Canadian tuner MWDesign has put together a new appearance and performance package for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Known has the Helvellyn Frost, MWDesign’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage comes with a 2-tone matte white exterior paint, a beautiful Tungsten Grey with 2 tone red/black interior and red calipers. The Helvellyn Frost rides on 20-inch piano black wheels that further accentuate the look of this modified Vantage.

Under the hood, MWDesign engineers modified the 380-hp V8 with their RSC’s Vantage-C Powerkit. That helps the Helvellyn Frost V8 Vantage produce a total of 445-hp. Performance is further enhanced by an H&R suspension upgrade that allows for a proper ride height.

Click through to see the high-res image gallery and try to concentrate on the car.

MWDesign Helvellyn Frost Aston Martin V8 Vantage:

Press Release:

MWDesign Aston Martin V8 Vantage | Helvellyn Frost

MWDesign ups the ante on the already beautiful Aston Martin V8 Vantage with a well thought out aerodynamic and performance upgrade package.

Appropriately named Helvellyn Frost, this frozen matte white …Aston takes its name from a mountain range in England. This mountain epitomizes romance and beauty with a dash of treachery just as this V8 Vantage does.

The Aston Vantage is undoubtedly a stunningly beautiful car straight from the factory. To enhance her looks without becoming ostentatious, every curve had to be considered. It is a very easy process to add aftermarket parts to these cars, but also very easy to disturb the balance of beauty, proportion and classiness.

To ensure that the whole theme would work, MWDesign first created a concept render to digitally “test fit” the entire styling package down to the most subtle detail.

The first task was to pick a color scheme to go with. The car came from the factory finished in an already beautiful Tungsten Grey with 2 tone red/black interior and red callipers. To accentuate the lines and create a more mystical subdued glow, a crisp pure matte white was selected. This concept was executed beautifully by the pros at GPFX.

After the full color conversion, RSC (Racing Sports Concepts) came into the equation for subtle aerodynamics additions and serious power upgrades. For this project, MWDesign placed a special order for these aero pieces in matte carbon fiber to flow with the muted exterior reflectivity. The carbon pieces fit flawlessly and were given the matte white 2 tone effect to flow into the rest of the bodywork.

Next on the agenda was to upgrade the stance of the Aston with wheels and suspension. To achieve this, first H&R suspension was installed to get the proper ride height. For wheels, MWDesign immediately called their good friends at Modulare wheels to fabricate a custom set of wheels for the Vantage. MWDesign’s prototype included a matte black lip and a highly textured tinted brushed aluminum face reminiscent of a clearcoated version of the TiAN finish found on some of the world’s most exclusive watches. After some design revisions, MWDesign applied their concept to Modulare’s then unreleased M14 wheel style. This finish was combined with piano black hardware and aluminum center cap with small body color accents. These highly detailed wheels are glued to the road via Michelin Pilot Sport PS2’s measuring 255/35/20 in the front and 285/25/20 in the rear.

After the major modifications were complete, the fine styling details had to be addressed. In MWDesign’s opinion, often these small accents are the “make or break” features in their projects. To match the matte theme and the matte black wheel lips, matte black was applied to the side vents, front grill, window trims and trunk lip area. DBS style clear tails were added to the rear to create a lighter, more airy feel to the body of the car. The solid Ferrari Red callipers were entirely too flashy for the vehicle and had to be subdued. The callipers were pulled out and powdercoated in a frost white with carbon fiber plate to match the body. To retain a more subtle tie with the red interior, the Brembo calliper’s bleeder line was left in red. Drawing from the influence of the GT4 Racing Vantage, removable anodized red tow hooks were installed in the front and rear giving it a small hint of red to match the interior and to pay homage to its racing counterpart.

Lastly, the Vantage’s underachieving 380hp was the final priority on the list. RSC’s Vantage-C Powerkit including a beautiful polished canister race exhaust system, high flow 200 cell catalysts and engine software retune bring this machine to a serious contender at 445hp.

The loud yet refined bark emitted from the handbuilt V8 through the free flowing exhaust produces such a beautiful note that the car feels right at home whether it be at the Glyndebourne or at Goodwood.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: SeriousWheels (via WCF)

So you’re stuck with your 380-hp Aston Martin 4.3L V8 Vantage and are pissed off that no one is in the market for a used Aston Martin (since the economy… well sucks) so you can drop your 4.3L for a new 2009 4.7L V8 Vantage that was introduced this summer. Well don’t be so angered because Aston Martin has just announced a new “affordable” power enhancement and a Sport Pack option for the folks that own a 4.3L V8 Vantage.

Available immediately thorough dealers, customers can upgrade their 4.3L V8 with an extra 20-hp for a total of 400-hp and a maximum torque of 310 lb-ft (the new 4.7L V8 Vantage makes 420-hp and a peak torque of 347 lb-ft). That allows for a top speed of 177 mph and a slight improvement in the 0 to 60 mph time.

