Undead Another Day: Aston Martin Vanquish Returns (Again)
Absent from Aston Martin’s lineup since the 2019 model year, the flagship Vanquish returns in late 2024 to lord over the brand’s range with a stiffer structure, more horsepower and a more opulent interior. Aston briefly flirted with applying the Vanquish nameplate to a new mid-engine sports car, but the resulting front-engine grand tourer is, coming from Aston Martin, predictably beautiful.
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Similar Structure, But Bigger and Stronger
Not just a reskinned DB12 or DBS, the Vanquish has its wheelbase stretched 3.1 inches, much of which goes between the windshield and front wheels, exaggerating the car’s front-engine proportions. Underbody reinforcements, thicker front and rear undertrays, and sturdier bracing in the nose and tail make the Vanquish 75% stiffer than the DBS 770 Ultimate. Bilstein BTX dampers like those used on the DB12 are fitted and offer a broader bandwidth between drive modes.
Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, saving around 60 pounds over comparable cast-iron pieces. The front brake discs are an enormous 16.1 inches in diameter and squeezed by six-piston calipers, the rears measuring 14.2 inches with four-piston binders. The Pirelli P Zero 4 tires, with a layer of sound-insulating foam inside, wrap the 21-inch wheels and were developed specifically for the Vanquish. Pirelli also developed a P Zero Winter 2 tire for this car; we salute anyone who uses them as intended.
Similar Engine, But Stronger and Faster
It’s the same story under the hood. Like the DBS 770 Ultimate, Aston’s new flagship is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V-12 engine. But in the Vanquish, it’s redesigned top to bottom for greater strength; the engine block is reinforced, the heads redesigned, camshafts reshaped and connecting rods replaced with sturdier parts. Even the turbos are updated, with quicker response and greater maximum boost pressure.
The resulting 824 horsepower and 738 pounds-feet of torque make the Vanquish the most powerful V-12 Aston Martin ever, its 214 mph top speed claiming the crown of fastest series-production Aston from the DBS 770 with a 3 mph edge. (The 220 mph Valkyrie does not count as series production.) The company claims the Vanquish will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds, 0.2 second quicker than the DBS. Like the DBS, the Vanquish uses an eight-speed automatic transmission, here teamed with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.
Refined Styling
You can tell the Vanquish is an Aston because of the way it is: The long nose, low cabin and powerful haunches are unmistakably Aston Martin. The front bumper, fenders and grille are new to the Vanquish, the grille 13% larger than the DBS 770 Ultimate’s to force-feed the more-potent V-12 a greater volume of cooling air.
The greatest differentiation between the two cars is out back, though. Aston describes the Vanquish’s Kamm tail as “ruthlessly abrupt.” Instead of the squinting taillights of the DBS, the Vanquish features stacked “Light Blade” LEDs abutting a central shield panel that can be painted to match the body color or adorned in various carbon-fiber finishes. A wide diffuser and four yawning exhaust finishers are below the shield. A variable exhaust is standard, with titanium pipes available to amplify the V-12’s howl and save 23 pounds.
The cabin is updated with a standard 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and 10.25-inch touchscreen in place of the smaller display in the DBS, which perches atop the center stack like an afterthought. The center console is lower and flatter for an airier feel, and it sports solid metal dials and knobs for the climate controls and standard 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system. Aston’s signature illuminated glass engine-start button nests in the center of the console.
With seats for just two, the Vanquish coddles occupants in standard semi-aniline leather and simulated suede upholstery, accented by brushed-metal and satin-chrome trim. A panoramic tinted-glass roof is also standard, although a carbon-fiber panel with a leather or cashmere headliner quilted to match the interior upholstery is available.
Not surprisingly, Aston Martin offers an extensive customization menu for Vanquish buyers. Custom-made saddle-leather luggage is available and nests neatly into the quadrants created by the brace behind the seats. Customers can choose from multiple blends of interior materials and color splits, carbon-fiber-shell sport seats, light ash or dark wood trim, and carbon-fiber trim with gold, silver or bronze threading.
On the exterior, choices include satin, gloss or black-tinted carbon-fiber trim, 10 brake caliper colors, two different wheel designs in satin or gloss black with or without diamond-turned accents, or satin bronze.
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Availability and Pricing
Given the myriad customization options, it’s highly unlikely Vanquish buyers will ever encounter an identical car. Aston is furthering the coupe’s exclusivity by capping production at “under 1,000” annually. Aston Martin is taking orders for the new Vanquish now, with deliveries to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. Pricing is yet to be announced.
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