Aston Martin Vantage AMR marks the return of the manual transmission

By Stephen Edelstein May 2, 2019

1 of 12

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Aston Martin Vantage AMR — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Manual transmissions are disappearing from even the sportiest cars, but Aston Martin is keeping the faith. Aston is bringing back the manual for the limited-edition Vantage AMR. Just 200 of these cars will be made, but Aston also plans to offer a manual transmission on the standard Vantage beginning in 2020.

Recommended Videos

The Vantage AMR’s seven-speed gearbox is not just any manual. It features a “dogleg” configuration that moves first gear to separate slot of the H-pattern in order for the rest of the gears to be in sequence, making it easier for drivers to select the right gear at speed. The transmission also features AMshift, which automatically blips the throttle to smooth out shifts.

Switching to the manual transmission, as well as making carbon-ceramic brakes standard, saved 209 pounds over the standard Vantage, according to Aston Martin. The Vantage AMR also features a limited-slip differential.

The Vantage AMR features the same 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 as other versions of the Vantage. This is the first time the V8, which is sourced from Mercedes-AMG, has been coupled to a manual transmission. Aston Martin didn’t increase power, so output remains at 503 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque. The Vantage AMR will do 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, according to Aston. That’s 0.3 seconds slower than the eight-speed automatic Vantage, but the manual AMR should be more fun to drive. The Vantage’s top speed is 195 mph with either transmission.

Aston Martin plans to build 200 copies of the Vantage AMR, and 59 of those will be “Vantage 59” models, with a special livery of Stirling Green and Lime. The livery commemorates the 60th anniversary of Aston’s 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans win — the British automaker’s only overall win at the legendary French race. The remaining 141 cars will be available in Sabiro Blue, Onyx Black, China Grey, or White Stone.

Pricing for the Aston Martin Vantage AMR starts at $179,995, but the Vantage 59 will cost $204,995. Buyers who miss out on one of the 200 Vantage AMRs will still have an opportunity to get a manual transmission. Aston plans to offer the stick shift in the standard Vantage beginning in the first quarter of 2020, after all AMR models have been delivered.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Robotaxi aside, a $25,000 EV would be pointless, Tesla CEO says

Blue Tesla Model 3 Highland on the road

Enthusiasts expecting to one day put their hands on the steering wheel of a $25,000 Tesla EV may feel like they’ve been taken for a ride.
CEO Elon Musk has just put a serious damper on those expectations, saying that outside of the driverless Robotaxi recently unveiled by Tesla, a regular $25,000 model would be “pointless” and “silly.”
During a conference call with investors, Musk was asked to clarify whether such a model was in the works.
"Basically, having a regular $25K model is pointless,” Musk said. “It would be silly. It would be completely at odds with what we believe." Tesla, Musk continued, has “been very clear that the future is autonomous.”
On October 10, Tesla unveiled its much-awaited robotaxi, called the Cybercab, an autonomous-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals. The company also unveiled the Robovan, a much larger autonomous vehicle expected to carry people or goods.
The automaker said the Cybercab is expected to be produced in 2026 and cost $30,000. Musk, meanwhile, said that it would be a $25,000 car without specifying if that price tag included federal tax credits.
Tesla’s ambiguity about an affordable entry-level model has been going on for years. In 2020, Musk signaled that a $25,000 Tesla would arrive within three years. It was later reported that Tesla had ditched the idea, instead favoring the development of a robotaxi.
Language within Tesla’s latest financial report still hints that new affordable Tesla models are on the way. But Musk’s latest comments are putting a floor on just how affordable these would be. So far, Tesla’s Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive remains the company’s cheapest model, with a base price of $38,990.
Some rival EV makers, meanwhile, are entering the affordable space more aggressively in the U.S.
General Motors has already put out its Chevy Equinox EV at a price of $27,500, including federal tax credits. Volkswagen America says it plans to release an under-$35,000 EV in the U.S. by 2027.

Cars

Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona might feature solid-state battery tech

Front three quarter view of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona sedan.

The battle to use cheaper, more efficient, and safer EV batteries is heating up among automakers. At the heart of this battle, the development of solid-state battery technology, an alternative to highly flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering more and more attention.For proof, Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is betting on the technology for its next generation of electric vehicles. The Netherlands-based company announced that it will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will feature solid-state battery tech made by U.S. startup Factorial.The demo fleet, expected to launch by 2026, will provide a real-world assessment of Factorial’s technology. Factorial has been partnering with Stellantis since 2021 and is also partnering with the likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.Besides Dodge, the technology would eventually be deployed on the Stellantis STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.Stellantis said that the integration of solid-state battery technology will yield “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times in the coming years.”Factorial, meanwhile, says its technology provides higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance, and the potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time. Stellantis, Daimler, and Hyundai aren’t the only ones to bet on solid-state battery tech. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has heavily invested in the technology. It also created a coalition with Nissan and Panasonic to boost its production in Japan. So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an expensive endeavor. But steps such as the Stellantis demo fleet and production at scale by the likes of Factorial are expected to improve manufacturing processes and costs over time.Other automakers, meanwhile, are working on ways to improve lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one, is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.

Cars

Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.

costco ev charging us electricera fast station 1260x945

Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.