Geneva 2008: Aston Martin Vantage RS

[Overheat]

Aston Martin has unveiled an all-new, almost production-ready, 600bhp Vantage RS concept.

Powered by a 6.0-litre V12 developed for the DBR9 race car, the new concept has also taken the racer's ceramic composite brake discs and aerodynamics aids such as a deep front splitter and mechanical rear spoiler that help to improve road-holding at high speed.

Thanks to weight-saving materials and features such as an aggressive slatted bonnet and carbon-fibre rear bootlid, the RS weighs less than 1,600kg, 30kg lighter than the V8 Vantage it's based on.

The performance promises to be on a par with some of the fastest supercars: 0-62mph in less than 4 seconds and 0-100mph in just 8.5 seconds. Testing on the car is said to be 90% complete, with mules already covering a significant proportion of the 100,000 development miles Astons usually undertake.

Despite the work already carried out, Aston boss Ulrich Bez has as not yet given the green light for RS production, instead saying: 'If there is sufficient demand then we will seriously consider a low-volume production run in the near future, with a price that will reflect the exclusivity of the car.' The price of exclusivity? In excess of £160,000, we reckon.

Aston is updating the DB9 for '09: the 6.0-litre V12 gets an extra 20bhp (now 470bhp and 420lb ft) from tweaks to the ECU, exhaust system and gearbox software. New Bilstein shock absorbers, suspension arms and bushes are fitted, and overall rigidity enhanced. New 19-inch alloys, door mirrors, grille, starter button and centre console also make their debut.

The company has also announced that the upcoming Rapide four-door will be built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. Aston's existing production facility at Gaydon has capacity to build only 8000 cars a year, mostly now accounted for by the V8 Vantage, DB9 and DBS, and the company plans to make around 2000 Rapides a year.

Magna Steyr will set up a dedicated Aston Martin facility, based on the set-up at Gaydon and the Aston engine factory in Cologne, where the employees will even wear Aston Martin-branded workwear. Production will start in late 2009.

[_HighVoltage_]

WANT ONE! NOW!

[powah]

Don't like the wheels, but the rest of it is awesome.

[Crazyjeeper]

I think that will be capable of time travel

[Aiolos]

That car looks AMAZING. And the power isn't bad either

[watto]

Fantastic. All of it. Brilliant!!

[fbc]

The wheels are truly nasty - but sheesh that's akin to 'her elbows are too pointy'.

[Posmo]

Yes please.

[niccce]

Approved.

Geneva 08 commenting spree

[M3_Powered]

Absolutely Stunning!

[anti-net]

Holy fuck sticks that car just keeps getting prettier. Tho I do agree, wheels look bad, they look a bit...chavvy. Not very Aston

[CrazyCavia]

Always loved the Vantage serie and this is no exception. Yummy...

[No Boss]

those wheels are ghastly... but the car looks fantastic.

[Ottobon]

Looks MUCH BETTER then the original design. I remember awhile back when they first tried out the idea the end result looked like a RX8 (somehow), this looks like a Aston threw and threw! Just hope prodrive can get it to handle like a Porsche , then AM will be elevated to the levels of Automotive gods, instead of just really good looking and sounding British GT cars.

[American TG Man]

Dear Aston Martin,

Please put this into production.

Thanks.

[ahpadt]

It doesn't do much for me tbh. Feels kinda dull.

[edkwon]

I love how ppl get fixated on wheels when they are the most easily replaceable bit of the car, honestly the look of stock wheels dont really factor in on my love/hate of aesthetics since they are replaced by aftermarket wheels anyway if they aren't good looking.

[Plexface]

Just lovely.. And with more power too. If this goes into production I'm gonna start to pray to the car gods, face towards the aston plant, twice a day

[tigger]

If there is such a thing as automotive perfection, I'd say that this Aston is approaching it.

[bartboy9891]

It would be better if it didn't look like a Vantage.