What‘s it?
The Vantage Sportshift is really a V8 Vantage having a clutchless manual gearbox. It is a development of Magneti Marelli’s ubiquitous clutchless manual, which also features inside the Vanquish and also the Ferrari F430, among others. But Aston’s engineers have tweaked it to suit the character from the Vantage’s 4. 3-litre V8.
Gears are selected using steering wheel-mounted paddles, there are three shift options. Sport offers a maximum shift speed of 240 milliseconds, which sounds fast until you consider that an F430 swaps cogs in 150 milliseconds. Comfort requires offer slower, smoother shifts and there’s also a fully automatic mode.
What is it like?
Aston has designed some creep straight into the transmission inside a bid in order to make the Vantage simpler to manoeuvre at low speeds. In first gear, the car will creep forwards at as much as 4mph, even when no throttle pressure is applied. This system works well, but other facets of the gearbox’s behaviour still need work.
In automatic mode, the shift from first to second and from second to third is accompanied by an awkward jolt. Automated downshifts – for example once the car approaches a junction – will also be accompanied by an uncomfortable shunting motion. Aston’s engineers promise improvements towards the system’s calibration until the Sportshift goes on sale in March.
Also considering altering the software to avoid the gearbox automatically changing up at 7000rpm, which could prove an irritation to track day enthusiasts. Sadly the transmission also does not something you want to alleviate this car’s biggest problem – poor low to mid-range torque.
A few detail improvements have also been introduced over the Vantage range. New Recaro seats are made to accommodate those of the wider girth (Americans ) and there’s a natty cell phone holder, but that’s about this. The Vantage’s aesthetics have sensibly been left well alone.
Should I buy one?
There is a £2995 premium for Sportshift, raising the Vantage’s price to £86, 930. Pricey, yes, although not for the Aston – especially one as gorgeous because. If Aston can solve the gearbox's early problems, it is going to be a welcome addition towards the range – especially as there is simply there is no other auto option.
Alistair Weaver
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Sportshift
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Sportshift
What‘s it?
The Vantage Sportshift is really a V8 Vantage having a clutchless manual gearbox. It is a development of Magneti Marelli’s ubiquitous clutchless manual, which also features inside the Vanquish and also the Ferrari F430, among others. But Aston’s engineers have tweaked it to suit the character from the Vantage’s 4. 3-litre V8.
Gears are selected using steering wheel-mounted paddles, there are three shift options. Sport offers a maximum shift speed of 240 milliseconds, which sounds fast until you consider that an F430 swaps cogs in 150 milliseconds. Comfort requires offer slower, smoother shifts and there’s also a fully automatic mode.
What is it like?
Aston has designed some creep straight into the transmission inside a bid in order to make the Vantage simpler to manoeuvre at low speeds. In first gear, the car will creep forwards at as much as 4mph, even when no throttle pressure is applied. This system works well, but other facets of the gearbox’s behaviour still need work.
In automatic mode, the shift from first to second and from second to third is accompanied by an awkward jolt. Automated downshifts – for example once the car approaches a junction – will also be accompanied by an uncomfortable shunting motion. Aston’s engineers promise improvements towards the system’s calibration until the Sportshift goes on sale in March.
Also considering altering the software to avoid the gearbox automatically changing up at 7000rpm, which could prove an irritation to track day enthusiasts. Sadly the transmission also does not something you want to alleviate this car’s biggest problem – poor low to mid-range torque.
A few detail improvements have also been introduced over the Vantage range. New Recaro seats are made to accommodate those of the wider girth (Americans ) and there’s a natty cell phone holder, but that’s about this. The Vantage’s aesthetics have sensibly been left well alone.
Should I buy one?
There is a £2995 premium for Sportshift, raising the Vantage’s price to £86, 930. Pricey, yes, although not for the Aston – especially one as gorgeous because. If Aston can solve the gearbox's early problems, it is going to be a welcome addition towards the range – especially as there is simply there is no other auto option.
Alistair Weaver
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Sportshift
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment