The Vantage AMR Probably Isn't the Manual Aston You Want

The Vantage AMR Probably Isn't the Manual Aston You Want

When the Corvette’s V-8 finally took a back seat, so did GM’s focus on keeping stick-shift fans happy. The only tranny available on the latest mid-engined C8 is an eight-speed Tremec dual-clutch. This "save the manuals!" gig doesn’t get any easier. But Aston Martin is doing its bit for the war effort with the new Vantage AMR.

The Vantage AMR Probably Isn't the Manual Aston You Want.

When the Brit sports car maker switched to 4.0-liter AMG V-8s for its new Vantage and DB11, it looked for a minute like Aston’s DIY shifting days were over, too. But while the regular Vantage comes only with an eight-speed ZF ‘box, the AMR pairs its identical 503 horsepower V-8 exclusively with a stick. And not just any stick, but a seven-speed, dog-leg manual. The Vantage AMR Probably Isn't the Manual Aston You Want.

Dog-leg means first gear is down and to the left, like on an old race car, where first gear was rarely needed after the start, while the rest of the at-least-one-too-many gears are laid out in a conventional H-pattern. And together those two things mean you can live out your trashy Fast & Furious, and classy 250-GTO-on-the-Targa fantasies all at the same time.

We’ve encountered this transmission before, and not just because this Graziano-built ‘box is basically the old Sportshift II paddle-shifter minus the paddles and electronics. It was also briefly offered on the $200,000 V-12 Vantage S back in 2016. The Vantage AMR Probably Isn't the Manual Aston You Want.

Road & Track Editor-in-Chief Travis Okulski drove one of the 100 manual V-12s imported to the US at Buttonwillow and when he got back there was more singing of praises than at a Baptist music festival.

Part of the excitement stemmed from the car’s chassis and engine, the sweet hydraulic steering and that incredible 569-horsepower V-12. But a big chunk of credit went to that transmission, which connected you to the car in a way the previous paddle-shift version of the same transmission never did.

Connection is what the AMR is all about, too. AMR stands for Aston Martin Racing, but that doesn’t mean this is some kind of ultra-hardcore Porsche 911 GT3 rival, though we’ve no doubt that’ll come. Think more 911 T, the lighter, more driver focused, more analogue version.

So The Vantage AMR Probably Isn't the Manual Aston You Want.

Source : https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/a29564311/aston-martin-amr-manual-first-drive/