The Vantage is decidedly old-school, but also not. The power is sent to the rear wheels, which sounds intimidating. When the full 590 lb-ft hits the rear wheels at 2,750 rpm, those 275/35 Michelin Sport S will light up.
To make the power more manageable, the Aston has a few tricks up its sleeve. There’s the E-diff that can lock up entirely in 135 milliseconds, but the real star of the show is the Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Estimation (IVE) parameters and six-axis accelerometer. Finally, there’s a new adjustable traction control system with nine settings, allowing drivers to set how much sideways action they’re comfortable with.
The idea is to build confidence in the car. One does not simply get into a new 650-hp vehicle and drive at full tilt right away. As you get to know the Aston’s unique handling properties better, you can dial the electronic nannies down a bit. Once confidence is at an all-time high, you can turn all the electronic interference off.
It’s two different approaches to the same problem, which is essentially protecting owners from themselves.
