vanquish returns: aston martin goes lush red for its teardrop-shaped, V12-engine sports car

Aston Martin’s Vanquish returns with a V12 engine

Aston Martin brings back one of its household vehicle series, Vanquish. Fashioned in lush red and equipped with a 5.2 V12 Twin-Turbo engine, the sports car is dubbed the fastest regular production car ever made by Aston Martin. Its engine, arranged with 12 cylinders in a V shape, can produce up to 835 horsepower (PS) and 1000 Nm of torque. This means it can quickly accelerate to a top speed of 214 mph, partly thanks to its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork. Aston Martin bonds the aluminum parts of the car’s body to make it sturdy, a technique it shares with its siblings, the DB12 and Vantage.

The Vanquish uses a double wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. The sports car’s body has been made 75 percent stiffer compared to a previous model, the DBS 770 Ultimate, to make it more resistant to twisting. The strengthened front part comes with a new front undertray and crossmember, so the steering is more precise and responsive. The Aston Martin Vanquish also employs Bilstein DTX dampers, which are shock absorbers designed to control how the car bounces after hitting bumps. The manufacturer says that fewer than 1,000 units of this car will be made each year.

all images courtesy of Aston Martin

Sports car inspired by Le mans vehicles from 1960s

The engine of the Aston Martin Vanquish sits at the front, with a shape that seems to flow smoothly from front to back to mimic the motion of propulsion. Many of the design elements draw inspiration from Aston Martin’s rich motorsport history, especially their Formula One cars and the Project Cars from the 1960s that raced at Le Mans. These include the sculpted bonnet with vents inspired by Formula 1 cars as well as the Kamm tail design that can reduce aerodynamic drag and make the sports car run faster.

For the Vanquish, a new set of front bumper, fender, and grille underline its more muscular and aggressive look, with the bumper having new vents to direct the air around the front of the sports car and into the wheel arches for better airflow. Aston Martin equips its refreshed sports car with Matrix LED headlights. The manufacturer says they include Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) that make the vehicle more visible during the day. Amidst all these, the standout feature of the new Vanquish comes through the panoramic glass roof, tinted to block harmful UV rays, so there’s no need for a traditional sunshade.

view of the sharply cut-off back end called a Kamm tail

Exterior and interior features of the revamped vanquish

The sports car even features a classic Aston Martin design element called the side strake, which is a strip on the side of the car, and on the Vanquish, it’s placed in a sculpted panel and can be customized in different finishes. The door handles stick out when the driver unlocks the car, the door mirrors are frameless, and the vehicle’s small, red ‘V12’ badge pays homage to Aston Martin’s history. The rear of the Vanquish also has a dramatic and powerful look because of its muscular back, referred to as haunches, as well as a sharply cut-off back end called a Kamm tail.

Still at the back of the car, there’s a design feature called the ‘Shield,’ which is a panel that appears to float on the rear of the Vanquish. This panel shows the Aston Martin name and can be customized in different materials, like carbon fiber or the same color as the car. The LED Light Blades are a standout feature since these lights are made up of seven thin blades, designed to look modern and clean, to ensure that the Vanquish is easily recognizable during the day and at night. The sports car has a developed stainless steel exhaust system which includes four tailpipes to give the vehicle that classic, powerful V12 engine roar that Aston Martins are known for.

the Aston Martin Vanquish sports car comes with a tinted panoramic glass roof

Two seats for Aston Martin Vanquish, and the interior gleams with bold and visible lines, which the car manufacturer believes can exude luxury and quality. A chrome line replaces a traditional stitch line on the dashboard, and the low-positioned center console opens up more space in the cabin. Aston Martin isn’t letting go of the tactile buttons.

There’s a 10.25-inch touch display in the center console, which controls infotainment, climate, and other settings, supporting single and multi-finger gestures. The driver can control key functions like gear selection, heating, and ventilation through solid metal dials and buttons, cold to the touch for a tactile feel. The engine hums to life using an illuminated glass button located in the center console, surrounded by a metal dial to select the driving mode.

the rear of the Vanquish also has a dramatic and powerful look because of its muscular back

A central lever controls the automatic gearbox, with a separate button for switching to manual mode using paddles on the steering wheel. The driver can adjust the exhaust sound depending on the driving mode, with a quieter experience in GT mode or a louder, sportier sound in Sport and Sport+ modes.

The Vanquish sports car features Aston Martin’s latest infotainment system, which is developed in-house. It includes a mobile app that supports Apple iOS, Wireless Apple CarPlay, or Android devices. The system also offers online-connected navigation, providing real-time traffic updates, dynamic routing, and even the ability to search for and select destinations like restaurants directly from the car.

for the Vanquish, new front bumper, fender, and grille underline its more muscular and aggressive look

The Vanquish comes standard with Sports Plus Seats, which offer a low seating position for a sporty driving feel, but there’s also an option for carbon fiber Performance Seats. The interior design allows the driver to have plenty of space, particularly around the upper body, so they’re comfortable when driving. Detailed finishing appears on the rear of the sports car, including a sculpted cross brace and custom luggage areas made from exquisite saddle leather.

The Vanquish also features intricate quilting patterns on the Sports Plus Seats and rear parcel shelf. If a carbon roof is selected, the quilting pattern is mirrored on the headliner. Aston Martin says the Vanquish is now available for orders, with the first deliveries arriving in the fourth quarter of 2024.

the interior gleams with bold and visible lines