HEAD TO HEAD VANTAGE vs 911 TURBO

For as long as we can remember the Porsche 911 has been the default best sports car money can buy. Does the new Aston Vantage represent a changing of the guard?

- OLLIE MARRIAGE

The view reflected in the new Vantage's wing mirrors is Broad shoulders, glorious wide as a powerlifter's, yet shapely and sculpted. A reminder, every time you glance in the mirror, that you're driving something muscular and powerful. There's something else, too. The unblinking glare of a baleful headlight. Ah yes, that'll be the Porsche 911 Turbo S tucked up behind. It won't be shaken off, not a chance.

Were this a contest of speed alone, it'd be over before it began. The 4WD Porsche has traction the rear drive Aston can only dream of. It slingshots out of corners, not wasting a single horsepower in its quest to hurl you down the road.

But that's not all it's about, is it? Cars like this should be an event to drive, not just an exercise in applying g force. But if all you did was look at the Aston's spec sheet, you'd assume this new Brit was doing nothing more than chasing speed. The last Vantage Aston's entry level model, let's not forget developed 503bhp from its 4.0-litre twinturbo V8. Now it has 656bhp. A whopping 30 per cent gain. Last time around we tested it against a regular Porsche 911 GTS, now it's meeting the fastest 911 of all. And the price... well that's gone up from £120k six years ago to £165,000.

Aston is repositioning the Vantage. Repositioning its whole model range in fact, taking everything further upmarket, having realised the quest for volume isn't working. Does this mean it now appeals to a different audience? I don't think so. They might be paying more, but limiting supply should support residual values.

That said, I'm not sure that was the last Vantage's main problem. It was a serviceable car, but when we tested it against the GTS (plus a McLaren 570GT and AMG GT R), it didn't really stand out in any area. It needed more charisma, more impact, more spirit. To be more of an event.