Ever since James Bond coasted a gorgeous grey DB5 through the swiss alps in Goldfinger, Aston Martin has become a household name. The British carmaker is the benchmark for high-quality craftsmanship and sophistication, making them well-known and sought after worldwide. However, these beautiful cars are not just pretty to look at. An Aston Martin is perfectly comfortable on the racetrack and at the car show. Why else would Bond drive one? The DB5 that featured in the infamous spy film had a top speed of 143 miles per hour, which was a blistering pace back in 1964!
Focusing on the future, Aston Martin continues to make several sports cars that regularly give Audi and Porsche a run for their money. The British marque is very proud of their history of making fast sports cars and looking good while doing it. This pride can be seen in the cars they make, as well as their motorsport teams. With a pedigree for automotive performance excellence, and the history to back it up, Aston Martin continues to produce wonderfully quick and nimble sports cars. Let’s look at the ten fastest Aston Martin sports cars, and what makes them so great.
10 1993 Aston Martin V8 Vantage: 186 mph
In 1987, Ford decided to buy Aston Martin. This was huge news for the British carmaker, as it gave Aston Martin access to resources that could typically only be used by major automanufacturers. Perhaps the most famous car to come from this was the 1993 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Bearing a slight resemblance to the Virage, the Vantage struck out to become a wickedly fast sports car and did nothing but succeed.
With its iconic 5.3-liter V-8 churning out a monstrous 557 horsepower, the V8 Vantage could achieve speeds up to 186 miles per hour. Built to devour long stretches of highway as a grand tourer and paired with a body that immediately demands your attention, the V8 Vantage became an instant classic.
9 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Zagato: 186.4 mph
In the early ’90s, Aston Martin wanted to make a smaller sports car to stand alone among the V8 models. The DB7 was the result of this desire, and the beautiful sports car knocked it out of the park. The DB7 was Aston Martin’s highest-production car when, in 2003, the British carmaker teamed up with Italian coachbuilder Zagato to create the DB7 Vantage Zagato.
This variant of the DB7 was not designed to keep up with other V8 Astons. It was designed to leave them in the dust. The beastly V12, churning out 440 horsepower, kept the DB7 well ahead of its V8 cousins by achieving a top speed of 186.4 miles per hour. The DB7 Vantage Zagato is very rare and exclusive, with only 99 models being manufactured by Aston Martin.
8 Aston Martin V8 Vantage: 195 mph
There’s no question that when Aston Martin uses the name “Vantage,” they mean business. The name has been a synonym for speed and performance since the very first V8 Vantage hit the streets in 1977. Even now, in 2023, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is still living up to its name.
The newest model, introduced to the world in 2018, has a 4.0-liter V8 that can send the Vantage up to 195 miles per hour in no time at all. The fantastic speed and performance of the Vantage granted the sports car the privilege of being honored with a James Bond-themed 007 edition. This was partly thanks to the Vantage’s history in the franchise, as well as a reputation for class and sophistication.
7 Aston Martin Vantage GT8: 195 mph
While Aston Martin is certainly capable of producing quiet, luxurious cars that only subtly draw your attention, they are also certainly able to do the opposite. The Vantage GT8 is a perfect example of Aston Martin’s ability to defy the “quiet and gentlemanly” stereotype. Boasting a more aerodynamic body and a massive wing, the Vantage GT8 was built to show the world that Aston Martin can still build racecars. A 440 horsepower V8, along with improved aerodynamics and reductions in weight, catapult the GT8 to speeds upward of 195 miles per hour.
In order to achieve these speeds, Aston Martin certainly had to sacrifice some comfort and luxury. Racing seats lock the driver into position, the steering wheel is thinner so that it can be gripped better, and the cabin is sparsely equipped with only the required equipment (so no radio for you!)
6 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato: 201 mph
While the Aston Martin Vantage was performing excellently, the British carmaker wanted to introduce another sports car that slightly raised the stakes. Enter the Aston Martin Vanquish. Brandishing a 5.9-liter V12, the Vanquish quickly became a beloved member of the Aston Martin lineup. Of course, this adoration resulted in several different models of the Vanquish, including a collaboration with Zagato once again.
