The Ferrari nearly fails to materialise. With the official press car out of action, locating a good, representative Roma is proving to be a proper head-scratcher, something we can’t understand.
Since 2020 the model has been the ‘affordable’ departure point into Ferrari-land and sells steadily in the UK. It’s not like we’re sniffing about for a 166 MM.
But then, with days to go, a solid lead surfaces, followed by a friendly phone call, and an arrangement is made to borrow the rather beautiful junior Ferrari GT before you: Abu Dhabi Blue, low miles, factory-correct Michelins. The group test of the year can now commence.
The Roma simply had to be here. For those in the business of building super-coupés with not only prodigious long-range chops but also the potential for both B-road mirth and 200mph, should the opportunity ever present itself on an empty autobahn, it is the product to beat. It’s arguably the most complete Ferrari of modern times, even if it has never been as celebrated as its V12-engined older sibling, the 812 Superfast.
However, the Roma may finally now have met its match. It comes in the form of the latest Aston Martin Vantage, a car whose recent stylistic nip and tuck belies an upwards recalibration of its positioning.
Today our would-be Ferrari slayer is a 656bhp silver sledgehammer with gold wheels and green innards, yet somehow VN59 AML is making it all hang together aesthetically, as perhaps only an Aston Martin can. In fact, regardless of the finishing order, the Brit has already won the game of spiking your pulse from 10 yards out.
The power-crazed new Vantage does indeed look superb: rippling muscle, tight proportions and fabulous details, even if the blinding chrome exhaust outlets are tacked on.
When we stop for a lunchtime sarnie, the people of Kimbolton will gravitate to it, only afterwards noticing the blade form of the Italian car. They will ignore the Porsche Turbo, but that has always been the appeal of a machine that thrums softly while carrying a Californian redwood on its back.
The 911 is, in point-to-point pace, a demon. It is also the most practical car of the trio and the most economical, and when it comes to prosaic but meaningful elements such as infotainment and visibility, neither glamorous rival can lay a glove on it.
As a 911, the handling will have polish to match the Aston’s fake exhaust tips. It may not get the Kimboltonians swooning, but in this sort of contest, against more aristocratic opposition, Porsche’s 911 Turbo is often a cold-blooded killer.
There’s nothing cold-blooded about the Vantage, and it certainly does not in any sense thrum softly. Approach it, peel the door away on its upward-angled trajectory from the devastating contours of the midriff panelling, which sits fully half a foot inwards of the cartoon rear haunches, and enter.
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These are 3 completely different cars, and it's great all 3 exist.
The Roma is the elegant super tourer, and is probably the most beautiful sports car on sale, full stop. Note - they've stopped Coupe production, you can only order the Spider now.
The Vantage is the thrill a minute bruiser, and looks great. It's what a sports car should be.
The Turbo is the all purpose, all weather supercar slayer.
Totally agree with your opening sentence, and really pleased Autocar placed the 911 turbo in last place, it might help reduce the wait times. When I had use of a turbo s a few weeks ago it appeared to me that the car had way more power than I needed to tap into in day to day driving. When I returned it and was talking with the Porsche service manager, he commented that the 'new' one coming in 2025 has hybrid assist and is noticably quicker at lower speeds to compete with EV's. I would happily trade that extra grunt for less bulk, surely that's the way to differentiate berween ICE and EV's?
No wonder Aston can't make a profit, why is the Vantage priced so low? Should be same price as Ferrari, and definitely more than a 911. Surely Aston see themselves as a more premium/desirable brand than Porsche?
Sorry, this comparo is "Autocar purple prose" at its most stomach-churning. After 15 - 18 paragraphs, I skipped through to the table at the end, and assumed that the UK-brand car had received an extra half-star as usual.
Was mildly surprised to see the Ferrari was held out over the other two, but couldn't be bothered to wade back through all the turgid metaphors to find out why.
(By contrast, Ilya's reviews of (mostly) lower-end vehicles are exemplars of useful takes on what a vehicle is and isn't. I'd love to see more of that approach across-the-board from Autocar.)
M, could you drop me a line? It's richard.lane@haymarket.com – thanks