Is it better to become super villainI won’t tell anyone, but there are signs. The first one is an elegant and average V12. grand tourer supercarparked in the middle of my hideout in full show. The Aston Martin Vanquish looks like it was purpose-built for this very purpose. It is not only a carbon fiber-clad mass-seduction weapon, but also the most powerful product series. aston martin still. It might also be the most beautiful, luxurious, detailed, and menacing car to hit our shores this year.
On a lighter note, Aston Martin has been on a roll lately, going from strength to strength since Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll took over the company in 2020. Buoyed by investment capital, the competitiveness of F1 and ambitions to reach the top of the luxury sports car food chain, Aston today is not the same company it was five years ago. First came an internal reset, followed by new generations of cars and iconic nameplates such as the DBX, DB12 and Vantage, all moving forward in spectacular fashion.
Now it’s Vanquish’s turn.
The halo and nameplate on Aston Martin’s stable became iconic in 2001, but hasn’t been seen in a new version since 2008. The brand’s flagship ‘supertourer’, available in both coupe and convertible (Vanquish Volante), reflects a new era for the British brand: confident, thoughtful, masterfully engineered and unapologetically ambitious. And the cherry on top? A brutal, hand-built V12 engine sits under a long carbon fiber hood.
While the Vantage looks lithe and sports car-like, the Vanquish is a pure, unadulterated British muscle car with one thing in mind: torquey, fast, tail-happy, and hungry to drive. Powered by a powerful new 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 redesigned from the powerful DBS Superleggera, it boasts 614kW of power and 1000Nm of torque. Vanquish accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 345 km/h. It’s so easy that it will melt your brain. This is also a large kit, so this number is no small feat.
On paper, the Vanquish is extreme, with a lot of technological wizardry thrown into refining the heart of this machine across nearly every major component. result? Sharp driving feel, quick acceleration, smooth GT ride, very playful dynamics and a new, cheery call. The Vanquish’s V12 sound is incredible, strangely with less bass than the Superleggera and more Supercaresque sounding than ever.
One notable invention is what Aston calls ‘boost reserve’, the technology behind the V12 engine’s responsiveness that reduces turbo lag and builds up boost pressure in the background (under partial throttle), building up boost pressure even further, and releasing it when you slam your right foot into the floor.
Being a grand tourer, it has, of course, been expertly designed for long-distance comfort and functionality, and does so with luxurious poise. We’re looking at one of the 1,000 Vanquishes produced each year, priced at an eye-watering S$737,000 (and that’s before on-road costs, so expect this to be a car close to $1 million). For those who might be looking for some kind of soft enablement from us, know that Vanquish has enough of a Jekyll and Hyde dual personality to justify some kind of two-in-one value.
Aston Martin says it has chosen to continue its illustrious 25-year V12 flagship dynasty due to customer demand. Indeed, Ferrari also has this foresight, bringing its fun new V12, 12-cylinder to our shores this year to compete directly with the Vanquish. I’ve never driven a Ferrari on the road, so I can’t compare dynamics, but I think they express very different characters, at least visually. Ferrari is more futuristic and sporty. Vanquish is more classically beautiful and darkly threatening.
To revive the earlier metaphor, I’d like to imagine 12 Cilindrii as a superhero car, the kind of car Superman himself would drive. But Vanquish, yes, this is for those born to grow horns. Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s executive vice president and chief creative officer, describes his vision for the new Vanquish as a design that is “reasonable and thoughtful, going beyond expectations.”
Certainly, there is an element of expectation.
And while the tell-tale signs that it’s a modern Aston Martin are seen in the elegant side strakes, flush door handles, classic shape and dramatic (albeit newly designed and enlarged) grille, this new language takes it into major high-drama territory. It features a new light signature (including the brand’s wordmark nicely etched into the headlamps), a new front bumper and a stunning panoramic glass roof with added UV protection against the Australian sun.
Vanquish is all about speed, so it’s no surprise that Aston’s motorsport references are everywhere, handled with flair and sensitivity rather than sporty add-ons or clichés. The teardrop body, long front-end proportions, strong rear haunches, F1-inspired thermolouvers on the bonnet and my favorite touch, the carved camtail, are all details that are not only functional, but also reminiscent of Aston’s current F1 cars and the project cars developed for Le Mans in the 60s.
Curiously, there is also a ‘shield’ on the rear tail, where the Aston Martin wordmark appears. Designed to appear floating, this element is available in a variety of carbon fiber and body color finishes. “Our team demonstrated courage and curiosity in our quest to bring unexpected design ideas to life,” says Reichman.
“We have a huge passion for creating pure excitement and this new Vanquish is the culmination of fearless creativity and human ingenuity. We combine next-level ultra-luxury performance with cool British sports car styling to deliver the best Aston Martin V12 flagship for the ages.”
The inside of the Vanquish is where Aston Martin performs at a haute couture level, and is a far cry from the clunky interiors Mercedes-Benz has employed in the past. Our models are woven with metallic carbon materials that sparkle in the sunlight like fine jewelry, emphasizing the finely crafted, sporty and luxurious lines of the cockpit, along with knurled alloys, heavy dials, plush leather and a restrained use of metals and shapes.
Happily, Aston hasn’t surrendered to the screen wars either.
As seen in the latest model, the brand’s in-house developed infotainment system is presented via dual 10.25-inch displays for passenger and driver, and still features plenty of tactile buttons. It’s a design choice we’ve previously mentioned on this page as a recurring indicator of luxury as mass-market brands move toward full digital screen controls. On top of that, it has an excellent 15-speaker system from Bowers & Wilkins. Just in case you want something other than the glorious V12.
Of course, if all this doesn’t appeal to you, Aston Martin recently launched a state-of-the-art configurator. There’s also the option of turning to Q by Aston Martin, the brand’s bespoke artisan division, which can customize your car from the smallest detail to authentic components and design.
As an ultra-luxury halo car, Aston Martin has delivered on every front, resulting in a truly special flagship supertourer that sets a new benchmark for luxury and outstanding performance. Although it comes with a hefty price tag, the small details show that the British brand means luxury business, and everyone can hope this signals future success for the 112-year-old British icon.