Aston Martin drops first Vantage teaser

Aston Martin has released a single teaser pic of the all-new, next-generation Vantage coupe ahead of its launch in London on November 21.

The image of the Vantage under drapes doesn't reveal much other than highlighting a striking full-length LED tail-light that highlights the curvaceous new coupe's rear-end.

Luckily, earlier spy shots of the Vantage being tested on the road were far more revealing, showing the small coupe has been influenced by both James Bond's DB10 and the Vulcan hypercar.

Set to share a platform with its bigger brother, the DB11 launched in 2016, the new Vantage's bonded aluminium structure should increase rigidity and body stiffness by as much as 40 per cent over the current car.

As well as the added stiffeness, the new architecture will potentially provide a weight saving of more than 100kg over today's Vantage.

Thanks to the new underpinnings and a transaxle transmission, the next Vantage will have a near optimum 50:50 weight distribution.

Suspension, meanwhile, will match the DB11 with a front double-wishbone set-up and a sophisticated rear multi-link system introduced, replacing the old car's all-round double-wishbone set-up.

Created to go head-to-head with rivals like the Porsche 911, the Vantage will be available, initially, with the Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that should push out around 375kW/675Nm.

Later on, the British car-maker is expected to shoe-horn in its even more powerful 447kW/700Nm 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 that should ensure a top speed in excess of 330km/h.

As well as being offered with the firm's eight-speed automatic, the new Vantage's twin-turbo V8 and V12 will be offered with a traditional six-speed manual gearbox following the declaration by Aston boss, Andy Palmer, that the six-speed DIY method of changing gears would live on in 2017.

Like the DB11, both the V8 and V12 Vantage will benefit from Astons' collaboration with Mercedes-Benz and share its electrical architecture and safety systems.

Following its launch in late 2017/early 2018, Aston Martin will follow up the Vantage coupe with a roadster version in early 2019. A more hard-core rival for the Porsche's 911 GT3 is also believed to be part of the British car-maker's model plans.

Pricing for the new Vantage is expected to be in line with the outgoing model, with the baby Aston expected to sell for around $220,000.