The renewed Aston Martin Vantage is the new Safety Car of Formula 1. The sportscar from the British brand, recently presented, with 665 hp, will take on the new duties at the next Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which will take place this weekend.
The renewed Vantage gained more power as the V8 4.0 twin-turbo engine from Mercedes-AMG was enhanced to produce 665 hp and 800 Nm, which is 156 hp and 115 Nm more than its predecessor. To achieve this, Aston Martin used new camshafts, larger turbos, and a higher compression ratio.
The power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox that uses an electronic limited-slip differential, allowing for faster accelerations. As a result, the renewed Vantage boasts an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 325 km/h.
The Gaydon brand also announced some changes to the chassis, particularly in the lower body area to allow for greater torsional rigidity. In addition, they repositioned the front crossmembers to increase suspension stiffness and improve steering sensitivity.
To perform better as the Safety Car in Formula 1, Aston Martin made specific changes to this model, which is equipped with an elongated and streamlined front splitter. For additional downforce, a new rear wing, a light bar on the roof with a new profile, while inside, highlights include sports seats, a central console equipped with specific equipment for a Safety Car.
It is already known that the new Aston Martin Vantage will share the spotlight as the Safety Car in the 2024 Formula 1 season with the Mercedes AMG GT Black Series.