Skip advert
Advertisement

Aston Martin Vantage N430 review

Special Aston Martin Vantage N430 celebrates the brand's racing success

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Aston Martin Vantage
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

On the face of it, the N430 looks like nothing more than a Vantage with eye-catching paint and a bit more power. Yet at £89,995 it undercuts the almost mechanically identical Vantage S by around £7,000. And while the Aston is feeling its age, its performance, agile handling and hand-built charm never fail to impress. The N430 could be a collector’s item, too...

Advertisement - Article continues below

Fresh from its recent success at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Aston Martin has pulled the covers off another racy addition to its evergreen V8 Vantage line-up.

Following on from the N400 and N420 special editions, the Aston Martin Vantage N430 adds a number of motorsport-inspired touches to the exterior, an even more luxurious interior, a lower kerbweight and the beefier engine from the 
range-topping Vantage S.

The changes to the body are easy to spot, and run to graphite grey forged-alloy wheels, plenty of 
gloss-black detailing and distinctive contrasting colour stripes for the front grille surround and roof pillars. 
Inside, the N430 is enhanced by the addition of carbon fibre inlays for the sills and gear-lever surround, plus carbon/Kevlar seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara and embroidered with the N430 logo.

Step inside, and styling upgrades include the addition of graphite grey, forged-alloy, 10-spoke wheels, plus gloss-black detailing and colour stripes for the grille surround and roof pillars. Step inside, and the carbon and Kevlar seats are trimmed in leather and Alcantara and embossed with the N430 logo.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430 - interior

Despite the luxurious cabin finish, Aston has managed to shave 20kg from the V8 Vantage’s kerbweight. In combination with the brawnier 430bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine, this results in a claimed 0-62mph time of only 4.8 seconds and a heady 190mph top speed.

As with the standard car, the N430 has a long throttle pedal travel and the powerplant responds lazily at low revs. However, once the rev counter needle swings past 3,500rpm, the acceleration becomes much more urgent and is accompanied by a spine-tingling bark from the exhausts.

Aston has constantly evolved the Vantage since its debut in 2005, but the two-seater is starting to show its age. Plenty of muscle is required for the steering, manual gearshift and clutch pedal, meaning cross-town commutes can become a chore, while the cabin design looks a little dated.

Yet on the open road the N430 comes alive. Its balanced rear-wheel-drive handling, strong grip and characterful V8 make every journey something to savour.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Capri review
Ford Capri - front

Ford Capri review

This is no sports car, nor even a retro reboot – rather a capable, refined and well-built EV that happens to sport a controversial name
In-depth reviews
29 Oct 2024
New Audi RS 3 2024 review: is there a new hyper-hatch king?
Audi RS 3 - front

New Audi RS 3 2024 review: is there a new hyper-hatch king?

The Audi RS 3 renews hostilities with the Mercedes-AMG A 45, but this time it might just have the edge
Road tests
27 Oct 2024
Hot new Abarth 600e is the performance outfit’s most powerful car ever
Abarth 600e - front

Hot new Abarth 600e is the performance outfit’s most powerful car ever

The fiery electric SUV uses Abarth’s own newly developed e-motor that produces up to 278bhp
News
28 Oct 2024