The Ultimate Vantage Point
2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
By Alain Gayot

Aston Martin has always been the car of our dreams. Maybe it's the James Bond influence, or maybe it's the make's originality, beauty and performance. Whatever the reason, the infatuation only grows stronger with the release of the 2006 V8 Vantage, "attainable" at a mere $110,000. Only 5,000 will be hand-built annually keeping exclusivity as a high mark. Of course, the car will excel at performance levels that you will seldom reach, while remaining practical day-in, day-out as well.

For those of you who want get a closer look, Aston Martin has embarked on an AdVantage tour of key cities from September to November 2005 to showcase the new automobile, along with its siblings the V12 Vanquish S, DB9 Coupe and the DB9 Volante. A conducive environment with premium Champagne will facilitate ordering.

For our full review, click here.

QUICK SHEET Price as tested: $110,000 Technical Specifications Performance Data • Engine: Supercharged V8 engine -380 horsepower • Transmission: Rear mid-mounted six speed Graziano manual gearbox. • Safety: Dual stage driver and passenger airbags, side airbags • Top Speed: 175mph • Acceleration: 0-60 in 4.8 seconds • Braking: Anti-lock braking system, Brembo four piston brakes • Fuel Economy: 12/city, 18/highway • Handling: Rack and pinion, variable power assistance, column tilt and reach adjustment

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Photography: AlphaMedia