Skip to content
Aston Martin models, news & reviews
4
Handling
5
Performance
Usability
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
By Tim Pollard
First Drives
19 February 2008 10:35
It’s a sign of the times at Gaydon that Aston Martin has produced three new models since it walked away from Ford ownership in 2007. Sounds impressive until you realise that all of them are special editions more akin to the mass-marketing commonly seen at Renault or Vauxhall. Hence the V8 Vantage N400 limited edition unveiled at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show and driven here for the first time.
Built to commemorate Aston’s entries at the Nurburgring 24-hour race, it’s a regular V8 with a brace of mechanical, styling and equipment flourishes. And an £11,000 price hike. Aston will build 240 coupes and 240 roadsters in N400 spec and a plaque on the kickplate of our orange example reads ‘001 of 480’, confirming it as the original 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show car. Better not crash it then.
The 4.3-litre V8 benefits from an ECU upgrade and tweaks to the throttle response to liberate an extra 20 ponies, swelling power output to 400bhp, while twist rises to 310lb ft. On paper that’s enough to hit 60mph in 4.9sec while the N400 will top out at 177mph on the fastest sections of the Nordschleife. If you’re brave enough.
The only other changes to the N400 are the addition of the sport suspension pack, bringing uprated springs and Bilstein dampers, a new rear anti-roll bar and graphite-finished alloy wheels. This will be rolled out to other Vantages this summer for a premium of around £2500. Meanwhile, car spotting anoraks should look out for the N400’s revised sill design, silver mesh on the bonnet and side strake intakes, clear rear lamp lenses and a bright finish to the unmistakeable Aston grille.
Add your comment
Sign in You must be signed in to submit a comment.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400 (2008) CAR review
Subject
Your comment
By submitting your comment, you agree to adhere to the CAR Magazine website Terms and Conditions
Cancel
You must be logged in to subscribe to a topic
Login or register now
TimPollard says
Humble pie
Sorry to all those who've spotted the, ahem, deliberate error in this first drive. It was of course Henrik Fisker, not Ian Callum, who styled the V8 Vantage. My mistake - now rectified! Glad most of you like the car as much as I did...
25 February 2008 09:07
morepowerigor says
gorgeous
here's the definitive lottery car...it must be up there on soooo many lists. I'm also no fan of all this facelifting, but...if it means there's a little more development cash flowing towards the Rapide, then I'm all for it (short term). I hope that the next few years see a continued honing of the Aston look, and that maybe along the way they'll send their beautiful babies to the gymn, too. Not to bulk-up, but maybe to tone those calves a little, and lose a few pounds. Keep the changes natural people, and avoid too much heavy handed plastic surgery-we'll see the scars soon enough anyway. Keep it up Dr B.
21 February 2008 19:48
resis says
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.........
Oh how I want a big lottery win...... even the colours they put on each new model seem better than the last - orange isn't an obvious winner, but it's a testament to its designer(s!) that it can handle a whole range of colours so effortlessly. A+, 5-star etc.
21 February 2008 11:45
a t o m i c says
Ian Callum?
"Those 19-inch alloys set off Ian Callum’s wedgy coupe design to a tee;" Wasn't it Henrik Fisker who designed the V8 Vantage?
20 February 2008 22:08
JohnnyBimmer says
The Bees Knees
I know people like their classic cars but to me the AMV8 is the best looking car in automotive history! And what's worse is the designer, who deserves a Nobel or Grammy or something big and posh in recognition, I don't even know his name! He deserves legendary status anyway. The N400 power hike and other improvements are welcome but did Aston have to charge £11k for it.. should be standard kit!
19 February 2008 13:12
Upload stories, photos or videos direct to the site, or email newsdesk@carmagazine.co.uk.
Alternatively, call 01733 468 485 (+ 44 1733 468 485)
Seen a secret new car, fabulous exotic or have news we should publish? Then get in touch now.