With an open track beaconing, and a flagman waving a bander verde, I bury my right foot on the metal accelerator pedal. There is a very reassuring growl from the ass-end of the coup as the 4.7-litre forces me back into the seat. Only one thing is more enjoyable than driving the new Aston Martin Vantage S through the mountains of Spain – spending a long afternoon with the sports cars on the wide-open Ascaris race circuit.
The Aston Martin Vantage secured its position as the automaker’s sportiest model when it was introduced at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show for the 2006 model year. Like the DB9, the then-new two-door utilized the now common VH Architecture (the chassis is constructed with extruded and bonded aluminum panels). Today, the platform is also shared with the DBS and Rapid, from the entry-level V8 Vantage Loupe ($120,350) to the flagship V12 Vantage Carbon Black ($194,995). Following on the heels of the limited-edition sport-tuned V8 Vantage N420 models, introduced less than a year ago, are two new models both wearing the automakers coveted ‘S’ badge - the 2011 Vantage S Coup and 2011 Vantage S Roadster.
Car Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage S
Car Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage S
Car Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage S
Car Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage S 
Car Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage S 
Car Sport Aston Martin V8 Vantage S
