Car of the week: July 31st – Aston Martin N430

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  • Amazing Aston: The Aston Martin N430 is a spectacular vehicle.

    Available from

    Aston Martin Dubai: Tel 04 4521222

    The ultimate driver’s car is, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder or, in a motoring sense, the person sitting behind the wheel, but usually it is a combination of raw performance, superb handling, pleasing aesthetics and the spine tingling ability to make you want to laugh out loud as you accelerate through the gears.

    Personally, I also look for a rich racing heritage to complete the perfect picture which is why I have a passion for iconic marques like Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and other automotive exotica I will never be able to afford.

    I’m British, so naturally, Aston Martin is up there on my list of desirable cars, particularly the exquisite new Vanquish but the V8 Vantage has never quite cut the mustard for me…until now!

    I’ve never been a fan of the automated manual gearbox they put in the Vantage because I think it is more suited to a racing car than a road car.

    You can adjust your driving style and lift off the accelerator momentarily between shifts which makes it smoother to operate, and Aston will tell you it provides a more involved driving experience which I have never really swallowed.

    However, I have changed my mind having driven and been charmed by Aston’s N430, a limited edition Vantage V8 which pays homage to the marque’s motorsport pedigree, in particular the V8 Vantage GT4.

    N stands for Nurburgring, where Aston have enjoyed much success in races and the 430 is the car’s bhp. It follows in the tyre tracks of Aston’s other limited editions, the N400 and N420 and delivers a genuine club sport racing ethos.

    It is based on the Vantage S and comes in five different editions each with their own unique colour schemes. Our test car was the Sport Edition in Alorro Green with yellow ‘lipstick’ around the black grille and yellow flashes on the wing mirrors and roof line, inspired by Aston’s Le Mans winner the DBR1.The forged alloy wheels with a graphite finish complete the racing look.

    Although the changes are mainly cosmetic the N430 is lighter than the normal Vantage S and therefore faster. It is powered by a 4.7 litre V8 engine which delivers power to the rear wheels via the latest version of the Sportshift 7-speed automated manual gearbox and blasts this car from 0-100kmh in 4.8 seconds.

    Although a bit lumpy changing up from first to second the gearbox does provide a thoroughly engaging experience, particularly when using the paddle-shifts with the car in Sport mode which also opens up the exhaust valves and releases the most glorious howl from that V8.

    The handling is supremely agile thanks to the sports suspension and stability control and because it is so compact, putting this pocket rocket through its paces is an intimate and wholly satisfying experience.

    Like all Aston’s the interior is excellent and being a limited edition this car has its own unique features such as lightweight carbon fibre and kevlar seats with heavystitched leather in a light or dark colour, depending on which edition you have chosen, and an embroidered N430 logo.

    Alcantara leather covers the binnacle which houses the instrument cluster and there is the signature centre console you find in all Astons.

    For me, it’s not quite the ultimate drivers’s car but it’s up there with the best of them, delivering track-like performance with total involvement of the driver which is refreshing with so many electronic assists in cars these days. In short it’s unadulterated fun. I love it.

    Why Buy It:

    Great fun to drive,
    Rarity value, 
    Brilliant engine, 
    Agile race-like handling,
    It’s an Aston Martin. 

    Why Not:

    There are faster cars in this sector which have better gearboxes and not everyone will like the colour scheme.

    N430 – Specifications 

    Manufacturer : Aston Martin 
    Production : 2013 to present
    Class : Sports car
    Body style : Two-seater
    Layout : Rear wheel drive
    Engine : 4.7 litre V8
    Transmission : 7-speed Sportshift II automated manual with paddle shifts.
    Output : 430bhp
    Torque : 490nm 0-100km : 4.8 seconds
    Kerb weight : 1610kg
    Top speed : 305kmh
    Price : Dh550,000 

    Rating: 9/10 

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