The Aston Martin Vanquish was one of the most beautiful Grand Tourers out of Gaydon. It was so good that Aston justified charging a premium over the newer (and better) DB11. However, the David Brown moniker remains courtesy of DB12, it doesn’t retain the V12. There was doubt over Aston continuing to produce the V12 GT as the DBS Superleggera was discontinued in 2023. Well, Aston has kept the 12 cylinders and returned with the Vanquish. Does it live up to the old Vanquish and improve upon it or is it just an evolution of the DBS?
Styling is one of the most crucial aspects of an Aston. The British Marquee made a name for itself making some of the most aesthetically pleasing cars in the world. From the learnings of the golden ratio, the new Vanquish does well in this department. However, it isn’t a design unique to this particular model in the Aston lineup.
From the front, it looks like a DB and a Vantage which are significantly less expensive. We aren’t saying it isn’t unique. However, the path Aston to make everything a part of their corporate identity doesn’t sit right with us. However, if we are resorting to lecturing a brand on how to design a car, it is important to assert that this is a beautiful design from every angle. It has been achieved if the goal of establishing classically beautiful was set. The rear is drastic where the lights get the radical treatment as it seems inspired by “Zagato Lights” with the LED nodes carefully lining the rear Carbon Fibre piece. Sharp Curves, clean lines, and a love for gorgeous design define the overall look.
The most important “feature” of the Aston Martin Vanquish is the 5.2 Litre V12 as that is a sight to see in times of EVs and downsized engines. We love that Aston Martin has reassured us that the Vanquish name is here to stay and the platform has room for further development. In terms of displacement, it may seem extremely similar to the previous V12s but has new block, heads, exhaust ports and turbos. The turbochargers are exhaust-driven and incorporate an over-boost function. This engine is quicker revving than before and the peak power output comes between 2000 and 5000 rpm. The engine produces 824hp and 1000Nm of torque which is a healthy increase over the DBS 770 Ultimate, the company’s previous model with the V12. More surprising is that this power comes without any electric battery assistance. This results in 0-100 in a “claimed” 3.2 seconds to a top speed of 344 kmph! The carbon fibre prop shaft is connected to a rear-mounted ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.
For the first time, a V12 Aston Martin has an electronically controlled rear differential. The engine placement allows the Vanquish a 49/51 front-to-rear weight distribution. The Vanquish will have an option of a standard exhaust and a Titanium exhaust which will sound fruitier. The difference between the two is the high-pitched nature of the titanium exhaust sound whereas the steel exhaust has a low frequency sound. There are Bilstein DTX Dampers as in the DB12. The electronic stability control is borrowed from the Vanquish S and as in the DB12, it will feature 8 levels of traction control intervention. The best part, it can be fully switched off for slipping and sliding!
There are also various key improvements on the exterior which improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the car. The top grille bodywork pokes forward into the wind and deep insets in the bodywork help reduce visual mass making the vehicle appear more planted to the ground. The wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer and the extra length comes from between the front axle and A-Pillar. The grille is more prominent with 13% greater surface area which enhances engine cooling finished with Matrix LED headlights!
If you were to believe Aston Martin, the interior takes inspiration from the DB12 giving a “digital detox” and all the driver-focused items have physical controls. These items include the Start/Stop button, drive mode dial, electronic stability program and the active exhaust button. There are physical dials for climate controls and everything else is bundled into the Infotainment System, made by Aston Martin.
This infotainment system is well made, easy to understand and intuitive but it will be interesting to see how it ages with time. It is futureproofed with Apple Carplay and Android Auto and is an improvement over the reskinned last generation of the Mercedes Infotainment System. You can choose the carbon fibre roof over the standard glass roof reducing 10kg.
Aston Martin has done convertible models in the past named Volante and it is no surprise that the new Vanquish will also come with one in some time. It is safe to say that the V12 GT is a prized possession, that the guys from Gaydon, aren’t willing to give up on just yet. Compared to its competitors, the Ferrari 12 Cylindri and the Lamborghini Reveulto, the Vanquish can more than match their numbers in terms of power and price. The international pricing is a little over Rs. 4 crore and we expect it to be double that in India whenever it’s launched. We would’ve liked for it to have a more unique front end but we will not deny, that the 800+hp is a stark reminder that the mighty 12-cylinder is here to stay in the mix of hybrids and EVs!
