Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in Volume III of B.H. Magazine. For access to future issues, subscribe here.
There are many sounds you expect to hear when piloting the new and obscenely powerful Aston Martin Vanquish down a Sardinian freeway at 150 km/h. But a subtle tick-tick-tick, like the countdown of a cartoon bomb, is not one of them.
It might sound absurd to even contemplate that an explosive device could be planted beneath our seats, but I’m on an exotic island, driving a new Vanquish like an MI6 agent trying to outrun an air-to-surface missile, so I start to search in earnest for the source of the ticking. Until, that is, my driving partner reveals that it could be coming from his insides…
“It’s probably my mechanical heart valve,” he chuckles. “Sometimes you can hear it, but you need a very quiet room.”
Comfort and refinement, then, are clear, strong suits for this all-new Vanquish. And my goodness, isn’t it a looker. All Aston Martins are good-looking – like an ice-cold beer after mowing the lawn. It’s almost a given that Aston’s flagship will look like a runway model, but this new Vanquish is particularly striking.
At almost five metres long, or roughly the same size as a Toyota LandCruiser, it’s a broad and brooding brute, but almost every surface has been pulled taut like a gymnast’s leotard to reveal the rippling muscles beneath.
The detailing is exquisite, too. Take, for example, the individual blades that make up the tail lights. While inside, the cabin isa wonderful mix of supple diamond-stitched leather, exposedcarbon, and a smorgasbord of delicious dials and knobs hewnfrom solid pieces of metal.
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Even better, though, is realising that for the first time in a long time, this all-new Vanquish is an Aston that has the dynamic nous to match its beauty. This is just the third time Aston has used the iconic Vanquish name on its flagship road car, and it arrives only a few months after the brand’s old sparring partner, Ferrari, revealed its own super GT, the 12Cilindri.
Both cars cost roughly $800,000; both have enormous, front-mid mounted V12 engines; and both can hit north of 340 km/h if space, and bravery, allow. Beating the Ferrari for driving thrills, then, was a primary focus for the new Vanquish.
“Design has always been our strength,” says Aston’s director of product and strategy, Alex Long. “Now we’re placing more emphasis on performance, and driving harder into luxury.”
Taking on Ferrari is a bit of a moonshot for any car company, of course. Having already driven the 12Cilindri, there’s no arguing it is hugely impressive in both luxury and performance, however, it’s worth noting the exterior design seems to split opinions a tad more than the Aston.
Beating a Ferrari isn’t an impossible mission, just a very difficult one, and critical to that success was developing an all-new V12. It might have the same swept capacity as the old Vanquish, at 5.2 litres, but everything from the block to the camshafts, the intake and exhaust, comes from a clean sheet of paper. Even the turbos are new, and pair with a clever software system called ‘boost reserve’, which spins the turbos harder than required, savouring excess boost to ensure the engine responds instantly.
Performance outputs are rated at 614kW/1,000Nm, which is 4kW and a whopping 322Nm more than you get from the Ferrari. The result of all that torque is the kind of pace we imagine you’d get from strapping yourself into an F1 car.
Flatten the throttle in any gear, at any speed, and because the torque curve looks like a gigantic, flat-topped mountain, the Vanquish will leap forward so ferociously that it feels like the rest of the car is barely hanging on to the big V12. Officially, Aston says the Vanquish will hit 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, which is mighty impressive given that, despite being made mostly from carbon fibre, it weighs a chunky 1,750kg.
Power and speed are one thing, but to really lure buyers away from Ferrari, Aston needed the Vanquish to excel (and exceed) on a winding road. To achieve that, the Vanquish is built on an all-new and far stiffer bonded-aluminium architecture, complementing countless hours spent honing the steering, brakes, and suspension.
The good news is: they’ve mostly nailed it. While there’s no escaping the sheer size of the new Vanquish – on narrow Sardinian roads, it feels W-I-D-E – it is a car that shrinks around you when you start to drive it hard. The steering is naturally weighted and direct, and when you throw the nose at a corner, there’s a surprising amount of grip and eagerness from the front axle. Traction is seriously impressive coming out of turns, too, despite the huge amounts of power and torque going through the rear wheels.
Of course, if you switch the electronic safety aids off, it’s all too easy to overwhelm the back tyres, but even with the aids on, there’s plenty of fun and engagement to be had. And because Aston has resisted the urge to enhance the V12’s deep and evocative soundtrack, it’s somehow even more satisfying to relish in the howl of thrashing cylinders as you explore the top end of the rev range.
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As for weaknesses? Despite its impressive ability to hide its weight, we’d wager a Ferrari 12Cilindri will feel more electric and agile at the limit (unfortunately, torrential rain restricted the global launch). Additionally, because Aston has decided to stick with a conventional torque converter automatic, gearshifts lack the speed and positivity you get from the Ferrari’s dual-clutch.
But really, the new Vanquish is a triumph. It’s incredible to look at, engaging to drive, has a beautiful, richly trimmed cabin, and is also wonderfully comfortable and refined. It’s the kind of car you could drive from Zurich to Casino de Monte-Carlo, arriving seven hours later and feeling fresher than when you climbed in. Bond would most certainly approve.
The Specs:
- Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
- Power: 614kW @6,500rpm
- Torque: 1,000Nm @25,00-5,000rpm
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
- Weight: 1,774kg (dry)
- Top Speed: 345 km/h
- 0-100 km/h: 3.3 seconds
- Price: $737,000 plus on-road costs
If you’ve enjoyed this feature article on the new Aston Martin Vanquish, consider a few more of our favourite stories – direct from the pages of B.H. Magazine:
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