Thursday, September 27, 2012

AMV8 Vantage Aston Martin Concept Car

AMV8 Vantage Aston Martin Concept Car
Aston Martin AMV8 Vantage was the star of the 2003 Detroit Motor Show. This is the concept behind what should become the best selling Aston Martin of all time. 
This styling of this sleek 2 seater sports car was credited to Henrik Fisker, who at the time was Head of Design at AML, but it is now believed to be principally the work of his forerunner, Ian Callum. 
AMV8 Vantage Aston Martin Concept Car
The AMV8 Vantage was the first in a completely new line of Aston Martins based around a bonded-alloy platform, known as VH (vertical/horizontal) architecture. The proposed engine was a new 4.3 litre V8 unit, described as being 'front-mid' mounted so as to give perfect 50:50 weight distribution. With an anticipated power output of around 370 bhp, the AMV8 Vantage should be well capable of exceeding 170 mph and a 0-60 acceleration time of around 4.5 seconds. 
AMV8 Vantage Aston Martin Concept Car
This concept has the Vanquish style paddle shift but there are, it appears, plans for production versions to get a conventional six speed box with paddles to be available later. The production V8 Vantage, which initially many believed could be known as the DB8, did indeed follow the concept very closely. Although the car has been designed in the UK and unveiled in the USA, you may be surprised to learn that the AMV8 Vantage concept car was constructed by DC Design in Mumbai, India. 
AMV8 Vantage Aston Martin Concept Car
There have been reports that the concept was built on a shortened DB7 Vantage platform with V12 engine and therefore may not technically be the first VH platform car.