Aston Martin gave the Vantage a round of significant updates in 2024, but the brand was saving the best for last. Offered as a coupe and as a convertible, the new Aston Martin Vantage S slots above the regular Vantage with a more powerful engine, numerous chassis updates, and several model-specific styling cues.
The S carries on with the Vantage’s twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V-8, but Aston Martin updated the AMG-sourced engine to extract more power. It’s rated at 670 horsepower, up from 656 in the standard Vantage, while torque stays flat at 590 pound-feet. The S keeps what’s increasingly becoming an old-school layout: It’s not electrified in any way, and the eight-speed automatic transmission spins the rear wheels only. That’s notable in an era when even supercars are shifting toward hybrid technology and all-wheel drive.
Aston Martin quotes a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.3 seconds, which makes the S a tenth of a second faster than the Vantage. Realistically, you’re highly unlikely to notice such a small difference while your foot is planted deep in the throttle on a long straight. The suspension revisions should be more perceptible: The S designation brings with it hardware and software changes that increase the front end’s response and deliver a more comfortable ride at low speeds without sacrificing handling during high-speed cornering.
Chassis updates round out the list of driving-related changes. Aston Martin tells us that leaving out the rubber bushings and mounting the rear subframe directly to the body makes the S much sharper to drive.
Several subtle visual tweaks set the S apart from the regular Vantage. If you need a cheat sheet, the most obvious cue is that the hood gets new-look blades available in gloss black or carbon fiber. They give the S more muscular-looking styling while helping extract hot air from the engine bay.
Aston Martin also put a small “S” emblem on each fender, and it added a model-specific rear spoiler that provides 97 additional pounds of downforce at top speed, which checks in at 202 mph. Underbody changes, including venturi vanes, generate 147 pounds of downforce. Add it all up, and the S should feel more planted than the regular Vantage. Specific 21-inch Y-spoke wheels add a finishing touch to the look.
Inside, the Vantage S comes with carbon fiber trim, Alcantara upholstery, and a sprinkling of “S” emblems. Check out the seats: The “S” logo that’s on the middle part of each seatback requires using over 17 yards of thread to make nearly 2,500 individual stitches. Buyers will have several options and option packages to choose from, including a new two-tone interior and either red or silver anodized interior accents.
The 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S is on sale now, though pricing hasn’t been announced yet. The model will make a thunderous public debut this week during the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s hill climb, and it joins the 717-horsepower DBX S unveiled earlier in 2025 in Aston Martin’s catalog of S-branded models.
Is that capacitive touch controls on the steering wheel? Please say no! Car looks nice for the most part.
