Vantage AMR

Aston Martin keeps the manual alive with the Vantage AMR

Jeff Glucker

/comment

Comments

I’m a big fan of the new Aston Martin Vantage. The British automaker updated its aging sports car in a dramatic way. It has polarizing looks. The engine has been sourced from another automaker. It’s not the old Vantage, but that’s okay because it’s pretty damn good. Aston still have a few tricks up its sleeve though, because the automaker is ready to offer a Vantage version prepared for the anachronistic set.

It’s called the Vantage AMR. Instead of a ZF-sourced transaxle mounted under the skin, this Vantage comes packing an old school manual gearbox. A seven-speed transmission is offered here, and it backs up the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 found in the standard Vantage. This unit utilizes a dog-leg layout, which puts first gear back towards the driver. While I don’t personally care for this layout, I do like the fact that the Vantage AMR drops a bit over 200 pounds compared to the version with the automatic.

Aston Martin will build just 200 examples of the Vantage AMR. Of those, the final 59 built will be finished in a special Vantage 59 livery. This is meant to pay homage to the 1959 24 Hours of Le mans winning DBR1. Thus we’re presented with a Vantage finished in Stirling Green and Lime. The other 141 cars can be had in Sabiro Blue, Onyx Black, China Grey, or White Stone.

    

Aston Martin worked with Graziano to develop this gearbox. It features technology dubbed AMSHIFT, which allows drivers to mimic perfect heel-toe downshifts via computer controlled throttle blips. You can also rip off full-throttle upshifts. Hopefully, it’s a slick system and not AMSHIT, but you’d likely be able to turn it off it that were the case. Not that we expect it to be. We’ve come a long way from Aston Martin’s old Sportshift transmissions.

The car is a stunner, no matter which gearbox is affixed (well) behind the engine. If you have the dough, the Vantage AMR is on sale now. It will cost you at least $179,995 to snag one here in the US. Looking for the 59 Edition? That one starts at $204,995.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 64 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

9 responses to “Aston Martin keeps the manual alive with the Vantage AMR”

  1. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    I don’t care much for the front end, which I think looks like a blend of Tesla Model 3 and Oldsmobile Aurora. The gaping fish mouth does a poor imitation of the traditional AM grille. However, I’m slowly warming up to the design because the rest of the car is stunning.

    As for the dog-leg gearbox, I learned to drive on a three-on-the-tree, so that pattern feels most natural to me.

    BTW, what’s waving around like a cardboard box flap in the rear window? It was like broccoli stuck between the teeth– I couldn’t stop seeing it.

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      haha, I never noticed that. It’s just a hatch area cover that I didn’t properly secure.

      Reply
    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Agreed on the design, and here I think the lime green helps reduce the ‘chinless wonder’ aspect of the normal design.

      Went looking for the price in Australia, came across the DBS Edition 59 first which made me think they should have picked one model or the other .

      Then the price of the AMR Edition 59 is AUD$410! If you really just want the manual it is going to be an option on the north car in a years’ time.

      Reply
  2. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    https://coubsecure-s.akamaihd.net/get/b155/p/coub/simple/cw_timeline_pic/31de61a25c0/8a6d412f4433f6085d5b0/big_1483884336_image.jpg
    Are you looking for a piston whippin’?

    Reply
  3. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    I like the looks, but the real, painfully cliched question as always: your own money – this or a 911?

    Reply
    1. fede Avatar
      fede

      this, among other reasons because it’s not a 911

      Reply
    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      The 911 was dead to me after the 993 (the apex of the model’s history, in my opinion). These days, I only find the Cayman tempting, but it is a different animal altogether.

      As GTs go, I think I’d save some money by passing on the 911 and the Vantage and try to snag one of the last manual-equipped Jag Type Fs.

      Reply
    3. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      If I have $150K – $200K to spend on vehicles, I can come up with a variety of combinations of cars to get that would be more interesting than a single AM or 911.

      Reply
  4. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    Perhaps going against my usual ‘everything old is better’ nature, I reckon this is the best-looking Aston in years. Props to them for moving away from the Vanquish-throwback grille which, lets face it, is wearing thin now you can get it on a Fiesta. Manual box with AMG grunt seems a tasty combo, too.

    Reply