2025 Aston Martin Vantage Adds More Than 100 Horsepower

The days of the supercar horsepower arms race are largely over. Apparently, Aston Martin didn’t get the memo, because the new Vantage added 128 horsepower in its mid-cycle refresh. There are other changes, too, but the power bump means the 656-horsepower Vantage now makes more power than its biggest rival: the 911 Turbo S.

Aesthetically, changes are somewhat limited. The front end features a slightly refined grille with new fenders and standard LED headlights. Aston says this is to accommodate a larger radiator- likely needed due to the extra power. New 21-inch wheels house fatter tires, again a necessity due to that three-figure power bump. The flush door handles sitting just ahead of the massive rear tires now deploy automatically, as befits a luxury sports car. In back, the Vantage changes even less, seeing nothing more than new ventilation (guess why) and larger tailpipes (go on, guess).

As for that extra power, the figures are still derived from the Aston’s Mercedes-shared 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8. Many of its updates are DB12-inspired, with new turbos and a much-revised top end including new camshaft profiles. There’s also a higher compression ratio. The net change is 656 horsepower and 590 lb-ft, and the latter of those two figures is up a healthy 85 lb-ft. Aston has also lowered the transmission’s final drive ratio for better acceleration. 3.4 seconds to 60 mph is the claimed figure, which is a tenth off the F1 Edition’s time. Aston stiffened the body structure by 7%, and adaptive suspension will now be standard, with buyers offered the choice between good ol’ cast iron brakes or carbon ceramic ones.

If you’re asking (don’t) the Aston didn’t need another 100-odd horses. Instead, it needed an interior to rival the ergonomic masterclass the 911 held. Holds. Still, this is significantly improved. Gone are the layers of oddly shaped controls- though there are still plenty of physical buttons. Instead, a redesigned center console holds a new touchscreen and a single screen now replaces the old car’s more traditional cluster. The generations-old PRND selector we’ve come to love in Astons is gone, now replaced by a 911-like switch laid among the rows of buttons. It's a loss, but an overall upgrade over what was a cluttered interior space.

Elsewhere, the functions for powertrain and chassis controls have been combined into one switch with five drive modes: Individual, Wet, Sport, Sprot Plus, and Track. Each modifies various parameters including engine, suspension, and steering settings. A new accelerometer will also help with stability control, which is critical given the massive power output. Aston hasn’t announced pricing yet, but expect deliveries to start in the second half of the year.

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