This is the type of stuff that all car buffs absolutely love. What’s better than dropping a larger engine in in a car for more power? How about shoehorning a massive 4.7-litre V8 into what is otherwise a Toyota iQ!
While a regular Signet tips the scale at barely 920 kg, the Vantage version is 450 kg heavier. Despite that, it’ll still crush the 100 km/h sprint from not in 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 272 km/h.
Everything about this Aston Martin bespoke “Q” division project is nuts. Yes, there’s the 430-horsepower Vantage S V8 engine but there’s also all the work and craftsmanship that went into making the Signet Vantage S actually driveable. The firewall’s been moved back, Vantage front and rear subframes have been fitted, a transmission tunnel covering a tiny torque tube was built and that’s barely half of it. This car’s got a custom exhaust, part-Vantage interior wrapped in a roll cage and finally, larger 19” wheels covering big brakes hidden under carbon fibre wheel flares.
The final kicker? It’s street legal.