The 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400 is a gorgeous car. It is seen by car experts as an even more charged version of the previous V8 Vantage that was released by Aston Martin. The car has even more power and is available as both a coupe and a roadster. The Aston Martins are very popular and are loved for both their engines as well as their sleek looks. The Vantage N400 is a special edition vehicle that is as gorgeous and as it is powerful.
History of Aston Martin
Aston Martin is a British vehicle manufacturer that is cantered in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England. It was started by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin in 1913. The two men had partnered to sell cars made by Singer in 1912. The two men decided to make their own cars and named their model the Aston Martin after Martin’s love of the hill climb races at Aston Hill (which is near Aston Clinton). The first Aston Martin ever produced was a four cylinder Coventry-simplex engine that was on the chassis of an Isotta Fraschini from 1908. The car was made before they managed to acquire manufacturing premises in Kensington at Henniker Place (this happened in 1915). Unfortunately mass production of their cars could not start as soon as the partner’s had hoped because of the outbreak of the first World War, which is when Martin joined the Royal Army Service Corps and they sold all of their machinery to the Sopwith Aviation Company.
The company was re-founded and revitalized after the war ended when the company received financing from Count Louis Zborowski. Bramford left the company in 1920 but not until they had designed a new car.
Over the course of the car’s history, Aston Martins have been made to compete in the French Grand Prix (1922); they have set world endurance and speed records at Brooklands. The company has failed two times, once in 1924 and in 1925 with a factory closing taking place in 1926. The company was finally bought by some very rich investors, Lady Charnwood among them, and it was renamed Aston Martin Motors. The company headquarters were moved to Feltham and in 1929 the Aston Martin International racer car was a huge success.
In 2007, the company was purchased by David Richards, who is the Prodrive chairman. It is still co-owned by Ford (a development that happened in 1994). The company has also recently opened dealers in Europe and China. Now the company has dealers in 28 countries.
Aston Martin in the Media
The Aston Martin is most famously the car of that popular super spy, James Bond. The author of James Bond, Ian Fleming, gave his protagonist a DB Mark III in Goldfinger, the seventh James Bond book. The car first appeared on film in 1964 with the release of Goldfinger the movie and quickly became James Bond’s company car. In the most recent James Bond movie, two Aston Martin cars are driven: the classic DB5 and the new DB5.
The V8 Vantage N400
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400 was made to commemorate the achievements of Aston Martin at Nurburgring where the car has had extreme success in racing. This is absolutely a race car but it also has a variety of technical upgrades and enhancements to the usual standard range of external specifications.
The most important development in this special edition vehicle is the 4.3 litre V8 engine, which is much more virile than the engines in previous models. The new car has a power of 400bhp and a torque peak of 420Nm. It also comes with a “Sports Pack.” This “Sports Pack” is tailored to racing dynamics fans that are in search of a car with superior handling. The Sports Pack is responsible for the car’s wheels (aluminum) and turning (diamond), springs (up-rated), dampers and the coupe is equipped with an anti-roll bar. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400 comes standard as a two-door coupe that seats two and has a convertible top. It has a six-speed transmission and the Sports Package comes with a sport shift option. It has sports suspension and cruise control.
This car also comes standard with satellite navigation, a premium audio system, exterior mirrors that are power fold, heated memory seats, cruise control and even preparation for the Bluetooth telephone.
Options of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400
The N400 has a ton of special options that buyers can order to enhance what is already a magnificent vehicle. American buyers can choose to add a Satellite radio system and Roadster owners can choose to add a wind deflector and hood colors. Buyers in the UK can choose to add a tracking device. Other special options include an alarm upgrade, a battery conditioner and an auto-dimming interior rear view mirror. There are also the options of including an alternative brake caliper finish as well as a smoker’s pack.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400 is going to be a rare car as only two hundred and forty of them will be made and they are already in great demand. Aston Martins, as a rule are rare as the company’s history has led to less than fifteen thousand of them being produced. These spectacular cars are the dream of every car enthusiast in the world.
Because of the rarity of these cars, the reviews are few and far between. In fact, a web search will only turn up basic information gathered from the Aston Martin website and a bunch of photos. Car enthusiasts agree, the car is absolutely gorgeous and is being drooled over by car fanatics from all over the world.
The Aston Martin Company hasn’t had an easy time of it, but there is no doubt that the cars created by this company are superior to almost every other car on the road. They are beautiful and extremely sporty. After all, no matter what the stakes in a poker game might be, James Bond would not drive just any car, right?
