Aston Martin has gone all Top Gear on us with this new video of the V8 Vantage N420. It’s very much in the theme of the closing piece Jeremy did on the V12 Vantage to close out Series 13. This version from Aston is a perfectly brilliant way to start the day, so crank up the volume and enjoy!
Aston Martin have just taken the wraps of their latest special edition V8 Vantage. It’s called the N420; that’s N for Nürburgring and 420 for the number of horses under the bonnet.
The Vantage has a proud record of racing at the Nürburgring 24 hour race. An Aston Martin Vantage has raced at the Ring every year since making its debut in 2006. Perhaps the most famous of these cars is the one called “Rose” which was the first Vantage to pop its Ring cherry. That car has completed thousands of racing miles over a number of years. A great advertisement for Aston, supported ably up by the appearance of CEO Ulrich Bez in the race seat as well.
So, this N420 thing, what’s it all about? In addition to the 420hp on offer from the 4.7 litre V8 there is the choice of 6-speed transmissions in traditional manual or Sportshift auto configuration. Weight has been reduced by 27kg, too, which is a nice touch. But that won’t really stand out at the Country Club, so Aston have obliged by throwing bits of carbon fibre trim on the outside. Optional “Race Collection” paint schemes will also give you bragging rights at the 19th hole. Other minor styling updates have also been introduced.
Perhaps one of the better introductions is the addition of a revised sports exhaust system. Aston say this “delivers a suitably rousing soundtrack”. The V8 Vantage already sounded sublime and if they have found a way to improve on that exhaust note then they’ve done a cracking job.
More after the break.
Here is a real treat for you, Autocar have just posted a video of Steve Sutcliffe driving the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid. This is the same car that very nearly won the demanding Nürburgring 24 hour race at its first attempt.
In his written review Sutcliffe says driving the GT3 R Hybrid is, “Quite spooky, incredibly efficient but also just very, very exciting to use. When you press the magic button for the first time it actually feels a bit like a cheat, the rush of extra acceleration comes at you that fast. But when you get used to the way it works – the way it can alter not just your speed along a straight but also the handling balance mid corner even – the hybrid GT3 R is quite clearly a highly significant piece of kit; the beginning of a brand new era.”
Piers Ward from TopGear.com has also had a drive in the GT3 R Hybrid. Here’s a bit of what he had to say, “This thing is utterly brilliant. It’s not about chasing fuel figures or CO2, it’s about trying to maximise performance.
“By the end of three braking zones, the flywheel is fully re-charged. The weirdest part of the whole thing is the noise is makes as it’s getting charged up – like a hoover on speed, whirring away frantically.”
In closing his review Sutcliffe says, “hybrid power is not the future for companies like Porsche and cars like the 911, it is the present. Not so much the end of the road for high performance cars, but the beginning of a brand new chapter.
Take the jump to watch the Autocar clip.
One of the world’s greatest endurance races is on this weekend—the Nürburgring 24 hour. You can follow the race with live radio, live streaming pictures and twitter updates from drivers and manufacturers—see AUSringers.com for details. There’s even a couple of iPhone Apps available. Also make sure you keep an eye on AUSringers for updates of how the Australian and New Zealand competitors fare during the race.
The race starts at 11pm tomorrow (Australian Eastern time) and, of course, finishes at 11pm Sunday. Just in time to catch the end of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Last last year it was announced that German motorsport legend Walter Röhrl would be making his return to the Nürburgring 24 hour race after a 17 year absence. However, a back injury has forced the 63-year-old to withdraw from the event.
Simon Patrick will replace Röhrl in the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. He will share driving duties with Chris Harris (EVO magazine), Roland Asch and Horst von Saurma.
A preliminary entry list for the 2010 Nürburgring 24 hour race, including a highlighted list of Australian and New Zealand entrants, can be seen at AUSringers.com.
[Source: Sport1.de | Thanks to Obi for the tip]
Peugeot will take part in its first Nürburgring 24 hour race next month. To help boost the launch of their RCZ coupé the French marque will enter two cars featuring 147kW 2.0 litre turbo diesel engines.
There will be one team of French drivers (car #200) and a team of German drivers (#201). The numbers represent Peugeot’s 200th anniversary.