Did Aston Martin really have us all fooled? A few years ago, they promised the V12 was gone for good and that the V8 would take over. But that couldn’t be further from the truth, because here we are, looking at a stunning Brit once again, powered by a mind-blowing V12 engine, wrapped in gorgeous Supernova Red!
All will be Vanquished, that was the announcement of the new Vanquish. From that, we couldn’t really tell much yet, except that the car would come with an enormous amount of power. Now, the Brits already know how to make that happen with just a V8, so anything seemed possible.
But then the nearly five-meter-long Vanquish made its appearance, and it turned out to have the almighty V12 under the hood. With the help of twin turbochargers, the car produces a solid 835 hp! And if you were wondering, that’s exactly five more than its competitor from the Italian stable.
So the question is: with that kind of power, can the Vanquish make a real bid for the throne?
Aston Martin may have a rich history, but it’s still not as popular as its Italian rival, Ferrari. Nevertheless, the brand has been catching up rapidly since the Stroll family got involved. They’ve poured billions into the company to ensure Aston Martin’s return to the top. And successfully so, because right here before us stands a stunning Super GT with a truly captivating design.
Marek Reichman is the man responsible for that design, and he deserves major credit, because the Vanquish is once again a car of real presence. Not just because of its impressive length of nearly five meters, but also because of its beautiful design details. Just look at that long nose with its massive hood, or the so-called gills along the sides. And let’s not forget those fabulous taillights that resemble razor blades.
That sharpness perfectly reflects the Vanquish’s character, with its 835 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque, it’s every bit as fierce as it looks. It rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in just three seconds, and the top speed is a dizzying 345 km/h. And the Vanquish reaches that speed with absolute ease.
It’s those final kilometers that really make the difference, the thrill you experience as you accelerate toward that limit is simply phenomenal. An André Rieu concert has nothing on it. The symphony of the V12 engine resonates gloriously throughout the cabin!
You’d think that with a weight of 1,910 kilos, attacking corners wouldn’t really be its thing. Luckily, Aston Martin’s magical chassis has been perfectly engineered for that. Different driving modes allow for the ideal setup, you can stiffen the suspension without altering the powertrain, or do the opposite. Thanks to that flexibility, Aston Martin has managed to give the car a truly dynamic character. There’s an ideal combination for every situation.
On the highway, it’s best to keep both settings in Comfort mode. With 1,000 Nm of torque, you don’t want a twitchy throttle constantly begging for your attention. Instead, you just want to cruise along, music playing, with the V12 humming gently in the background.
After a typical Autobahn stretch, we dive into the Eifel region, ready to unleash the Vanquish’s full potential. Switching to Sport mode transforms everything, the lights metaphorically go out, and the beast within awakens. The Vanquish delivers an astonishing amount of raw power and handles it beautifully. Of course, some of that composure is thanks to the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires, which provide immense grip, allowing you to push hard without worrying about losing control.
Only when the roads get really wet do you need to start being cautious with the throttle. We had perfect conditions, so we blasted through the countless twists and turns the Eifel is known for. The Vanquish settles beautifully into corners and, despite its size and weight, can be guided through bends with impressive precision.
The Vanquish truly delivers, and the slogan “All will be Vanquished” couldn’t be more fitting!
And then, of course, there’s the interior, another area where Aston Martin has made major improvements. Since the arrival of the new Vantage, the brand’s multimedia system has received a significant upgrade. That same universal system now appears across all models, and it’s a real breath of fresh air.
In the Vanquish we drove, it even featured the brand-new Apple CarPlay Ultra. A very cool addition that lets you fully personalize the entire instrument cluster, from the colors of the rev counters to having the navigation displayed directly in front of you.
CarPlay Ultra also takes over all the other functions of the system. You can adjust safety settings and even control the temperature through the familiar, intuitive Apple-style interface we’ve all grown used to.
Of course, all this beauty comes with a price tag, and with the Vanquish, you’re truly entering the top of the top tier. In Europe, prices for the Vanquish start at €450,000, and depending on the options you choose, you’ll quickly find yourself edging toward €500,000. And make no mistake, most buyers do. In fact, no less than 75% of Vanquish customers turn to Aston Martin’s Q division to give their car that extra personal touch.
Aston Martin is also limiting production to just 1,000 units per year, ensuring the Vanquish remains every bit as exclusive as it looks.
Photos by Christian Kalse
