Prodrive, one of the world's leading motorsport and automotive engineering companies, is no stranger to improving the performance of Aston Martin automobiles. In fact, Prodrive manages the official Aston Martin Racing team in the world sports car series and Prodrive's founder, David Richards, led the investment team that recently purchased Aston Martin from Ford. Prodrive is now bringing its motorsports experience to consumers by offering a suite of performance parts for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. I recently spoke with Horacio Antonielli, General Manager of Prodrive America, about engine, suspension and design upgrades that will significantly improve the performance of the Aston Martin Vantage. The Prodrive Vantage will offer improved acceleration, an aggressive exhaust note and driver adjustable suspension for greater handling dynamics. The complete package includes:

ENGINE - 4.3 liter Aston Martin engine fitted with Prodrive Performance Pack
Remapped ECU with calibration optimized for improved throttle response
Prodrive high performance exhaust catalysts
Driver selectable exhaust modes: auto, quiet and sport
Power: 425 bhp (stock is 380 bhp), Torque: 325 lb-ft (stock is 302 lb-ft)

SUSPENSION - Bilstein driver-adjustable electronic dampers and Eibach sports springs for increased body control and optimum chassis balance. Damper modes: Road - for improved ride quality with enhanced dynamics / Performance - for high speed dynamics and control on the road and track.

WHEELS - Prodrive 19" forged aluminum wheels. Front: 8.5" x 19" / Rear: 10.0" x 19"

TIRES - Front: P Zero Corsa Direzionale 245/40 ZR19
Rear: P Zero Corsa Asimmetrico 285/35 ZR19

AERODYNAMICS - Carbon fiber composite front lip spoiler and tailgate spoiler reduce high-speed lift by 45%.

PERFORMANCE - Max speed: 182 mph (stock is 175 mph)
Acceleration: 0-62 mph in 4.7 sec (stock is 5.0 sec) Pricing and availability in the U.S. have not been announced as of this posting.Prodrive has also announced a line of official apparel and merchandise from the Aston Martin Racing team. These items should be available in the U.S. mid June.