What's the news?
Aston Martin is going to unveil one of its most focused road cars yet at the Geneva show in a couple of weeks, in the form of the limited edition Vantage GT3. Only 100 of these track-biased machines will be built, with Aston claiming it 'bridges the gap between road and race cars'.
Exterior
It's pretty clear this is no lardy GT car, what with the big front splitter, huge fixed rear spoiler, super-aggressive rear diffuser and cooling ducts ahead of the back wheels. Indeed, Aston claims the aerodynamics package produces 'significant downforce' to help the GT3 corner well, but the best news is it weighs 100kg less than a standard V12 Vantage S, at 1,565kg all-in. That's thanks to the extensive use of carbon fibre, which can be found in the front wings, bonnet, door casings and even the roof (as an option). Further lean goodies include a lithium-ion race-derived battery and optional polycarbonate weight-saving rear and three-quarter windows. The Vantage GT3 also has wider front and rear tracks, while it uses Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.
Interior
Not your typical leather-and-wood British GT finish in here, but acres and acres of carbon fibre - it's on the centre stack, with its touch-sensitive control array, in the race-inspired bucket seats and on the paddle shifts too. Still not special enough for you? Then Aston Martin's personalisation service, Q, is available for GT3 customers to tailor it to their hearts' content.
Mechanicals
You'll be familiar with the 6.0-litre V12 engine in the Vantage GT3, but not its power output. It now stands at 600hp, up from 573hp in the V12 Vantage S, which is going to be handy when teamed to that 100kg weight loss. This is achieved through magnesium inlet manifolds with a revised geometry and a full titanium exhaust system with centre outlets. A lightweight magnesium torque tube sends drive from the glorious V12 to the rear wheels.
Anything else?
Announcing the Vantage GT3 special edition, Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: "Motorsport is in our blood at Aston Martin. The Vantage is the car we campaign in top level sports car racing around the world and so it seems only fitting that we offer an exclusive, limited edition Vantage that expertly fuses our motorsport know-how with our road car prowess. The Vantage GT3 is an uncompromising example of our design and engineering expertise, and I'm sure the 100 owners who secure one of these cars will savour every second behind the wheel; whether on the road or on the track."
We'll get our first glimpse of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.
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