V8 Vantage N400
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V8 Vantage N400

V8 Vantage N400

(2007 - 2008)

2008MY

As if the new DBS was not enough for Aston Martin, only three weeks later came the announcement that another two cars would be premiered at the Frankfurt Motor Show during September 2007. These were the DB9 LM and the long awaited, slightly more powerful V8 Vantage, the N400. The name was chosen both to celebrate the success of the N24 in the ADAC Nürburgring 24 hour races and the specific peak power output of 400 bhp. The fully road going N400 was timed lapping 'the ring' in under 8 minutes, which is an important fact that you will understand a little further down.

V8 Vantage N400

The Vantage N400 featured a few tweaks over the standard car. This included a useful power upgrade to the 4.3 litre V8 engine, lifting peak power to 400 bhp and peak torque to 420 Nm. The car also came equipped with a new Sports Pack as standard which offered subtly different driving dynamics tailored to enthusiasts who were seeking even more responsive handling. The Sports Pack comprised of unique lightweight graphite-finished aluminium wheel type with diamond turning (already fitted to the Sports Pack DB9), up-rated springs and dampers and a new rear anti-roll bar (for the Coupe only). The Vantage N400 also included a number of exterior design changes, including a revised side sill design, Magnum Silver bonnet and side strake meshes, clear rear lamp lenses and a bright finish grille.

Interior enhancements included perforated black leather seats, micro-spin alloy facia trim and a unique numbered sill plaque. The Vantage N400 was only available in three new exterior colours; Bergwerk Black, Lightning Silver or Karussell Orange (the first time that orange has been a standard colour for an Aston I believe), with either Sportshift or conventional manual transmission. Additionally, the Vantage N400 came equipped with a range of optional equipment fitted as standard, including Satellite Navigation, 700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System, Bluetooth telephone preparation, HID headlamps, cruise control and memory/heated seats. In the Karussell Orange coloured cars, the seat stitching was course tan and a map of the Nürburgring was embroidered on the arm rest; the black and silver cars used either course silver or red thread. It was also possible to specify a rather more discrete black thread.

AML supposedly limited production of the N400 to just 480 examples (240 coupes, 240 Roadsters) – why 480? well that’s how many seconds are in 8 minutes, the time that the N400 could lap the Nürburgring. Almost all cars were built during March and April 2008. It is now believed that far fewer cars were actually built making the N400 especially desirable to collectors.

The special series of ‘N’ cars continued with the 4.7 litre N420 in 2010 and the N430 in 2014.

  • Body/Coachwork:
    • Two door coupe with tailgate and 2+0 seating
    • Extruded bonded aluminium VH body structure with aluminium, magnesium alloy, composite and steel body. Extruded aluminium door side impact protection beam
    • Bergwerk Black, Lightning Silver or Karussell Orange coachwork
    • Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (dipped beam) with power wash and integrated LED direction indicators.
    • LED rear lamps with clear lenses
    • Heated, electrically adjusted door mirrors, powerfold
    • Reversing parking sensors
    • Heated rear screen, front screen heating (optional)
    • Drag Coefficient 0.34 Cd
    • Magnum silver side strake, bonnet and lower front bumper meshes
    • Magnum silver rear diffuser blade and rear lamp inserts
    • Extended sill design
  • Interior:
    • Bridge of Weir Obsidian black full-grain leather interior, with perforated leather seat inserts
    • Coarse stitching (available in black, red, tan or silver), Armrest embroidered with Nürburgring circuit diagram
    • Numbered N400 Limited Edition sill plaque
    • Alcantara headlining (available in black or tailor’s grey
    • Micro-spin alloy facia, Graphite interior fittings
    • 10-way electrically adjustable, heated, memory seats
    • Automatic temperature control
    • Heated rear screen
    • Reversing sensors
    • Battery Disconnect Switch (BDS)
    • Trip computer
    • Dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, side airbags
    • Alarm and immobiliser
    • Tyre-pressure monitoring
    • Cruise control
    • Bluetooth telephone preparation
    • Colour satellite navigation system with Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) (not available in all markets)
    • Tracking device (UK only)
    • Aston Martin 700 W Premium Audio System with Dolby® Pro Logic II®
    • Six-CD autochanger
    • Apple iPod® and USB MP3 input
  • Engine:
    • Front mid-mounted aluminium alloy V8. Four overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder, Engine number prefix GAM05/. Dry sump pressurised lubrication
    • Bore 89 mm. Stroke 86 mm. Capacity 4280cc. Compression ratio 11.3:1
    • Max power 400 bhp @ 7300rpm
    • Max torque 309 lb/ft @ 5000rpm
    • Fuel System & Ignition System: Multi-point sequential electronic fuel injection system
    • Valved airbox system
    • Stainless steel exhaust system with by-pass valve , 2 three-way catalytic converters
  • Transmission:
    • Graziano Six speed manual transaxle with integrated shifter bellcrank system (cable operated), single plate clutch.
    • Sportshift automated manual optional
    • Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
    • Final Drive, limited slip differential. Ratio 3.909:1
  • Steering:
    • ZF Rack and pinion , power assisted, 3.0 turns, lock-to-lock
    • Column tilt and reach adjustments
  • Wheels and tyres:
    • Aston Martin lightweight forged alloy wheels with a graphite and diamond turned finish
    • Front – 8.5J x 19″
    • Rear –  9.5J x 19″
    • Bridgestone Potenza Tyres
    • Front – 235/40 ZR19
    • Rear – 275/35 ZR19
  • Suspension:
    • Front:    Forged aluminium independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry. Coil over Bilstein aluminium, monotube dampers with anti-roll bar.
    • Rear:     Forged aluminium independent double wishbone incorporating longitudinal control arms, coil over Bilstein aluminium monotube dampers with anti-roll bar.
    • Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).
  • Brakes:
    • Front – 355mm ventilated and grooved steel discs with four piston monoblock calipers
    • Rear – 330mm ventilated and grooved steel discs with four piston monoblock calipers. Independent handbrake callipers on rear disc
    • Alternative optional brake caliper finish – black, red , silver
    • Anti Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TCS) & Positive Torque Control (PTC).
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 4380mm
    • Width: 1866mm excluding wing mirrors
    • Height: 1255mm
    • Wheelbase: 2600mm
    • Front Track: 1570 mm
    • Rear Track: 1564 mm
    • Kerb Weight: 1630 kg
    • Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres (78 litres usable)
    • Boot Volume 239 litres (using VDA block method)
  • Performance:
    • Top Speed: 177 mph
    • Acceleration: 0-62mph, 4.95 seconds
    • Power to weight ratio 233 bhp / tonne
    • CO2 Emissions,  358 g/km (manual), 360 g/km (Sportshift)
  • Price at launch:
    • UK – £94,000
    • Germany – 129,000