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Bigger engine for Aston's Vantage

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The gorgeous Aston Martin V8 Vantage comes in for a mid-life nip-tuck, and while the distinctive shape remains unchanged there are some definite tweaks beneath the surface.

For 2008, the car benefits from a number of technical updates.

The most significant, perhaps, is the addition of a new 4.7-litre powerplant for the Coupe and Roadster models. The previous 4.3-litre unit's bore and stroke have been increased to give the engine a total displacement of 4735 cc.

With its 313 kW and 470 Nm on tap, Aston Martin promises an 11% increase in power and a 15% increase in torque over the previous motor.

This is said to improve the car's mid-range performance while also allowing it to sprint to 100 km/h in just under five seconds, before going on to hit a 288-km/h top end.

Combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are also said to be improved by up to 13% with the Sportshift transmission in place.

About transmissions, both the standard manual and optional Sportshift gearboxes have a modified clutch and flywheel, shaving some weight off and increasing the engine's responsiveness.

Sportshift has been further adapted to include a revised control system that allows the transmission to dictate the dispersion of engine torque and dual throttle map software with "comfort" and "sports" modes.

The car's chassis and suspension arrangement has been tweaked, too, for improved body control and better low speed ride quality.

Revised damper mountings first seen on the Vantage Roadster are now also seen on the Coupe, and spring rates are stiffer by 11 and 5% at the front and rear respectively. Bilstein dampers are now offered as standard.

Interior changes include a new centre console, new switchgear and an ECU to replace the V8's key.

Aesthetically, the look is improved from the outside with a new range of standard and optional alloy wheels.

Prices for the revised V8 Vantage will be confirmed at a later date, with deliveries from Gaydon set to start from the third quarter of this year.

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