2026 Aston Martin Vantage S: Refined but Rowdy
First glance: It becomes more expensive, but still a jerk
I know what you're thinking-Aston Martin has another "S" version, isn't it just a new encirclement to add more horsepower? Wrong, wrong. Standing there, you can feel the temper in the 2026 Vantage S wrapped in a customized suit. The front face is wider and lower, the air intake grille opens its mouth like a shark, and the LED daytime running lights squint at you, as if to say,"I'm not easy to mess with." But when you get closer and touch the delicate matte finish (I drove "Skyfall Silver", the name is pretentious enough), you think this guy is actually quite elegant. It's like the school bully who couldn't hide his ruffian in your school uniform in high school, but suddenly he wore a tie one day.
Engine: V8 is still the same V8, but with a bigger temper
The hood was lifted and the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 was recalibrated. The horsepower has increased from 503 to 535 in the regular version, and the torque has jumped from 505 lb-ft to 590 lb-ft. Don't the numbers explode? Driving is killing me. Gently tap the accelerator and it bounces out like a cat with a needle, but what catches me the most is the mid-course acceleration-the brute force between 3000 and 6500 revolutions can push your soul from your back into the seat. The eight-speed automatic transmission changes gears like lightning, but it deliberately gives you a little setback when it comes to low gears, as if to say,"I just haven't completely tame it." The exhaust crackles and shots in sports mode, while the comfort mode is as quiet as a good kid-contradictory, but so fucking sexy.
Drive it: beasts on the street, surgeons on the track
What surprised me the most was the chassis. The ordinary Vantage is already hard enough. This S uses adaptive shock absorbers (optional track kit), which actually has a touch of flexibility on ordinary roads-it no longer hurts when passing through potholes, but the road feels clearer than before. The steering wheel is as heavy as a one-arm bend in the gym, but it points so accurately that you want to kiss it. I tried turning at full throttle on the ramp, sliding the rear of the car slightly, and then the electronic stability system gave you a father-like support-but allowed you to play to the boundary. That controllable feeling of losing control makes one's heart beat faster than first love. The brakes have also been replaced with carbon ceramics, and the feet feel as linear as they are stepping on piano keys.
Interior: Finally what a million-class car should look like
I used to complain that the Aston Martin interior was a "Mercedes-Benz used parts exhibition", but this Vantage S hit me in the face. The new center console uses large pieces of carbon fiber and leather, and the stitching is so hand-made that you want to touch it all day. The central control screen is finally no longer a touch pad with knobs that drives obsessive-compulsive disorder. It has been replaced by a 10.25-inch touch screen, which is not as fast as a British car (just kidding). However, the air-conditioning control area is still a physical lever. Thank God, it is much safer to exercise blindly while driving. The seats are made of Alcantara and leather mix, which is so wrapped that you don't want to get out of the car. The only downside: The cup holder is still so small that I can't even fit into my large thermos cup-the British probably don't drink water.
Prices and opponents: Those who can afford it will not hesitate, those who cannot afford it…Don't look
The starting price is close to $180,000, which is $30,000 more expensive than a regular Vantage. But compare your opponents: the Porsche 911 Turbo S is more expensive and boring, the McLaren Artura Hybrid Technology has no soul, and the Audi R8 is dead. The car's only competitor may be his own DB12, but the DB12 is a GT sports car and the Vantage S is a purebred sports car. Moreover, it seems that Aston Martin has not said anything about the global limited edition this time, but it is said that the quota for the first year has been completely snatched. I think it's worth the price-not because it's fast, but because it makes you feel like a movie protagonist every time you drive. Of course, I mean the 007 type, not the speed and passion type.
Summary: It may not be the most rational choice, but it is definitely the sexiest choice
The 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S doesn't subvert the sports car world, but it sharpens the already grumpy character and secretly adds some comfort to you. It's still the car that makes you look back more in the parking lot, and it's still the car that makes neighboring cars roll down their windows and give them thumbs up when starting at a traffic light. If you want a sports car that you can drive every day, get off the track on weekends, and go out on dates without being too hard-don't hesitate. But one word of caution: its back row? Forget it, it's just a place to put your bag.
