Why this 670-horsepower British thoroughbred is a different animal

I spent several days behind the wheel of the Aston Martin Vantage S on Mulholland Drive, and I learned something fundamental: comparisons are a trap. The inevitable questions arose is it better than the BMW M8? Faster than the AMG GT? Worth more than a Porsche 911?
The honest answer: those comparisons don’t really work. This is a different animal.

POWER FROM THE SOUL

The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 develops 670 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Impressive numbers on paper, but what the numbers don’t capture is how this Aston communicates all this power.

It’s not very loud. Compared to Germans who artificially amplify noise, or Italians who scream their presence, the Vantage is relatively quiet. But here’s the revelation: the moment you press the accelerator, you feel its power through every part of the car. It’s as if the power emerges from the soul of each component.

You press the accelerator and feel energy transmit through the steering wheel, seat, into your body. You don’t hear an explosion. You feel purpose. That’s the difference between a car that impresses strangers sitting at a traffic light and a car that connects with you on a level that numbers can’t measure.

MULHOLLAND: WHERE IT SHINES

In the legendary curves of Mulholland Drive between 50 and 75 miles per hour is where the Vantage reveals its true nature. There you notice the grip and acceleration coming out of the curves. The 50/50 balance between axles isn’t marketing speak; it’s a visceral reality felt every time you turn the wheel.

Trail braking into blind curves with imposing brakes doesn’t become complicated. The front grips with confidence. You point the hood of the car and there it goes. You accelerate out. Rear traction pushes without harsh surprises. And after twenty, thirty consecutive curves, you enter a state where the Aston Martin disappears and only the road, intention, and execution remain.

This is what the British understand better than anyone. It’s not about maximum speed in a straight line. It’s about how the car flows forward. There’s a connection of souls. That dialogue between driver and machine that transcends specifications.

BRITISH CRAFTSMANSHIP

The Vantage S interior demonstrates why “handmade” still has meaning. Individually selected leather. Perfect stitching executed by artisans. Alcantara where your hands touch. Every detail deliberate.

It’s better than the interior of a Porsche 911 or BMW M8 in materials and execution. It doesn’t have the exotic drama of Ferrari or Lamborghini, but it possesses something more valuable: genuine British craftsmanship and presence. That attention to detail that says “we cared about every square inch of this cabin.”

REACTIONS ON MULHOLLAND

It’s a car that attracts the attention of enthusiasts, who give you a thumbs up of approval. Not for being louder or more extravagant than other exotics, but because connoisseurs recognize the rare, the special, the different. A very low-production car that really isn’t for everyone.

On Mulholland Drive—where Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches are common—the Aston Martin Vantage stands out precisely because it’s not trying to stand out. It’s elegant without being vulgar. Powerful without being aggressive. Exclusive without being pretentious.

TIMELESS DESIGN

The proportions are perfect. A very long hood promising power. Cabin pushed back. Enormous wheels at the corners. Lines flow effortlessly from front to rear. It doesn’t chase trends because it doesn’t need to. This design will still be beautiful in ten, twenty years.

Its form, or visual language, follows function—a drag coefficient of 0.20 speaks to serious aerodynamics—but beauty wasn’t sacrificed on the altar of efficiency. The British understood you can have both.

WHY COMPARISONS FAIL

The BMW M8 has impressive technology but feels corporate. The Mercedes-AMG GT has brutal performance but lacks a joyful soul. The Porsche 911 Turbo is an indisputable technical reference but is predictable, efficient, and seen everywhere.

The Vantage is independent. It has its own personality. It doesn’t always do what you expect. But when it connects with you—in a perfect Mulholland curve, in the moment where the sun illuminates those impeccable lines—it’s magic that the Germans simply don’t understand.

It’s not a loyal and obedient dog. It’s an independent feline with its own character.

THE MULHOLLAND VERDICT

After several days on one of California’s most famous roads, the conclusion is clear: the Aston Martin Vantage S isn’t for those seeking better numbers on paper, or more advanced technology, or practicality.

It’s for those who appreciate craftsmanship over efficiency. For those who value exclusivity over ubiquity. For those who understand that 670 British thoroughbred horses communicating from the soul of each component is a different experience than 700 German horses with amplified sound.

It’s for people who prefer a deep conversation over a loud monologue. For those who know the difference between impressing strangers and connecting with yourself.

Six hundred seventy horsepower. Two hundred thousand dollars. One hundred eleven years of British craftsmanship. And the curves of Mulholland Drive as testimony.

The comparisons don’t really work.

Because this is a different animal.