Aston Martin revealed first details of its most uncompromising Vantage to date: the Vantage GT3.
Production is limited to just 100 examples, which mirrors its weight loss over the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S: a full 100 kg (it now weighs 1 565 kg).
Comprehensively re-engineered and restyled, the GT3 is lower and wider than any other Vantage, while broader tracks front and rear promise even more composed handling.
Under the bonnet nestles the brand’s familiar 5,9-litre V12 engine, here tuned to deliver 441 kW and 625 N.m, enough to see the GT3 hit 100 km/h in a scorching 3,7 seconds before topping out at 298 km/h.
The GT3 features a carbon-fibre body kit with modified bumpers, revised side skirts and enlarged fenders. Aston promises the track-focused aerodynamics pack – which includes a prominent rear wing and pronounced front splitter – has a “profound effect”, producing significant downforce to provide even greater levels of grip and stability at higher speeds.
New flared carbon-fibre front wings, carbon-fibre bonnet, a lithium ion race-derived battery, carbon-fibre door casings, optional carbon-fibre roof, optional weight-saving polycarbonate rear window and rear-quarter windows are just a few of the measures employed by the engineers to eliminate mass.
The car’s interior is comprehensively reworked, too, with a full carbon-fibre centre stack and touch-sensitive control array that mirror those of the flagship Vanquish.
The Vantage GT3 special edition will make its public debut on 3 March at the Geneva Motor Show, with first customer deliveries beginning in the third quarter of 2015.
