Prodrive’s enhancement packages for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage have received a boost in the shape of a tie-up with Nicholas Mee & Company. The W6-based Aston Martin specialist, which now has exclusive rights for the sale and fitment of the Prodrive-developed enhancements in London and the South East, has made a demonstrator available to prospective customers.
The demonstrator has revised suspension, exhaust and aerodynamics, not to mention an extra 45bhp from the 4.3-litre engine, taking power up to 425bhp. The growing band of V8 Vantage buyers inclined to personalise or enhance their Astons will no doubt be keen to reap the rewards of Prodrive’s expertise through these aftermarket packages. This, after all, is the company which ran the Le Mans 24 Hours class-winning Aston Martin Racing works programme...
Far from turning the V8 Vantage into a harsh car suited only to track-day use, however, the suspension modifications – with driver switchable damper mode – are actually intended to improve the ride quality of the standard car, particularly over bumps and compressions. And when combined with Prodrive’s 19in forged aluminium wheels of 8.5in and 10in width, clad in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, there is a perceptible increase in grip.
Nicholas Mee & Co. had plenty to celebrate at its industry drinks party last week, with the new Prodrive tie-up and the launch of Nicholas Mee Racing
Other enhancements include a 3-position switchable exhaust mode button for “visual and aural drama” plus a hand-crafted carbonfibre composite front splitter and boot-mounted spoiler, reducing high-speed lift by a claimed 45%. Prices for the Prodrive upgrades, fully fitted, start from £910 for the exhaust modification up to £19,000 for the full catalogue of parts.
In a simultaneous announcement, Nicholas Mee & Company launched its new racing company with the purchase of a 4.7-litre V8 Vantage GT4 factory-built competition car, for use in European sportscar racing. This is a substantial step on from the historic cars the Aston specialist has previously campaigned.
The new outfit, Nicholas Mee Racing, will be sticking with established drivers Karsten Le Blanc and Christiaen Van Lanschot when the freshly built car is delivered in January. The V8 Vantage GT4 racer has been developed from the standard road car by Aston Martin Racing to give 30bhp more power, while carrying 250kg less weight, despite the full FIA rollcage. Needless to say, the suspension is significantly different from that of the road car and, together with such useful additions as air-jacks, Aston Martin has created a track-ready racer eligible for a wide range of sportscar events.
See www.nicholasmee.co.uk.
You can read the road test of the Prodrive-modified Aston Martin V8 Vantage elsewhere on Classic Driver.
Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Nicholas Mee & Company
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