When Aston Martin unleashed the current generation Vantage into the market, the company promised that it would spearhead a new generation of Vantage performance with the model bringing a number of needed updates to the nameplate including a new interior, revamped exterior styling, and performance.

While the model has hit the mark in many of these areas, the one item that was missing was an “S” model which was present on the outgoing Vantage. “S” models back then were known for having V12 power and were often considered to be the pinnacle of Vantage performance. Aston has corrected this oversight and used the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed to formally unveil the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S.

More power but a softer set of dance shoes

The main change here is the beefed-up engine which makes more power than before. Aston said the standard model makes 656 hp from its 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 which is certainly plenty for most buyers. However, the “S” bumps that figure up slightly to a revised 671 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The company says this increase comes from extensive revisions it made to the engine though it stopped short of going into formal details about that.

Instead, the company focused on the suspension and contrary to what you might expect from an “S’ model, the ride isn’t firmer. Instead, the company gave it a softer ride with revisions to the rear dampers and the rear transaxle promoting better low-speed comfort with the front end getting its own revisions to help improve grip. The exterior doesn’t change too much but S models get a larger rear spoiler and a tweaked aerodynamic kit that allows the car to make 245 lb-ft of downforce. The rest of the changes on the outside are cosmetic with unique 21-inch wheels and red “S” badging rounding out the changes.

S marks the spot for comfort

Slip inside the Vantage “S” and you’ll find that the core look is also mostly unchanged but Aston stylists added splashes of carbon fiber and Alcantara trim with the seats getting “S” badging on the seat backs. An optional stylingpackage enhances the amount of red accents you get but it does little to blunt the impressive amount of customization that customers get including bespoke options from the “Q” service.

Aston Martin hasn’t announced pricing yet, but expect it to command a noticeable premium over th standard model which starts at just over $200,000. This would fall in line with the DBX S which also has a premium in the pricing department when compared with a standard DBX707 model. Aston chose to preview the coupe for now, but while that bodystyle will be the one that gets the most attention from buyers, look for a droptop option to also make its way into the lineup for those that like to soak up the sunshine when they are not breaking track records.