Dressed up with gauche stripes and gaudy accents meant to mimic the company’s racing cars, the 2016 Aston Martin Vantage GT demands to be driven with vigor. This sporty Vantage GT is a bit more aggressive than the brand’s flashy Vanquish.

The Aston Martin Vantage is far from the most powerful, but its entertainment factor involves more than straight-line speed. In the style of old-school, naturally aspirated engines, the 4.7-liter mill’s output swells in time with its revs, with peak torque arriving fashionably late at 5,000 rpm. 

Nobody would accuse the V12 Vanquish of being a slouch, but this Vantage GT is a more lithe and nimble plaything. It connects more with its driver, especially when you're shifting gears yourself. The special-edition Vantage GT model offers drivers five different stripe and color packages to get into the racing spirit.

The attention to detail that we expect from Aston Martin is evident here, including sensuous sheetmetal sculpture, gorgeous hand-stitched leather upholstery, delicate Bang & Olufsen audio tweeters on the dashboard, and the Aston Martin’s usual pretty analog gauges. More than any other model in the British carmaker’s lineup, the 2016 Aston Martin Vantage GT is all about driving.