Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
THE Vantage AMR will be the first series production derivative of Aston Martin’s new race-inspired performance range.
Launched at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, AMR aims to ‘amplify and accentuate’ the sporting prowess of the British marque’s road cars.
It will be taking inspiration from Aston Martin Racing’s participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship, a series with which the marque tasted world championship success with factory drivers Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen just last season.
The team was also victorious at the 85th 24 Hours of Le Mans in dramatic style, after Jonny Adam, partnered by Darren Turner and Daniel Serra, snatched the GTE Pro lead on the final lap of the iconic endurance race.
The AMR brand has two distinct tiers. Series production limited edition models such as the new Vantage AMR sit at its entry point, while extreme and extensively modified AMR Pro models created by Q by Aston Martin Advanced Operations sit at the pinnacle of the range, including the exclusive Vantage AMR Pro.
A celebration of Aston Martin’s worldwide success across GT4, GT3 and GTE categories, the Vantage AMRs are offered both with 430bhp V8 or 595bhp1 – up from 565bhp – V12 powertrain options.
Both engines are fitted with automated sequential manual paddle-shift transmissions, or for the purist, six and seven-speed manual gearboxes in the V8 and V12 Vantage AMRs respectively.
Vantage AMR is available in four colour schemes - Stratus White with an Orange graphic, Ultramarine Black with Blue graphic, Zaffre Blue with Red graphic and Scintilla Silver with Grey graphic.
In addition the AMR ‘Halo Pack’ takes direct inspiration from Aston Martin Racing’s 2016 World Endurance Championship-winning No. 95 Vantage GTE, working a combination of Stirling Green paint and vivid Lime Green accents to dramatic effect. As a finishing touch, a special Union Jack-enameled AML wings badge, previously featured on last year’s GTE racer, is available as a no-cost option.
Aston Martin president and CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, said: “It’s a real thrill to see our first AMR model go into production.
“The Vantage has been an incredible success for Aston Martin, both in V8 and V12 forms. As our most agile and athletic road car, and our long-time representative in the world of GT racing, it is the perfect model with which to introduce the exciting AMR range.”
Aston Martin recently posted a first-quarter profit for the first time in a decade. The company made a pre-tax profit of £5.9m for the three months to March following strong sales of its new DB11 model launched late last year.
Revenues more than doubled to £188m in the quarter. Aston Martin, which has made an annual loss for each of the past six years, was sold by Ford in 2007 to Italian and Kuwaiti investment firms.
The company has gone bankrupt seven times in its history. Aston Martin sold just 3,687 cars last year, but hopes that its latest models will increase sales by more than 30 per cent in 2017.
Both V8 and V12 Vantage AMR models are available in both Coupe and Roadster body styles, with recommended retail prices starting from around BD50,000.
Deliveries are scheduled to commence later this year.
