--- title: "2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Has a Splitter That Hellcat Fans Will Love" date: "2025-07-08" modified: "2025-07-08" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2026-aston-martin-vantage-s-has-a-splitter-that-hellcat-fans-will-love" categories: - "Aston Martin News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Aston Martin" - "Coupe" - "luxury" - "Supercar" - "Vantage" --- # 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Has a Splitter That Hellcat Fans Will Love ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() *\Alex Bernstein/Aston Martin\* The current-gen [Aston Martin Vantage]() has been kicking around for seven years, if you can believe it. In that time, [the V12 model]() made a much-appreciated return for a short run, and Aston is now showing us that the Vantage's story isn't yet over. Meet the Vantage S: a sharper, faster coupe with a 670-horsepower, twin-turbo V8 and a bunch of chassis tweaks and optimizations to make that little bit better at the limit. Oh—and this particular example has a splitter that looks like it's [had its shipping guards painted on](). That's what I'm picking up from Aston's press photos, anyway. The colored trim around the aero elements is a little silly to me, and I still think the sports car looked much better [*before* its facelift]() last year, but nobody is mistaking this for an ordinary Vantage. [Aston Martin]() says this iteration of the coupe is more responsive at the front, thanks to recalibrated Bilstein dampers. Camber, toe, and caster have all been massaged to improve grip, but notably not at the expense of cruising comfort. For example, the rear springs have actually been made softer for better ride quality at low speeds. Aston says the rear subframe is now bolted directly to the body, rather than through rubber bushings, in search of more solid dynamics. The throttle pedal weight has even been changed, and that refinement will be special to the Vantage S. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() **Alex Bernstein/Aston Martin** ![]() At the heart of it all is that familiar Mercedes-AMG-sourced, four-liter boosted V8, now producing 670 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. That's an improvement of 15 hp over the current, normal Vantage, and notably down only 20 hp [compared to the V12](). For those hoping for a manual, you unfortunately won't find one here. The transmission remains an eight-speed auto positioned at the rear, though Aston tells us that the stiffness of its mounts has been reduced by 10%, "allowing the vehicle to breathe in harmony with the road," whatever that means. - ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() - ![]() - ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() - ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() - ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() - ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() - ![Aston Martin Vantage S]() [][][] The Vantage S will be offered in both coupe and roadster flavors when deliveries begin in the final quarter of this year. If you're looking forward to seeing one in motion, you can do so by streaming the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. Or, ideally, attending in person—I hear it's one of those events that's better live. *Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com*[]()[]()[]() ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()