View 2020 Aston Martin Vantage AMR Photos

Last week, we told you that a new AMR version of the Aston Martin Vantage will have a manual transmission and that it will be "coming soon." Well, it turns out that "soon" is already here.

Aston has revealed the Vantage AMR, and as we suspected, it uses a seven-speed manual transmission with a dogleg-style first gear.

That seven-speed manual transmission that was first used in the old V12 Vantage S.

Only 200 AMRs will be built, but the manual will become an option on the regular Vantage next year. The AMR is 209 pounds lighter than the standard Vantage and gets unique design cues.

The racing-inspired dogleg setup means second through seventh gears are in a traditional H pattern, but first gear is down and to the left while reverse is up and to the left, the opposite of a traditional manual gearbox.

In addition to the gearbox, the AMR also gets a limited-slip differential that was developed by Aston's racing team.

The AMR is said to weigh 209 pounds less than a regular Vantage thanks to the removal of the automatic transmission and the fitment of carbon-ceramic brakes as standard. Weight distribution is a perfect 50/50 split, and Aston's quoted dry weight is 3305 pounds. (An automatic 2019 Vantage we tested weighed in at 3726 pounds.)

While power from the V-8 is unchanged at 503 horses, torque has gone down from 505 lb-ft to 461 lb-ft (both peaking at 2000 rpm). Aston's quoted zero-to-60-mph time for the AMR is slower than the regular Vantage's, too, at 3.9 seconds for the AMR versus 3.5 for the standard car. Top speed remains 195 mph.

The AMR features a bunch of standard kit that's optional on regular Vantages, including a sport exhaust system with quad pipes, sport bucket seats, and lots of dark interior and exterior trim.

Only 200 AMRs will be built, with the first 141 coming in China Grey, Onyx Black, Sabiro Blue, or White Stone paint with a choice of four interior schemes-Aston calls the specs "designer specifications."

New 20-inch forged aluminum wheels look like those on the Rapide AMR, and the brake calipers are painted to match other trim pieces in Lime Green, which is the AMR signature color.

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer saya: "In a world of autonomous robo-taxis, Aston Martin will continue to advance the art and science of performance driving," adding that the Vantage AMR is "a thoroughly modern sports car that rewards effort and focus from the driver, the antidote to driving a computer game."