Aston Martin is busy working on the long, long awaited successor to the V8 Vantage. With first deliveries of the new DB11 beginning later this year Aston Martin is looking to the future and it’s new engine partner to rediscover an upwards sales trend. The Vantage V8 will not be launched until 2017 but hat hasn’t stopped the car being tested, albeit under heavy camouflage, around Germany’s Nurburgring. Aston Martin have used German made engines since it was under Ford ownership and about a year ago switched from Ford to Mercedes horsepower after Mercedes gained a 5 percent stake in the British supercar brand. This new deal allows Aston Martin to source the latest generation of engine technology from Mercedes Benz’s AMG division. The second generation V8 Vantage is expected to feature a 4.0-litre, V-8 twin-turbo engine. Aston Martin will re-work the engines to suit their specific requirements. Aston will also get to pick and choose the latest generation of six-speed manual gearboxes or atomated dual-clutch transmissions. The engine partnership with Mercedes isn’t limited to just engine technology. Aston will have the added bonus of being able to pick and chose the latest interior technology such as a digital instrument panel and improved infotainment system. The styling of the V8 Vantage is said to follow the design language revealed by the DB11 and it’s expected to have a slight increase in overall dimensions and that means an all new chassis. A Coupe and Roadster version will be offered with the latter expected to arrive in 2018. Prices will increase slightly to around £95,000 which puts it into direct competition with the AMG GT S.