What's the news?

Aston goes all special edition on us by giving its fans not one but two uprated versions of its road-car range - the V8 Vantage N430 and Carbon Black and White examples of the DB9.

Exterior

It would be fair to say the N430 is the bigger news here, as the DB9 special editions are essentially just styling mods to refresh the GT. So let's focus on the V8 Vantage. It comes with 'dark-themed' exterior details, including graphite-finished ten-spoke forged alloy wheels, a black front grille, black headlamp bezels, black meshes in the wings and rear diffuser, black side window trims, black tailpipe finishers and black surrounds to the clear rear lamps. That's a lot of black.

However, if you're looking at the pics, you might notice some pretty lurid colours over the edges of the roofline, under the rear diffuser, on the door mirrors and around the front grille. These are provided by optional 'club sports' graphics packs, inspired by the CC100 Speedster concept and also the DBR1 racer.

As for the DB9s, the Carbon Black also features a lot of said colour, thanks to carbon fibre addenda. The Carbon White contrasts these features with Stratus White bodywork and brake callipers. There are carbon fibre side strakes and black window surrounds for both DB9s.

Interior

Back to the N430, the seats are worthy of particular mention. They're made of carbon fibre and Kevlar and together with those tasty alloys outside, they help to save 20kg over a standard V8 Vantage's 1,710kg kerb weight. There's a lot of black in here, too, with magnesium paddle shifters in this colour, as well as carbon sill plates, a carbon fibre gearshift surround (if you stick with a full manual gearbox), black anodised rotaries and seat and door cards in Plissè Alcantara. You also get N430 seat logos, a restyled driver instrument panel and unique seat trim patterns, plus you can opt for carbon fibre or Piano Black dash trim, black tread plates and black pedals. It's a Goth's delight.

And guess what? The DB9 Carbon Black also features a strong black styling theme, although you can have accent colours to lift it, according to what colour your brake callipers are. Both Black and White versions of the DB9 get bespoke sill plaques to commemorate their rarity.

Mechanicals

We can skip the DB9s here - they feature exactly the same V12 engine as a regular DB9, with 517hp and 620Nm. Which is more than enough for a big GT like this.

The N430 is a bit more interesting. Its 4.7-litre, all-alloy, quad-cam, dry-sump V8 produces 436hp at 7,300rpm, which brings it into line with the V8 Vantage S. That's largely down to a sports exhaust. This means the N430 is capable of 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and 190mph all in, which is pretty respectable.

Available in either Coupé or Roadster formats, the rear-wheel drive N430 comes as standard with a six-speed manual, although a Sportshift II automated seven-speed automatic is offered too. The aerodynamics of the N430 are said to be honed according to the lessons learned in Aston's GT4 racing programme, while there's a competition-derived braking system, a recalibrated suspension tune and quick-ratio steering rack as well, all aimed at pleasing both the road and occasional track driver.

Anything else?

If you're wondering what the 'N' stands for in N430, you might have been able to offer a reasonable guess - but if not, it stands for the Nürburgring's Nordschleife, home to a dedicated AM test centre and a place where the company has honed many a machine before. This is not the first N-badged Aston, as there have been other track-focused, road-going models in the family before the N430.

You'll pay from £89,995 for the N430, with first deliveries in September this year, while the DB9 Carbon Black and Carbon White editions are 'price on application'. Which is a polite, shorthand way of saying 'if you have to ask...'

Matt Robinson - 19 Feb 2014