Here's what makes the Aston Martin Vantage our Sports Car of the Year

Watch David Green drive London in "sublime" Vantage

WHAT A year it has been for Aston Martin. The company launched on the London Stock Exchange, and has seen soaring profits and sales on the back of a stunning new line-up of sports and GT cars.

Praise has come not least from The Times and The Sunday Times, with two trophies going to the British marque at our inaugural Motor Awards, in October.

The deserved winner of Sports Car of the Year 2018 went to the Aston Martin Vantage. We called it “the most accomplished Aston yet”, highlighting its beauty, soul-stirring driving experience and cutting edge technology.

And in his recent review, Jeremy Clarkson called it a “tremendous car”, adding that, “For sheer excitement the Aston is a match for the Porsche 911. And it’ll get you to your destination way faster because people like Astons. They let you out of junctions in a way that just doesn’t happen when you’re in a Porsche.”

Because we can’t get enough, we sent Luxx magazine’s motoring editor David Green out for a late-night tour of London in the Vantage, to explain in his words what makes it such a pleasure.

Green’s highlights include the muscle car noise from the 503bhp 4-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine, and sublime balance from the chassis. He notes its near-200mph top speed but says, “It’s not about statistics, it’s about the feel behind the wheel … this really is a true sports car.”