One look at Aston Martin’s new neon margarita-colored Vantage will tell you that the sea change which has been gathering within the company is cresting into a wave. Aston’s diversification and marketing strategy is calling for seven new models in the next seven years, and they’ve embarked on a minor foray into American sports-celebrity association to help identify the brand more definitively and dynamically with U.S. buyers.

To many in the ‘States, the brand’s presence is an amalgam of fictional mystique (the James Bond connection) and non-fictional mystique (the distant world of the English aristocracy). That’s a rather blunt abstraction, of course, but it’s also somewhat telling. So, keep the cachet, the history, Aston seems to be thinking, but broaden the appeal. Allow the mystique to evolve.

Cue the new Vantage. It looks daring and brash, and doesn’t lose the charm of Aston sensibilities even as it forcefully indicates a new chapter in the automaker’s history. The grille alone is a very forceful statement indeed. The engine carries over from the DB11, a 4L V8 bi-turbo that pumps out 503 HP, and the standard gearbox will be the 8-speed ZF auto. And, the model includes a suite of electronic compensation systems, including adaptive suspension and rear differential with torque vectoring.

As for performance, the new Vantage is quick: Aston gives a top speed of 195 MPH, and a 0-60 dash in 3.6 seconds. And, it’s perhaps more of a driver’s car than previous versions, sacrificing road-going comfort for a more authentic experience and increased dexterity. And, speaking of behind-the-wheel sportscar authenticity, the model will be offered with an optional seven-speed manual after the initial launch next year.

Deliveries of the new Vantage begin midway through 2018. Pricing begins at $150K.