Bruce

"The Vantage N24 is based on a standard European specification production V8 Vantage, with modifications undertaken to prepare the car for the competitive racing environment.

At the 2006 British Motor Show, Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, announced that the company would build a limited production run of cars based on the V8 Vantage that completed the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race that June. The near standard V8 Vantage finished 24th overall out of 220 starters, completing some 130 laps of the 15.77 mile circuit – in a field of mostly specialised race-homologated entrants."

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Bartek Sikorski

N24 V8 Vantage for the road

A factory-produced, hardcore Aston Martin road car will soon be a reality.
Aston Martin will be offering customers of its N24 V8 Vantage race car the opportunity to gain Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) so the cars are eligible for road use.
The pack will be offered as an after-market option at the time of purchase, and will be completed by Aston Martin Works Service at Newport Pagnell.
In a very British fashion, Aston politely point out that “customers are advised that whilst the Vantage N24 will be road legal after completing the SVA process, the car will not offer the levels of comfort and refinement for which Aston Martin’s have become renowned, and the ride and handling will reflect that of a race car.”

The N24 has rapidly caught the imagination of enthusiasts as a customer race car, with appearances in long-distance classics such as the Nurburging 24 hours, a race winning debut in the new FIA GT4 series and some spectacular appearances in the French Rally Championship.
The N24 offers many modifications over the standard V8 Vantage including: racing safety equipment such as a roll cage, cut off switch and fuel bag tank; a lightened and balanced engine with revised cylinder heads that makes 410bhp (up from 380bhp in the standard car) and adjustable suspension with Speedline motorsport wheels.
Thanks to a reduced kerbweight of 1330kg, the N24 enjoys a significantly improved power to weight ratio. In summary, the SVA process includes:
Transport of the Vantage N24 from point of sale at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters to Aston Martin Works Service, Newport Pagnell
Supply and fit:
Full handbrake system
Number plate lights
Side repeaters
Horn
Standard steering column including lock
Fixed drivers side window without slide opening
E’ marked seat belts
Fuel filler restrictor
Alternative switches or guard to meet interior projection requirements
Compliance with noise and emission regulations
Submission of application to VOSA (including fee payment)
Transport Vantage N24 to test station for inspection
Register and tax vehicle, including fee
Aston Martin will charge £7,500 plus local taxes for the SVA option on an N24. Seeing as the list price of an N24 is £78,720, that takes the price of a road legal N24 in the UK to £101,317.90 inc VAT – compared with £94,280 for a Porsche 997 GT3 RS, for example.
It is, however, around £234 cheaper than a fully kitted Prodrive V8 Vantage, although no doubt considerably less comfortable on a day to day basis. The SVA work is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete.
Is this Aston Martin’s first step in creating a genuine rival to Porsche's ultra successful GT3 series? We certainly hope so…



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