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  • Vantage Magazine

    Earning its stripes

    Sep 02, 2021 5 minutes
    WORDS RICHARD MEADEN
    PHOTOGRAPHY
    ASTON PARROT

    Forget the F1 Edition nomenclature. Yes, this is a civilian-spec Formula 1 Safety Car, but it is so much more than merely a stickers-and-stripes special edition. And it needs to be, for it’s no secret that the AM6 Vantage has been something of a problem child for Aston Martin.

    Divisive styling and punchy pricing compared with the outgoing model posed significant challenges at launch, but the greater problem was a conflicted character and a shortfall in all-round capability compared with that perennial class benchmark, the Porsche 911.

    The good news (great news, actually) is that the F1 Edition addresses the character and capability issues, transforming the Vantage from a car that confounded those who buy with head or heart into a machine that connects on an emotional level and truly delivers dynamically.

    The turnaround was hard-won, with a comprehensive suite of improvements encompassing powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics.

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