Daily Archives: April 6, 2016
Aston Martin Working On Limited Edition Vantage GT8
A spy shot of the Aston Martin GT8. (Source: Autocar)
When Aston Martin decided not to bring its hardcore Vantage GT12 to the United States last year, everyone was dumbfounded. How could the company take away something that breathtaking from Americans?
That one was closely aligned with the V12-powered Vantage GT3 race car. But like mentioned above, this was never experienced in the United States.
Apparently, a new and completely redesigned Vantage is coming next year. But before that, Aston will send out the current model with another hardcore, limited edition model.
This will be called the Vantage GT8, and it will be aligned with the V8-powered Vantage GTE race car. According to reports, this car will be packed with a series of weight-saving measures that include carbon fiber body panels and a stripped out cabin.
This means the race-inspired GT8 will be incredibly faster and lighter than its contemporaries. This would easily be the lightest Vantage ever.
Inside, you can expect a contemporary race-inspired interior, which makes any trip feel like you’re on the race track.
Its power will come from the 4.7-liter engine that is fitted in all V8 versions of the Vantage. The Vantage GT8 will be offered in both manual and automatic transmissions—particularly a seven-speed manual or Aston’s SSII automatic.
Production of the Vantage GT8, however, will be limited, so you have to get your hands on it fast. Aston Martin only built 100 examples of the Vantage GT12. The GT8, sources say, will have 150 units out in the market as soon as production is finished.
The GT8 has already been witnessed by potential customers that Aston Martin invited for an exclusive unveiling last week. The invitation purportedly included a sketch of the car that included a road-scraping front splitter, big rear wing, and large diffuser.
Remember, the GT8 will only be the first from Vantage this 2016, so expect more in the coming months and more importantly, next year.
2016 Toyota Yaris TRD Sportivo Gets Exterior, Interior Changes
Toyota boasted its current models during the Bangkok Motor Show that run from March 23 to April 3, but the one that stole the limelight was the Toyota Yaris TRD Sportivo.
This Yaris model was finally touched by Toyota Racing Development, and it did get the TRD treatment both in the exterior and interior. However, don’t expect too much from the drivetrain as Toyota has completely left this aspect alone.
Although it’s easy to hark at Toyota for not being able to bring anything drivetrain-wise, it’s still a welcome sight to see the Yaris with the TRD treatment—aesthetically speaking.
Based on a report, the Yaris TRD Sportivo is based on the Yaris G except it has a few features such as the turn indicators on the sideview mirrors, a multifunction steering wheel, a multifunction information display, and an acoustic windshield.
The Yaris TRD Sportivo, on the other hand, also boasts of a slew of new features on the exterior, including a black front grille that extends down the lower fascia. This integrates into the black cadding that surrounds the entire bottom of the vehicle and the wheel arches.
The front has fog lights that are located into the corner fascia inserts. It also has a silver front lip to both fascias and the side skirts, as well as custom-looking wheels and a set of roof rails.
At the back, the black cadding covers the lower portion of the rear fascia. There’s also a silver insert in the middle. Overall, though, it has the same body as the current Yaris.
Inside, there are a few modifications. You can find in the center a slew of things such as a double-din, seven-inch, touchscreen display with MP3, MP4, DVD, CD, and WMA compatibility. It also has USB, Micro HDMI, SD-Card, and Bluetooth connectivity with T-connect.
Currently, the base-level, three-door Yaris starts at $14,895 while the three-door LE is at $16,555. The five-door, on the other hand, starts at $15,995 while the five-door LE is priced at $16,930.