, winning is winning..."

[un-dee]

It costs about 20.000€ more, and I think its the only track where it is faster because AM engineers spent 90% of their time developing that car on the Nordschleife.
It also has a slower 0-60 time than the Carrera S. My point is, for that price they could have done better, and they didn't to protect their outdated V12 engine.

[marcos_eirik]

Originally Posted by un-dee

It costs about 20.000€ more,

That doesn't mention the fact that Porsche makes about 30000 911 every year, and Aston Martin builds just 3000 V8 Vantages a year. Exclusivity costs, but that's besides the point. You just need to be inside each of them, being in the Vantage is an event, whereas inside the 997 it's just annother car.

Originally Posted by un-dee

...and I think its the only track where it is faster because AM engineers spent 90% of their time developing that car on the Nordschleife.

Yeah, like Porsche engineers don't...? Aston Martin engineers didn't finalize the suspension on the Nordschleife, chief test driver Chris Porrit, said in EVO right before the launch that they use the Nordschleife to tune the suspension just to as certain extent. They finalize the suspension set-up on the backroads. Mostly the development time on the 'ring is for making sure various parts can handle extreme situation. The downhill sections are very hard on the brakes, whereas the uphill sections demands the outmost from the various cooling systems.

Originally Posted by un-dee

...outdated V12 engine.

And how is that V12 engine outdated and "million years old"...?

[un-dee]

Porsche only makes the suspension setup for the GT3 and GT2 on the Nordschleife, but most of their testing takes place on their own test track in Weissach.
Their V12 is known to be very fuel consuming and it seems to be pretty hard to get larger amounts of power from it. I think i heard somewhere that it was developped by Ford several years ago, but never used. When Aston Martin was in a pretty bad financial situation they got the engine from Ford. Don't get me wrong, I love the V8 Vantage and I really want one, its one of the best-looking cars there and I also don't mind the engine. I just think they held back a bit with it to make sure its not as powerful as the DB9 (or close), while being more efficient and all. I don't like that.

[Atmikes]

I too like the "baby Aston", i would be very happy being able to drive one around.

I'm sure i won't give mine to Eibach or Prodrive to pump it up with steroids.( ever wondered what angelina jolie would look like with a double D bra ? )

and as mentioned before don't compare a Porsche with an AM, some people like to pretend it was built to compete with the 911 (if AM wanted it to really compete with porsche they should have made it more powerfull and a LOT cheaper too)

Power, Beauty and Soul

[un-dee]

Originally Posted by Atmikes

ever wondered what angelina jolie would look like with a double D bra ?

Yep, quite a few times actually.