The new Sports Pack option introduced on the new 2009 V8 Vantage earlier is now available to owners of the 4.3L V8 Vantage customers. The Sport Pack gives your Vantage upgraded springs and Bilstein dampers and lightweight forged aluminium 5-spoke alloy wheels.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage:

While Aston Martin is concentrating on the relaunch of its Lagonda brand, the premium sports car maker is considering a strategic change for its next-generation of sports cars. According to AutoWeek, the DB9 and V8 Vantage models may move upmarket with a higher price tag and lower production volumes.

Basically, Aston Martin wants to charge more for its cars and wants to be more exclusive. It’s testing the market with the new $1.75 million One-77 of which only 77 units will be made. If Aston Martin is basing its decision on how well the One-77 does, we can expect the next round of Aston’s to carry a higher price point since all units of the One-77 have been accounted for.

The Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage replacements are currently in concept stage and are expected to be launched in 2011.

Two options are currently being considered. One is to move the Vantage closer to the DB9 price tag and move the DB9 closer to the $277,000 price tag of the DBS. Another option is to replace the DB9 and the Vantage with one exclusive model. When FoMoCo dropped Aston last year, rumor on the streets was that a mid-engine was in the works for 2011.

Do you think Aston Martin should move upmarket with the way the industry is going right now? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Source: AutoWeek

HAMANN has just announced its tuning program for the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage and V8 Vantage Roadster which gives the British sports cars a little more power and body kit providing optimized aerodynamics and airflow.

HAMANN has added a new front lip spoiler and a new front skirt, new side skirts. The German tuner also added a new spoiler that reduces lift with a matching three-part rear diffuser. The body component is available in two different materials including fiber glass and matt carbon. HAMANN also added its 21-in EDITION RACE wheels available in black with titanium bolding. New chassis springs lower the centre of gravity of the V8 Vantage by 30 mm at the front axle and by 20 mm at the rear. 

Performance wise HAMANN added new sports catalysers and sport end mufflers. Along with an aggressive and mean sound the duo provides an extra 20-hp for a total of 440-hp.

Click through for the high-res image gallery and the press release. 

HAMANN Aston Martin V8 Vantage:

Press Release:

CONNAISSEURS FIRST CHOICE
HAMANN precious parts for ASTON MARTIN V8 Vantage and Vantage Roadster

No doubt – HAMANN knows how to refine luxury cars. And with the tuning programme for the V8 Vantage of the English luxury brand Aston Martin, the Laupheim-based company once again confirms its supremacy as a manufacturer of sport accessories and thrilling body design. 

Optimised aerodynamics in perfect quality
”Form follows function“ – in this spirit, HAMANN perfectly co-ordinates the individual components of the aerodynamics kit with each other. The result is an impressive styling with an optimised airflow over the car silhouette and an additional output for increased bend speed.

The bow of the Aston Martin can be optionally equipped with a spoiler lip for the original front or enhanced with an entire front skirt. Between the front and rear side, the striking HAMANN side skirt attachments render an integrated design and give the Vantage a lowered and more stretched look. In order to reduce the lifting forces at the back axle, HAMANN technicians developed a shapely spoiler which can be fitted on the rear lid and enhanced with a matching three-part rear diffuser. The latter optically extends the side skirts downwards and skilfully enhances the two end pipes of the HAMANN sport exhaust system. Basically, the customer can choose from two materials for the body components. HAMANN produces its entire aerodynamics programme in fibre glass or optionally in matt carbon.

Sportive and elegant – the new light alloy wheel EDITION RACE
One of the technical highlights in the tuning programme is the new three-part HAMANN light alloy wheel named EDITION RACE. The forged wheel combines both sportiness as well as elegance. The black varnished rim star and the titanium bolting emphasise the dynamism of the wheel, the highly-polished rim flange on the other hand renders a noble appearance. HAMANN offers the wheel/tyre combination measuring 9,0Jx21 inches with 245/30ZR21 tyres at the front and 10,5Jx21 rims with tyres measuring 295/25ZR21 at the back for 8,540 €. The new aluminium wheels are accentuated with special chassis springs which lower the centre of gravity of the V8 Vantage by 30 mm at the front axle and by 20 mm at the rear axle. At the same time, this enhances the handling of this sports car. 

HAMANN exhaust components: a successful symbiosis of sound and performance
Especially for the V8 Vantage, the Swabian engineers developed sport catalysers and sport end mufflers. The components made of stainless steel render an impressive sound setting and emphasise the sportive value of the HAMANN-makeover. At the same time they breathe an additional 20 hp more performance into the British noble car and this mainly enhances its agility.

Stylish interior
Produced in the traditional style of Aston Martin which is reflected in comfort, luxury and sportiness in the interior, HAMANN Motorsport offers discreet interior applications. Thus, the noble aluminium pedal set including a foot rest and the car mat set made of threaded pearl velours set sportive trends. If desired, customers can also opt for a handmade complete leather equipment which meets the exclusive demands of Aston Martin drivers.

For more information about the extensive HAMANN tuning programme, please visit the web site www.HAMANN-MOTORSPORT.com