What's all this about?

You're looking at an all-new Aston Martin. Excite, as we believe the kids say these days on social media platforms.

Enough of the flimflam - what new Aston is it?

We're working on good old automotive journalist conjecture here, as precisely nothing has been confirmed by Aston Martin itself. But, by our reckoning, this is the replacement for the Vantage, what has been often termed the 'baby' Aston since it launched way back in 2005. Luxury and supercars like this have a longer model life than more mainstream metal, which means 12 years in production is nothing unusual for the Vantage; indeed, the Bentley Continental makes it look like a positive whippersnapper.

Does that mean a choice of V8 and V12 engines?

Well, they're available, in the form of Aston's own 5.2-litre V12 as seen in the launch versions of the DB11, and then the Mercedes-AMG 4.0-litre V8 that has recently been drafted into service for the DB11. This latter unit is the one we think will kick off the range for the Vantage replacement, with no indication as yet from Gaydon that the V12 will make it into the newcomer. Still, with 510hp and 675Nm, no one here is complaining about the 4.0 V8 lump.

And can you talk about the looks?

It doesn't appear to be merely a shrunken DB11, as it's clear to see the new car has different lines to the bigger GT (even allowing for the lurid, Pirelli-branded camouflage seen in these spy shots) - instead, the Vantage replacement takes more of its visual inspiration from James Bond's DB10 and also the Vulcan hypercar.

When do we know more?

Aston's CEO Andy Palmer has already confirmed that the replacement for the Vantage will be shown fully by the end of 2017, so we don't have too long to wait to find out precisely what the car will look like in its undisguised format. Or to find out precisely what is powering it under the bonnet...

Matt Robinson - 2 Aug 2017