Aston Martin goes full fuel with new Vanquish flagship

Everything old is new again over at Aston Martin, apparently, where the 111-year-old British marque has resurrected a potent two-seater coupe as its new flagship, the Vanquish.

In name and in attitude, the Vanquish ignores the global transition to hybrid and electric engines, instead retaining its 25-year dynasty of V12-engined flagships in response to customer feedback.

That power and prestige is surpassed only by the passion and skill poured into the car’s creation, according to Aston Martin’s Chief Technical Officer, Roberto Fedeli.

“It was inconceivable that a new Aston Martin flagship should be powered by anything other than a state-of-the-art V12,” Fedeli said in a statement.

In toping the Aston Martin lineup, the Vanquish replaces the DBS 770 which has held the mantel since the Vanquish finished production in 2018.

This latest iteration comes with a new 5.2-litre Twin-Turbo V12, one of the most powerful engines Aston Martin has made.

Its highest power output ever comes via tweaks to the internal combustion process and a reworking of the turbochargers to deliver increased performance and throttle response. The result is impressive in-gear acceleration to a top speed of 346kph (214mph), making it the highest top speed of an Aston Martin series production car to hit the streets. And Aston Martin says it has managed to do this while continuing to meet the latest global emissions standards.

In true two-seater GT style, the interior of the Vanquish is focussed on driver enjoyment, with key driver controls centrally mounted for easy access. The layout attempts to deliver a sense of clarity, space and luxury with the aid of the new glass panoramic roof – a first for an Aston Martin V12 – which is tinted using a low-e coating to protect travellers from damaging UV-A and B rays.

A Bowers & Wilkins 15-speaker sound system compliments the engine auditory notes for which the Vanquish is synonymous. Its V12 howl can be further amplified – or tamed – by changing drive modes or using a dedicated exhaust button. Get louder still by upgrading the new stainless steel exhaust system with a lighter Titanium version for an even more engaging V12 sound.

Driving the Vanquish should be a delight given the range of new dynamics technology on board. Aston Martin engineers have done something special to the electronic rear limited slip differential to provide greater steering agility, effectively “shortening the car in tight turns. Presumably this will give the Vanquish a tight turning circle for city cruising.

The car’s 21” forged alloy wheels – lighter than the previous model’s – come dressed to impressed with bespoke Pirelli PZERO tyres equipped with the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System capable of reducing internal noise by half.

And, of course, the Vanquish looks great. Drawing on functional details found on today’s Formula One cars, its teardrop shape directs propulsion from front to rear. F1-inspired thermos louvres help cool the V12 engine while adding to the sleek, athletic vibe. In profile, a side strake is finished in a chrome on a customised gloss black side infill panel.

Other distinctive Aston Martin design elements include the flush-fit door handles which pop out towards the hand with the press of a button. And frameless door mirrors produce a sleeker design and improve the aerodynamic look and feel.

At the back, the unusual rearend ends abruptly with the distinctive Kamm Tail with integrated spoiler designed to reduce speed-sapping drag.

The Vanquish is a halo model for Aston Martin, so it’s no surprise its designer would get creative in his verbiage about it. In a statement, Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Office, says they’ve deployed a blend of “bravery and curiosity” and “fearless creativity and human ingenuity” to create “pure excitement” in the Vanquish. The result?

“We have combined next-level, ultra-luxury performance with British-cool sports car styling to deliver a crowning Aston Martin V12 flagship for the ages,” Marek said.

And it will have a price to match.

The indicative RRP for the Aston Martin Vanquish is $737,000 before options and on-road costs) – a premium of more than $100,000 over the brand’s current most expensive road series car, Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Volante, at $625,600.

Less than 1000 Vanquishes will be produced annually and they’re already being sold into the market. Deliveries are expected in Australia and New Zealand from Q1 2025.