Is the new Vantage the best Aston Martin ever?

The 2018 Aston Martin Vantage V8. (Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.)

The all-new 2018 Vantage is a list of mind-blowing performance figures and technical specifications wrapped up in an aggressively styled aluminum skin.

Revealed at the company's Warwickshire, England HQ via a Facebook livestream, the 2018 Vantage is thoroughly deserving of the hype that has been building up around it since a prototype version appeared in the last James Bond film, albeit with a DB10 badge.

Even when Aston Martin has been in dire financial straits, it has always somehow managed to build cars of such form-follows-function beauty that owners were more than willing to turn a blind eye to shortcomings in many other areas.

However, with the Vantage, even more than the recently launched DB11, everything beneath the skin is essentially a cherry-picked selection of everything that's cutting-edge in terms of sportscar capability, starting with the engine.

It's the same twin turbo 4-liter V8 that powers the Mercedes-AMG GT from standstill to 100km/h in 4 seconds flat and on to a 189mph (304km/h) top speed.

However, in the Vantage, where the block is positioned so far back from the front axle that the weight distribution is a perfect 50:50 split, that powerplant, matted to an eight-speed automatic transmission, is half a second quicker off the mark, serves up over 510hp and 685Nm of torque and a top speed of 195mph.

And to ensure that drivers can make the most of that power, the car comes with an electronic rear differential (something that only Ferrari and Mercedes had in their arsenals as recently as two years ago), torque vectoring to push power to the wheel that needs it most every millisecond, and a dynamic stability control system with adaptive damping.

Even two years ago it would have been hard to imagine Aston being able to offer this level of technical capability in its cars, but thanks to a partnership with Mercedes Benz it has access to a host of best in class systems and features. And that goes for creature comforts too, with a park assist system and an excellent infotainment system among its standard equipment.

"I'm enormously excited by what we've created: a new Vantage that's more explicit in looks and intent," said Aston Martin's CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer. "A true sports car with a sharper look and a keener dynamic edge, the new Vantage is the Aston Martin pure driving machine enthusiasts have been waiting for."

The Vantage is available to order now and will cost from $191,446 in Canada, £120,900 in the U.K., €154,000 in Germany and $149,995 in the U.S. But if you want one, you'll have to wait until mid-2018 for the first deliveries.