Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the Aston Martin Vantage AMR. You might have seen the concept at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show when it was referred to as the AMR Pro Concept. This one is different, though, because it’s the production version of the concept that Aston Martin prepared in recognition of its entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship. More importantly, it’s the first official model of the British automaker’s newly-minted AMG performance sub-brand.

If you’re not excited yet, consider the importance of the Vantage AMR in terms of paving the way for Aston Martin to plow the road with its own line of personalized, performance-focused cars that’s akin to what Mercedes is doing with AMG. The U.K.-based company did say that its plans for the AMR performance division are to help bring renewed focus on specialized models that are based on its current lineup of cars. Think of these AMR-badged units to serve as the bridge between the standard-spec Astons and the actual GT3- and GT4-spec racers that are being developed by Aston Martin Racing. The Vantage AMR is the first of these vehicles, but it most certainly won’t be the last.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Aston Martin Vantage AMR.

What makes the Aston Martin Vantage AMR special?

Before we get to the Aston Martin Vantage AMR, there are some items about the new sub-brand’s set-up that we should remember. The most important of these is the tiered structure of AMR. According to Aston Martin, the sub-brand will have two distinct tiers: an entry-level tier and the more extreme AMR Pro tier. The Vantage AMR will slot in that entry-level tier, which means that as impressive as it looks, future models belonging in the AMR Pro tier will be even more ridiculous. It figures as much because the Pro tier will largely be made up of models created specifically by Q by Aston Martin Advanced Operations.

Now, about the Aston Martin Vantage AMR. Let’s start with the exterior where the coupe will be offered in four different colors: Stratus White with an Orange graphic; Ultramarine Black with Blue graphic; Zaffre Blue with Red graphic; and Scintilla Silver with Grey graphic. There is also an option of a “Halo Pack,” which is largely about giving the Vantage AMR the same visual look as the Aston Martin Racing’s Vantage GTE racer that competed at the 2016 World Endurance Championship. That car featured a rather striking Stirling Green paint finish with plenty of Lime Green accents spread throughout the body. The AMR Pro Concept that was previewed in Geneva sported the Halo Pack so you can already see how the extra cost of getting it translates to the actual car. To give it another layer of personalization, Aston Martin is also offering wing badges finished in a special Union Jack treatment at no cost to the customer. It’s free too, so that’s cool.

From an aerodynamic point of view, the Vantage AMR has no shortage of aero components that are similar to the race-spec cars from which it drew inspiration. The front splitter and the wide side skirts are impossible to miss, as are the larger wheel arches that help make room for the 19-inch race wheels. Even at the back, the deck lid spoiler and that angry-looking diffuser scream for attention. There’s even the option to get the AMR Aero Kit, which is part of the wide range of AMR-branded accessories that will serve prominent roles in the growth of the sub-brand. In the case of the Vantage AMR, the kit is made up of carbon fiber splitters, dive panels, side sills, and a fixed rear spoiler. Suffice to say, no stones were left unturned in making the Vantage AMR as lightweight as possible.

Now about those wheels. The Vantage AMR comes with a different set of wheel designs and finishes depending on whether it’s the V8 or V12 variant. The V8 Vantage gets five-spoke alloy wheels while the more imposing get V12 Vantage gets 10-spoke alloy wheels. If neither are up to snuff, Aston Martin is also offering the option of availing the beauty that is the set of forged aluminum AMR Vantage wheels, which basically are the same wheels fitted into the Vantage AMR Pro Concept in Geneva.

Open the doors of the specialized sports car and you’re greeted with a well-dressed interior that would make no less than James Bond himself proud. If you’re a big fan of leather and Alcantara, you’ll be pleased to know that the cabin of the Vantage AMR is effectively drowning in these two premium materials. The roadster version, though, (yes, there’s a roadster version!) is dressed in all-leather. There are also lightweight carbon fiber seats to get excited about and depending on what exterior color is chosen, the interior will reflect the same theme in kind. That includes the Halo Pack, which if availed will turn the Vantage AMR’s cabin into a vibrant space filled with Lime Green accents. Speaking of carbon fiber, various components inside the cabin, including the instrument surround, door tops and door grabs, are also made from the good stuff.

With all these features included, it’s easy to forget that, as I mentioned earlier, the Aston Martin Vantage AMR is being offered in both V8 and V12 configurations of the Vantage. Unfortunately, one of these versions of the specialized sports car will not come with any power upgrades while the other will get a modicum amount of extra power. The V8 Vantage, for example, will still get the same 4.7-liter V-8 engine that pumps out 435 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque while the bigger V12 Vantage will still utilize the same 5.5-liter V-12 engine that can be found under the hood of the DB11. This particular powertrain does come with an extra bit of juice amounting to 595 horsepower, 30 ponies more than the car’s standard output of 565 horses. Depending on the version, prospective owners should also expect to receive either a six-speed manual for the V8 Vantage, a seven-speed manual for the V12, or an automated sequential manual gearbox.

Performance numbers were not announced, but given the modifications and new features that have been included in the Vantage AMR set-up, the V8 version of the specialized sports car should be able to accelerate to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 190 mph. Meanwhile, the V-12 version could possibly do it in 3.6 seconds before peaking at a top speed around 207 mph.

Drivetrain specifications

Needless to say, the Aston Martin Vantage AMR isn’t going to be produced in similar numbers compared to its road-going counterparts. In fact, only 300 units are being prepared for the model, and of that total, 200 units will be allocated for the V8 Vantage version and the remaining 100 units will be for the V12 variant. Anybody who has any vested interest in availing either of these models should at least expect to shell out €126,995 in Germany (that converts to about $142,000 based on current exchange rates) or around £97,995 (almost $110,000) in the U.K. If you do make that financial commitment, you’ll be happy to know that Aston Martin has set timetable for delivering these cars by the fourth quarter of this year.

What can we expect from AMR after this?

Based on the initial offering that is the Aston Martin Vantage AMR, I’d say that the sky’s the limit for Aston Martin’s new performance sub-brand. The thought of knowing that AMR will have more extreme offerings down the road is very intriguing and if you look at how it’s done in recent years with one-off and limited edition creations like the CC10, Vulcan, and of course, the Valkyrie, there’s an overwhelming feeling of excitement that the best is yet to come from Aston Martin. Let’s all cross our fingers then that the Vantage AMR is a sign of bigger and better things to come, both for the new sub-brand and the mothership that’s taking this new leap of faith to further reinvent itself.