Getting more power out of a motorcar these days is rather easy with all the technology and software available. I have just recently installed my first Power Upgrade to a ’07 4.3 liter V8 Vantage and I must say it was just what the car needed. The kit comes with about a half dozen parts to upgrade and of course some engine computer software but on this particular car I also installed an Aston Martin Sport Exhaust, which to me completed the upgrade kit. The kit bumps up horsepower to 400 and brings down the peak torque to a more usable level so the fun and smiles just get bigger and better. The exhaust note is so crisp and menacing that it has you searching the area for tunnels and bridge underpasses.
First the exhaust; it comes with smoked chrome tips that are a subtle but very attractive statement to the rear bumper that say this car has a little something extra. Once you hear that exhaust note for the first time, all you want to do is get those revs up and let it sing. Believe it or not there is a software upgrade just for this exhaust to allow the baffles to operate in a tighter range of rpms. This means that in the city at low rpms and low speed you won’t deafen your neighbors but with a slight elevation in rpms on the highway the exhaust just growls its way to red line; what this means performance wise is less exhaust restriction.
The real power and torque of the kit comes from new air boxes, intake plenum and of course some engine management software. The air boxes have an extra intake hole that when rpms reach 3500 the extra intake opens for better overall breathing. To better aid the breathing the intake plenum is renewed along with a new black paint job to show everyone this is no ordinary 4.3 liter. With those bits installed along with a new fuse box and some wiring to the ECU, I downloaded the new engine management software. The entire install is straight forward so all that was left was the roadtest.
I drove about 6 miles in town before I was greeted by the highway on ramp to feel for the low end power increase; subtle but there. I feel the car urging me to hurry and get to the highway so it could be fully exercised. Through the town the exhaust note got me a lot of looks along with the great color, Merlot red with anthracite wheels and tinted glass, this car looked down right mean and now with an exhaust growl to match; I loved it. Once on the highway you could really feel the up in upgrade. The torque pulled harder and earlier and the horsepower, well, you just reach the triple digits quicker than you can say, is that a speed trap? I for one love keeping cars original but if a manufacturer offer upgrades I know I can trust them and have faith in installing them. This upgrade kit has been tested and designed specifically for this car and makes quite a difference.
Happy motoring indeed.
Tom
