We’ve seen the Aston Martin Vantage->ke4410 in a number of forms over the past few years. It started back in 2005 with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, then in 2008, we saw the Aston Martin Vantage GT2. In 2009, we reviewed the Vantage GT4, then in 2010 we were pleased to write about the V12 Vantage. The list could go on with various one-off and tuned models like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage by D2Forged or the V8 GT2 by Jota Racing, but instead, I’m here to talk about another special version that will be limited to just five models: The Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Blades Edition.

Have you ever heard of the aerobatic display team from the United Kingdom known as The Blades? The team is a small group of pilots that are capable of incredible formation flying and is the only aerobatic display team in the world that operates as an airline, giving passengers the unique experience of flying in tight formation and experiencing air-bound stunts first hand. So why am I telling you about these unique pilots and what they can do with their Extra EA300 airplanes? Well, because they are the inspiration behind the Aston Martin'->ke13s newest Vantage.

The Blades Edition Vantage S is being developed to pay homage to those pilots and their planes, with several modifications not found on any other Aston Martin in the world. Each of the five units to be produced will even have its own personal identifier that links it directly to one of the airplanes used by The Blades. Join me on a short walk down the page as we see how Aston Martin has managed to link air travel to ground travel, and what makes the Vantage S Blades Edition so unique.

Continue reading to learn more about the Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Blades Edition.

What makes the Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Blades Edition special

On the outside, most of the body has a beautiful silver finish. The hood and wheels are painted black, setting off the front grille, air dam, fender vents, hood vents, and headlights. In addition to the silver and black, some mild use of orange paint adds an additional accent that works really well for the overall design of the Vantage S. The brake calipers are painted orange, as is the insert that outlines the front grille and the small stripe separating the body of the side-view mirrors from the arms that connect to the front doors. Up front, a carbon fiber splitter ties the whole package together. Around back, there is little change, but that orange accent is applied to the deck lid between the upward swoop and the insert between the taillights.

On the inside, the orange accenting continues with a vertical stripe running down the center of the seats. Orange contrast stitching holds the leather seats together, while an orange Blades logo graces each headrest. In addition to the seats, there is also orange piping on the floor mats and carbon fiber treatment to some of the interior trim.

When I first started looking at the Vantage S Blades Edition, I was really hoping to see some engine modifications. To my disappointment, there aren’t any. The car is powered by the same gasoline-sucking, 4.7-liter V-8 that pumps out 430 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque. Of course, that isn’t too disappointing, considering that V-8 shoots the Vantage S to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds on the way to topping out at 190 mph. Fun fact: The EA-300L has a 300-horsepower, single-propeller engine that pushes the plane to a maximum speed of 220 knots (253 mph) with a stall speed of just 55 knots (63 mph.) Overall range is 586 miles with auxiliary fuel. That means the EX-300L can take the Aston Martin V8 S in top speed and range any day of the week.

The Vantage S Blades Edition is said to cost £119,950, or $171,880 at current exchange rates, and delivery of these five special models should start sometime in March of this year. In coupe form, the 2016 Aston Martin V8 S fetches $134,295, so going for one of these five special models will set you back an extra $37,000.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

The Vantage S was designed to fill the gap between the standard, 380 horsepower V8 Vantage and the 510 horsepower V12 Vantage. With 430 horsepower, the Vantage S does just that. To help increase performance over the standard model, the Vantage S also starts out 66 pounds lighter that the standard V8 Vantage, and is more driver focused with seven-speed single clutch transmission from Graziano. A Lower final drive ratio gives the Vantage S a little more get-up, while the tuned suspension can be adjusted depending on what type of driving is being done. For those who want some pure, unadulterated fun, the stability and traction systems can be turned off. Not a bad feature for a middle model in the Vantage lineup.

Read our full review on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage S here.