After the ending of production of the Virage in 1994, the company only offered the Vantage and Volante cars until the range was augmented by the addition of the new V8 Coupe, introduced at the Geneva Show, 1996. At a casual glance, the car looks like a Vantage, to which is owes much; a tamer version without the superchargers. The car features Vantage style front and rear, together with a chrome mesh grill and surround plus a less overt front air dam incorporating two driving lamps.

1996 - 2000 Aston-Martin V8 Le Mans

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 1996 - 2000 Aston-Martin V8 Le Mans
  • Horsepower: 349@0
  • Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic

2005 BMW Z29

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2005 BMW Z29
  • Horsepower: 349@0
  • Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

The end result of the work was a better looking, better performing update of the Virage. The 32 valve engine is an unblown version of the Vantage unit producing 349bhp and 369lbft of torque give the car a claimed maximum speed of 'over' 155mph and a 0 to 60 time of a mere 5.9 seconds. A four speed automatic transmission is standard. This above car was photographed at the AMOC Spring concours, 2000 and features a Vantage grille and V600 style 5 spoke Dymag wheels.

The six spoke alloy wheels have slimmer spokes than that of the Vantage and are shod with Pirelli P zero 255/50 tyres. Thus the absence of Vantage width aches, the car is both more subtle and more elegant.

Note - easy spotters guide - V8 Vantage has rectangular side flashers, Aston Martin V8 Coupe has oval 'Ford' style side flashers. But the V8 Vantage Le Mans has oval side flashers.

The V8 Vantage Le man was specialy known as the alst Aston Martin with huge V8, while European union was passing stricter law against gas emission, Aston Martin had to come up with a new, less polluting power plant.