While this special edition Vanquish still featured the same V12 engine, allowing the sports car to accelerate to speeds up to 201 miles per hour, Zagato made sure to distinguish it from the base model. The Italian coachbuilders equipped this Aston Martin with several cosmetic details that make the sports car stand out, from the accented, bright red interior stitchwork to the striking leather seats.
5 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S: 205 mph
Aston Martin knew that the V8 Vantage would be a success. The purring V8 under the hood was a beauty and definitely quick, but was still able to be tamed after a bit of time behind the wheel. The V12 Vantage, however, is a different animal. Wild and fierce, the sports car is an absolute delight for any car lover to drive. Once Aston Martin saw how well the V12 Vantage performed, they were quick to release an S model.
This new Vantage comes with a huge 565 horsepower engine, launching the Aston Martin to speeds of up to 205 miles per hour. This speed also comes with some sporty flair throughout the interior and exterior that lets everyone know, including the driver, that they are in for a treat.
4 Aston Martin Rapide AMR: 205 mph
Being a four-door sports car would typically result in a lack of speed and power, especially when compared to lighter, two-door models that dominate this list. However, this is not the case with the Aston Martin Rapide AMR. The Rapide was introduced in 2010, and the AMR (Aston Martin Racing) model emerged as a high-performance version in 2018.
Aston Martin countered the slight weight increase in the Rapide AMR with a 6.0-liter V12, providing a breathtaking 580 horsepower and allowing the four-door sports car to reach speeds upwards of 205 miles per hour. It’s also a very pretty car to look at. Carbon fiber can be spotted in just about every crevice, inside and out, and the interior is dotted with AMR-specific details.
3 Aston Martin DB11 AMR V12: 208 mph
The DB11 is another beloved member of the Aston Martin family, introduced in 2016 as the newest “DB” Aston Martin. As the world was slowly falling in love with the newest Aston Martin over time, the British carmaker was working on something extraordinary. Once again, Aston Martin dealt the AMR title, this time to the DB11. The DB11 AMR V12 took everyone’s breath away thanks to its rugged good looks and absolutely blistering speed.
The DB11s profile oozes sophistication out of every nook and cranny, while also being extremely aerodynamic and essentially gluing the Aston Martin to the pavement at high speeds. The real prize, however, is the engine. A twin-turbo-charged V12 gives the DB11 AMR a monstrous 630 horsepower and can send the sports car to speeds upward of 208 miles per hour.
2 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera: 211 mph
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is a somewhat recent addition to the British carmaker’s lineup, but it has quickly risen to become one of the most popular sports cars in the Aston Martin family. Competing with the Aston Martin Vanquish, the DBS Superleggera had some large shoes to fill. Five years later, there’s no question that the sports car succeeded, even going so far as to surpass the Vanquish’s impressive top speed.
The beloved twin-turbo-charged V12, combined with a lightweight body and other mechanical trickery, allows the DBS Superleggera to reach a top speed of 211 miles per hour. Aston Martin quickly picked up on the DBS’ popularity, producing several different variants to interest as many potential buyers as possible. Some of these variants include a TAG Huer edition, a Zagato model, and a whopping two James Bond-themed 007 editions.
1 Aston Martin One-77: 220 mph
If someone is looking for the ultimate combination of exclusivity, speed, and sophistication, the Aston Martin One-77 is exactly what they are looking for. The sleek styling of the hypercar demands the attention of everyone it passes and easily holds their focus while flying around the track. The truly phenomenal 7.3-liter V12 launches the Aston Martin One-77 to jaw-dropping speeds of around 220 miles per hour.
The One-77 is not just a high-performance sports car, however. It is a work of art. The beautiful styling inside and out makes it one of the most beautiful Aston Martins to date. Of course, this speed and luxury comes at a price and in the case of the One-77, it’s an eye-watering 1.75 million dollars.