Aston Martin to launch extreme Vantage GT3

• Aston Martin has confirmed that it will launch an extreme performance car at the Geneva motor show in March. The car is, supposedly, the most powerful version of the Vantage. It is inspired by Aston Martin’s 600bhp V12 Vantage GT3 that has competed and won in a number of GT series and events, including the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

• Aston Martin has previewed the production car in an official image. This car will be designed for both road and track use, will have wider tracks, more aggressive styling and more power than the standard production version of the V12 Vantage.
• As has become the order of the day, for this extreme GT3, Aston Martin will focus heavily on reducing weight before increasing power. Some of the weight can be dropped by removing the air-conditioner, tweaking the interiors and making use of lightweight seats. Further weight reduction would be achieved via expensive changes like lightweight magnesium alloys and carbonfibre body panels.
• Combined with this weight reduction, even if the 565bhp 5.9-litre V12 motor in the Vantage is given a slight power boost to 600bhp, the power-to-weight ratio jumps from 339bhp per tonne to 383bhp per tonne. That would put the GT3 in the same league as the Ferrari 458.