Aston Martin resurrects a much-loved name for its new V12 flagship, blogs intrepid tester Howard Walker.
Where’s the soul in alpha-numericals? Announce to friends that you’re the new proud owner of a new F458 and chances are they’ll think you bought a new toaster rather than the latest blood-curdling Ferrari. What do you think of my new CL65? Wow, you got a 65-inch TV. Can you watch The Golf Channel on it? Not the response you want after dropping $211,000 on Mercedes’ big and brash 620-horse luxo-coupe.
That’s why I love Aston Martin’s latest Vanquish Supercar. Vanquish - to defeat or conquer in battle, according to the dictionary. To crush or overpower. Just exhaling the word raises all those little hairs on the back of my neck. Wanna ride in my new Vanquish? Hell yeah!
Of course this isn’t the first Vanquish to emerge from the fabled British sports car maker. Back in 2001, the then all-new Vanquish was the baddest, boldest, most brutal Aston Martin ever; a thundering 514 horsepower projectile that lived to Die Another Day in 2002 with Pierce ‘007’ Brosnan behind the wheel.
Sadly production ceased in 2007, and while its successor, the DBS was a more suave and sophisticated animal, it never exuded the raw, license-to-thrill character of the Vanquish.
This new Vanquish - base price $282,000 and change - recaptures much of the soul and stamina of the original. Its coachwork takes its cues from Aston’s $1.5-million One-77 hand-built Supercar - only 77 were built, and sold - with some of the most sensuous curves this side of Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks!
And there’s substance in the new Aston’s style with its body fashioned from lightweight, super-strong carbon fiber. It contributes to the car’s 25 percent increase in torsional rigidity and 150-pound weight loss over the DBS.
The car’s big 5.9-liter V12 is essentially carried over from the ‘S’, though it’s been re-fettled with the addition of variable valve timing that’s helped raise horsepower from 510 to 565.
Surprisingly Aston has stuck with the tried and tested six-speed ZF automatic for the new Vanquish, forgoing the latest eight-speed ZF automatic. One or two hard-driving enthusiasts will lament the dropping of the six-speed manual, but few others will care. Me included.
The big change however comes when you slide behind the new square-cornered steering wheel - carried over from the One-77 and thankfully deletable in favor of a traditional circular helm in our tester. The cabin has grown in size to offer more shoulder room and space for legs. There’s even a tad more space in the trunk.
It’s the increase in quality and craftsmanship that you really notice. The quilted Bridge of Weir leather used in the new seats is spectacular and stitched with the precision of a Hermes handbag. Pity, however, it’s all spoiled by the new, and truly awful Garmin-based navigation system that features graphics by Fisher-Price!
But this new Vanquish is all about the driving. And after two days of thrashing along some of Merrie Olde England’s most challenging country back-lanes, my palms are still sweaty, my pulse still racing.
While 565 horsepower is far from excessive in today’s elevated Supercar world - the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta packs an incredible 730 hosrepower - this hairy-chested Vanquish still delivers awesome performance. Sixty comes up from standstill in four seconds, 100 mph in around 9.5, and the joy won’t quit until the speedo needle is kissing the 183-mph mark!
The big V12 gives its best from 3,000 to 5,000 rpm when its acceleration is the most fearsome and the soundtrack the most blood curdling. But for the most fun, select ‘Sport’ on the new programmable automatic, play up and down games with the instant-on paddle shifters, and revel in the thrust.
Through the narrow country curves, the Aston justifiably feels a whopper of a car, but its needle-precise steering - thankfully still hydraulically assisted instead of electric - and low-roll cornering gives it an agility that belies its size.
You could say that it vanquishes every bend it blasts through, conquering and defeating every straightaway. Somehow badging this car DB10 just wouldn’t sound the same.
For the latest from Aston Martin, please visit http://www.astonmartin.com/cars/vanquish
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