When Aston Martin puts an ‘S’ on one of its models, it means business. It’s a declaration of heightened focus, intensified performance, and you can be sure to experience a visceral driving experience. Meet the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S, which was revealed just before its global dynamic debut at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Aston Martin has taken the already ferocious Vantage and cranked everything up. The result? A front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, AMG-powered missile that aims to redefine what a proper sports car should feel like in 2025 and beyond.
2026 Vantage S: The Most Powerful V8-Powered Vantage Yet
Under the bonnet of the Vantage S is a retuned version of the well-known AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. It now produces 670hp and an impressive 800Nm — figures that squarely place it at the top of the traditional sports car food chain. That’s a solid 14hp bump over the standard Vantage and delivers a satisfying punch across the rev range.
Performance is predictably brutal: 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds, 0-200km/h in just 10.1 seconds, and a top speed of 325km/h. Aston has fettled the Launch Control system, improved shift response, and refined the throttle pedal weight and mapping to extract every possible ounce of feel for maximum performance and driver engagement.
Engineered For An Exhilarating Drive
The Vantage S isn’t just about straight-line savagery. Aston Martin’s engineers were relentless in their pursuit of a more precise, connected, and refined driving experience. Chassis tweaks include changes to suspension hardware, engine mounts, and the use of Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers, all calibrated to deliver a ride that’s agile yet composed.
One key highlight is the switch from rubber-mounted rear subframes to rigid mounts, which should result in improved steering feedback and chassis communication. Combined with retuned camber, toe, and caster settings, the result is a car that dives into corners with renewed sharpness, offering truckloads of front-end grip and confidence-inspiring balance at high speeds.
Aston claims ride quality hasn’t been thrown out of the equation. Rear spring stiffness has been dialed back slightly to enhance comfort at lower speeds.
Aerodynamics With Purpose
Visually, the Vantage S announces its performance-derived nature with a few functional and striking upgrades. New central bonnet blades, available in gloss black or carbon fibre, improve heat extraction from the ‘hot-V’ turbocharged engine setup.
A full-width rear decklid spoiler adds 44kg of rear downforce at Vmax, resulting in an impressive 111kg of aerodynamic grip. The best part? It doesn’t look like an aftermarket add-on. A revised front airdam and underbody aero tweaks add to its planted high-speed feel while ensuring front-end downforce remains dominant for sharper turn-in.
The ‘S’ badging on the front fenders adds a touch of handcrafted elegance. Each one’s forged in brass, filled with red glass enamel, and framed in chrome to match the wing badge. It’s this kind of obsessive detail that makes an Aston Martin an Aston Martin.
2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Interior
The ‘standard’ Alcantara and leather ‘Accelerate’ interior delivers a sporty yet upscale feel, with carbon fibre trim added to the mix. The drive mode dial sits front and centre on the console, finished in either red or silver anodised metal. That colour theme carries through to seatbelts, contrast stitching, and headrest embroidery, tying the cockpit together in a cohesive performance aesthetic.
For the discerning few, the Inspire Sport interior package offers semi-aniline leather, duotone options, and perforated chevron quilting. Quite premium for a car so focused on performance. And yes, in case you needed a reminder of what you were driving, the ‘S’ logos are embroidered with over 2,500 stitches each, in case you forgot what you were driving.
The Aston Martin ‘S’ Legacy
The new Vantage S joins a league of high-performance Aston Martin cars proudly wearing the ‘S’ badge. From the DB3S of the 1950s to the Vanquish S, V8 and V12 Vantage S, and even the DBX S, the letter represents speed and everything that goes with it.
Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark said, “Exceeding the already thrilling qualities of the Vantage was the challenge and motivation behind the new Vantage S. The result is a new benchmark in the front-engined ultra-luxury sports car sector.”
2026 Aston Martin Vantage S At Goodwood FOS
Over the last weekend, the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S made its dynamic debut at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed with a traditional run up the hill. With its debut at Goodwood in the books, the new Vantage S is now ready to hit the streets. Available in both Coupe and Roadster form, order books are open now, with deliveries starting Q4 2025.
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