Why the ‘FTP Vantage?’
There are cars you admire, and then there are cars that quietly stay with you. For me, that moment came in a cinema.
Watching Spectre, it wasn’t the action or the storyline that left the lasting impression, it was the car. The Aston Martin DB10 didn’t need to shout. Its presence was enough. The stance, the surfacing, the way light rolled across its bodywork, it felt purposeful, modern, and unmistakably Aston Martin, without leaning on nostalgia.
That shape lodged itself somewhere deep. I didn’t know it at the time, but it had quietly reset my idea of what a modern Aston Martin could, and perhaps should, look like.
So when Aston Martin revealed the new-generation Aston Martin Vantage in 2018, I felt an immediate connection. I could see the lineage straight away. The DB10 hadn’t been a dead-end concept; it had become a design statement, and the Vantage was its road-going expression.
Choosing the Shape, Not the Hype
The launch reaction to the Vantage was mixed in some quarters. It was a bold departure; sharper, more aggressive, less traditionally “pretty” than some expected. But strip away the noise, and the consensus was remarkably consistent: the car looked fantastic, handled superbly, and had been set up properly.
Over time, my admiration grew into something more deliberate. This wasn’t about chasing the latest model or biggest numbers. It was about choosing a car that felt right. A car that marked a turning point for the brand.
In late summer 2024, that decision became reality. I purchased a 2019 Vantage from Aston Martin Sevenoaks, showing just 7,389 miles. On paper it was a used car. In reality, it felt brand new, especially to me.
But ownership isn’t proven on paper. It’s proven on the road.
Barely a month into ownership, the Vantage was tested in a way few cars ever are so early in their new lives.
I was fortunate enough to secure a place on Behind the Glass European Road Trip, an experience that took us across multiple countries, through Germany, into Austria, and ultimately to the summit of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
It was not a gentle introduction.
The weather was dreadful for the vast majority of the journey. Heavy rain, cold temperatures, poor visibility, the sort of conditions that reveal a car’s true character very quickly. There was nowhere to hide, and no time to ease into the relationship.
That, in hindsight, was a gift. Within days, I learned how the car communicated. How it behaved when grip was compromised. How stable it felt at speed. How reassuring it was when conditions were working against us. By the time we reached the Alps, I trusted it completely.
In just a few weeks, I had doubled the mileage and accelerated my understanding of the car by years.
During the early stages of Fuel the Passion, I filmed several moments from this Behind the Glass European road trip. They were among my first attempts at telling stories through film, but they capture an honest beginning, both for the channel and for my relationship with the Vantage. You can explore those films by clicking on the images below.
The Engine That Makes the Journey
At the heart of the Vantage is the AMG-engineered, Aston Martin re-tuned 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. From a mechanically naïve owner’s perspective, I can only speak from experience and that experience has been nothing short of memorable. This engine defines the car. Not through statistics, but through sensation.
The sound. The response. The way it fills the cabin and the landscape around you.
Climbing Austrian mountain roads, windows down, listening to the V8 work, I rarely touched the stereo. I didn’t need to. The engine was the soundtrack. That combination of noise, place, and moment is something I’ll never forget.
It’s why this era of Aston Martin matters. It feels like a high point, modern enough to be usable, analogue enough to be emotional.
A Specification That Completes the Story
Looking back at the original factory specification, it’s clear the car was ordered with care. Finished in Ceramic Grey, the exterior allows the design to speak for itself. It’s a colour that rewards attention rather than demands it, perfectly suited to a car defined by form and proportion.
Inside, the Pure Black and Ivory leather combination, paired with Ivory Alcantara headlining, transforms the cabin. The lighter headlining lifts the space, while the duotone leather and contrast stitching add warmth and craftsmanship. It’s a place you want to spend time, whether crossing borders or simply heading out early on a quiet morning.
Options like the Sports Plus Interior Collection, Technology Pack, ventilated seats, and premium audio don’t overwhelm the experience, they support it. Externally, the Black Pack, gloss black detailing, quad matte black exhaust finishers, and 20-inch Shadow Chrome wheels sharpen the look without excess.
When new, the car carried a list price of £152,525, including over £31,000 in options. But more important than the number is the coherence. Nothing feels accidental. Nothing feels overdone. To me it was perfect.
Choosing the Right Moment
In late 2024, I was invited by Aston Martin Leeds to test drive the then-new Vantage. It was impressive, sharper, faster, more powerful, and beautifully finished. But as I switched off driver aids and mandatory warnings, I found myself reflecting. Had we already lived through the sweet spot?
My 2019 Vantage doesn’t ask me to manage layers of intervention. It sounds better to my ears. And truthfully, I’ve never once wished for more power. It feels like a car designed before the balance tipped too far. For me, this generation represents a moment, not just for Aston Martin, but for driving itself.
The Car at the Heart of Fuel the Passion
This Vantage isn’t a showpiece. It’s a working car. A travelling companion. A storyteller.
It sits at the heart of Fuel the Passion because it reflects everything the platform stands for: real ownership, real journeys, and honest experiences. It’s a car that has already given me memories I’ll carry forever and it’s far from finished doing so.
There is still so much to explore, learn, and share. And I’m genuinely looking forward to every mile. If you’d like to follow the journey, I’d love you to come along.
