Aston Martin has revealed its new V8 Vantage S. It’s the sportiest and most powerful V8 Vantage yet, with styling inspiration from the V12 Vantage.

The Vantage S retains the standard car’s 4.7-litre engine and comes equipped with an all-new gearbox, Sportshift II. It’s an automated manual with seven speeds, and is said to be 20 per cent quicker shifting than the transmission it effectively replaces. It’s also 24kg lighter, contributing to a 30kg drop for the V8 Vantage overall, the S weighing 1600kg.

The Vantage S gets a sport button, too, which quickens the gearshifts further as well as cranking up the exhaust note of that sonorous eight-cylinder engine.

Other enhancements for the Vantage S include quicker steering and rear suspension tweaks to boost traction and stability.