This looks promising.

Indeed. Our most eagle-eyed readers may have clocked that there's something a little different about the Aston Martin Vantage pictured. It's painted in Stirling Green with Lime detailing and features a gorgeous set of 20-inch textured black AMR wheels and lots of carbon. Look closer and you'll see myriad '59' decals, too. This is the Vantage 59, the most exclusive version yet of the current Aston Martin Vantage - and it forms part of the Vantage AMR 'range'.

Ah, so this is a hotter Vantage?

Of sorts. The Vantage AMR uses the same AMG biturbo V8 as the regular Vantage, putting out the same 510hp at 6,000rpm, but the maximum torque figure has been reduced from 685Nm to 625Nm. That partially explains why it's actually 0.4 seconds slower in the benchmark 0-62mph time, at 4.0 seconds dead. And yet, we're very excited about the prospect of driving it.

Go on...

The main reason for that is the replacement of the regular Vantage's eight-speed auto with a Graziano seven-speed manual gearbox. Aston also fits carbon ceramic brakes as standard to the Vantage AMR. Together, they mean a weight reduction of 95kg. So, the new car may be slower in a straight line, but it promises to be even more driver-focused, prioritising driver-interaction over outright efficiency. That sounds like our kind of car.

Ok, how much?

Well, the Vantage AMR starts at £149,995, but the Vantage 59 version (limited to 59 units worldwide) is £164,995. In total, Aston will make just 200 examples of the Vantage AMR, but manual gearbox enthusiasts will be glad to hear that it will be possible to fit one as an option to the regular Vantage from 2020 on.