Aston Martin introduced a V8 Vantage in 2006 24 h of Nurburgring race and finished it on the 24th place overall, driven by the company's employees.

It was the last Aston Martin launched under Ford's management and enjoyed the success of new technologies found outside its owner.

In 2006, Aston Martin was still linked with Jaguar and Ford. But it was still a luxurious GT car that featured a different approach to its customers and to a different market segment.

The V8 Vantage Volante LWB was the longest and heaviest Aston Martin built to that date, and it was the most practical continental touring car.

While his hard-top cousin V-8 Vantage gathered all the glory as a company car for an MI-6 employee named Bond, the Volante version got the attention deserved by a luxurious convertible.