Aston Martin is known for making some of the best special editions of their vehicles, and they do it with every car they produce. But these special editions are not only special; they’re also exclusive and represent Aston Martin’s collaborations and success throughout history. For the Aston Martin Vantage, which is still in production, Aston Martin made the Vantage F1 Edition to celebrate Aston Martin’s return to F1 in 2021. However, a unique paint job and a wing are not only the differences that the Vantage F1 Edition has over a regular vantage. The power train, chassis, aerodynamics, and interior are upgraded in the Vantage F1 edition, justifying its $162,000 MSRP price tag when first released. This is about $25,000 more than the regular base model vantage, but prices for the Vantage F1 edition might rocket soon. Through these upgrades, the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition is more powerful, quicker, faster, and a better driver’s car than a regular Vantage. It also looks better, resembling the Official Vantage FIA F1 Safety Car from which the Vantage F1 Edition Borrows some upgrades.
The 3rd March 2021 marked Aston Martin’s return to Formula 1 after retiring from the sport at the end of the 1960 World Championship. The Aston Martin Vantage F1 edition was unveiled in the same month to celebrate Aston Martin’s return to F1, and Aston Martin Described it as a new breed of Aston Martin. Did Aston Martin choose the right car for the job? The Aston Martin Vantage has always been among Aston’s best-selling vehicles, not only in the current generation but also in older generations. So yes, Aston Martin chose the right car for the job. But Aston Martin did not just snap at the decision to make a Vantage F1 Edition.
In March 2021, the Aston Martin Vantage became the first F1 Safety Car not made by Mercedes for the first time in 26 years. But we all know underneath that hood is Mercedes’ 4.0-liter M177 V8. The Vantage Safety Car got more than a color change. An F1 Safety Car has to be as fast and aerodynamic as possible for track conditions, even though its primary function is to slow down the race, allowing track officials to address hazards on the track. For this reason, the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Safety Car got a power bump to 530 horsepower from 503 horsepower. The transmission was tuned for more precise gear shifts and torque delivery, and the suspension and dampers reworked for better track performance. The Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition borrows these upgrades and much more from the Vantage Safety Car, except for the special seats specified by the FIA and siren, of course. In the following sections, we take an even deeper look at the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition, exploring every nook and cranny in one of the best Aston Martin Special Models.
Aston Martin had to give the Vantage F1 Edition slightly different color options to distinguish it from other models being a special edition. As standard, you get a Satin Aston Martin Racing Green paint and Special Edition Graphics in matte dark grey to match. In addition to Satin Aston Martin Racing Green, other paint options include Jet Black Satin and Lunar White Satin. Non-satin paint options for the three paint options are also available. The Vantage F1 edition gets a vaned grille as standard, and it’s available in a bright or black finish to match the wing mirrors.
Two wheel options are available for the Vantage F1 Edition: 21-inch Satin Black Diamond Turned wheels and 21-inch Satin Black wheels. You can spec these to match the paint and grille, achieving an all-bright or all-black theme to suit your preferences. Besides the grille, you can also change the color of the brake calipers, choosing between black, red, or lime-painted calipers. The aero package, consisting of a front splitter, front canards, and rear wing, is the exterior’s icing on the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition. But it does more than give the car a better look than a regular Vantage. You can opt for a wing delete, but would the Vantage F1 Edition be an F1 edition without it? There are a few bits and pieces that distinguish the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition from other Vantage models. For example, the smoked taillights, F1 badging on the carbon fender vents, black anodized sill plaques, and the silver cross brace. Some you can’t see, such as the carbon fiber roof and upper pack.
One of the desirable attributes of a GT car is that it should be comfortable to be in, and the Aston Martin F1 Edition is just that. Starting with the seats, you get heated sports plus seats as standard with lime green stitching to match the interior accent stripe. The Sports Plus seats can be swapped for Satin carbon fiber performance seats, unavailable on the standard Vantage, with similar stitching. But with the carbon seats, you sacrifice a little bit of comfort, and they’re not heated. Also, You can switch the stitching and accent stripe to Onyx Black, Spicy Red, or Wolf Grey stitching on both seat options to suit your preferences. In-cabin entertainment is provided via an 8-inch infotainment LED display with integrated satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB, AM/FM radio, and vehicle settings controls. But sadly, only Apple CarPlay is standard, and there’s no Android Auto option.
Aston Martin has made several high-performance versions of the Vantage, including the current generation Vantage V12 and the Vantage GT, GT8, GT 12, and Vantage AMR Pro in the first generation Vantage. However, none has been as track-focused as the Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition. Under the hood, the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 makes 530 horsepower, up from 503 in the standard Vantage, though torque remains unchanged at 505 lb.ft. However, maximum torque is achieved at slightly lower RPMs thanks to the re-tuned 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, enabling quicker and more precise gear shifts. How fast in an Aston Martin Vantage F1 edition? It can do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds in the coupe and 3.6 seconds in the roadster and go on to achieve a 195-mph top speed as a regular vantage. So, why the power increase and re-tuned transmission? For a track-oriented car like the Aston Martin Vantage F1 edition, the suspension, aerodynamics, and chassis have more results on the car’s performance. That’s why the Vantage F1 Edition got a reworked suspension similar to the one in the Vantage F1 Safety Car.
On the front, Aston Martin increased front structural stiffness by revising the underbody modifications to enhance steering feel and response. The dampers were also reworked and fitted with internals that enhance vertical body control. More upgrades were made at the rear by increasing the spring rates and lateral stiffness to help cornering and increase traction. A wheel-size increase from 20-inch in the standard Vantage to 21-inch wheels in the Aston Martin Vantage F1 is more than a cosmetic upgrade. It’s the first time Aston Martin used 21-inch wheels on the Vantage, and they are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero PZ4 low-profile all-weather rubber tires specifically developed for the Vantage F1.
These tires might be a pain to drive on everyday roads, but on the track, they ensure excellent traction and provide greater feedback to the driver, ensuring maximum confidence. They also don’t heat up, and when tested, the Aston Martin Vantage F1 got a 15-second Ring Lap advantage over the standard Vantage. To top it off, Aston Martin equipped the Vantage F1 with an aerodynamics package that includes a wing, front diffuser, and front canards. These generate 440 pounds of downforce at the front and rear, increasing traction and controllability, especially when cornering at high speeds.
The Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition was made to cater to the enthusiastic driver who wants a little bit more from their car, hence the fine-tuning that Aston Martin implemented when making it. It’s just as comfortable as any GT car. Still, owners can enjoy the excitement of seeing a racing track on a road trip and popping in for a hot lap without fretting one bit about handling and track compatibility.
If your sights are set on an Aston Martin Vantage F1 edition, now is the right time to buy one. Sure, there’s the hope that prices will plummet since Aston Martin is still taking orders. But going by current market prices, it’s most likely that prices will either shoot up or stagnate. If prices decrease, they won’t decrease as fast as most GT car prices owing to the fact that the Vantage F1 is a Special Edition car and holds its value pretty well.
How much is an Aston Martin Vantage F1 edition? A 2021 or 2022 Vantage F1 Edition base model will set you back not less than $150,000, while highly-specced or 2023 Aston Martin F1 Edition would retail for between $170,000 and $180,000. Considering what the Vantage F1 offers and its high collectability probability, these prices are not bad.
Buying an Aston Martin Vantage is not merely about purchasing a car that caters to your driving needs. It’s about appreciating Formula One as a sport and joining Aston Martin in celebrating one of their proudest moments in history. Whether you buy one just as a garage addition or a track weapon, the Aston Martin Vantage F1 is a car that any car enthusiast should get to experience.
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