Aston Martin unveiled the DBS for the first time along with two new special editions — the Aston Martin DB9 LM and the V8 Vantage N400. Both special editions draw inspiration from the company’s recent achievements at Le Mans and the Nurburgring 24-hour races. The V8 Vantage N400 commemorates Aston Martin’s achievements at the Nurburgring, where the company enjoyed success in the grueling ADAC 24-hour race with the V8 Vantage N24 production racecar. Aston Martin develops and tests all of its road cars extensively on the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit and the Vantage N400 recently broke the eight-minute benchmark around the legendary 14-mile circuit.
The 2008 Vantage N400 includes a number of performance improvements as well as enhancements to the car’s styling and standard features. The limited-edition model receives a needed boost in power to Aston’s 4.3 liter V8 engine, peak power rises from 380 to 400bhp, torque is up to 414lb ft. The handling has been improved as well, thanks to a Sports Package, which includes lighter-weight, graphite-finished alloy wheels and up-rated springs and dampers and a larger rear anti-roll bar.
The Vantage N400’s most noticeable exterior design improvement is the clear rear taillights. Side skirts have also received a more sculpted look. The Vantage N400 will be available in three new exterior colors; Bergwerk Black, Lightning Silver or Karussell Orange.
Interior enhancements include perforated black leather seats, micro-spin alloy interior trim and a unique numbered sill plaque. Transmission choice is between Sportshift automated manual or conventional manual transmission. Additionally, the Vantage N400 comes equipped with a range of normally optional equipment, including Satellite Navigation, 700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System, Bluetooth telephone preparation, HID headlamps, cruise control and memory/heated seats.
All in all the V8 Vantage has been a very good bargain form Aston and now it just got even better thanks to the upgrades in the M400 special edition.
The DB9 LM celebrates Aston Martin’s GT1 class victory in the Le Mans 24-hour endurance classic in June with the DBR9 — a racecar derived from the DB9.
This special edition car, available in Coupe form only with Touchtronic transmission, includes a unique Sarthe Silver exterior paint finish, meshes and rear crossbar finished in Magnum Silver and red brake calipers. Inside, the DB9 LM is fitted with handcrafted black leather finish, perforated leather inserts, unique “Tertre Rouge” interior trim and numbered sill plaque. The car is also equipped with the normally optional DB9 Sports Pack as standard, including the lighter-weight wheels seen on the Vantage N400.
Check out the Gallery’s of all three cars — DBS, N400, and DB9 LM