Aston Martin V8 Vantage: Prodrive Vantage

In a genuine case of motorsport improving the breed – or at the very least making the breed quicker – Prodrive is developing a series of performance enhancements for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

In conjunction with Aston, Prodrive runs the Aston Martin Racing team, preparing DB9 and V8 Vantage endurance racers and rally cars, and some of that experience is now being applied to a road car.

The Prodrive upgrades cover all the dynamic areas of the Vantage – engine, brakes, suspension and aerodynamics – although in the case of the latter the addenda have been kept deliberately subtle (a carbonfibre lip spoiler at the front and another modest spoiler on the bootlid) after canvassing owners’ opinions. The various packages will be offered as a group set or individually.

Improved breathing, particularly through the cats, and engine management recalibrated to give optimum performance on premium fuels only (rather than having to cope with the entire gamut of global fuel grades) boosts peak power of the 4.3-litre V8 from 380bhp to 425bhp. The engine is also claimed to be more responsive right across the rev-range.

Prodrive is working with Eibach to develop a set of sports springs for the Vantage, while the rates of the Bilstein-supplied dampers can be adjusted from inside the car. We’ve yet to see them, but Prodrive has also created some bespoke forged alloy wheels for the car.

The Prodrive parts will go on sale early in 2007 and can be fitted only after you’ve registered your V8 Vantage.