Aston Martin Vanquish
“That thing is really, indecently fast,” said a friend when I told him I’d be having a go in the latest Aston Martin Vanquish. I’ve driven quick things before, cars with the sort of torque that makes you taste yesterday’s breakfast for a second time, but this, I was assured, was a bit different.
The Vanquish name is a big one in Astonland. First seen at the turn of the century on a glorious Ian Callum-designed car, the big, brutish V12 monster offered speed, comfort, and the sort of image that only Aston can offer. It helped that it was a Bond car, too. The next generation was a smoother, sleeker affair. Wonderful to look at and to drive, it was ace, but very much a ‘difficult second album,’ and as such isn’t remembered quite as fondly as its predecessor. When it left production, the Vanquish name was set down for a little rest… until 2024.
Since the last Vanquish, many changes have occurred at Aston Martin. N/A V12s are a thing of the past; there’s an SUV now, and even mid-engined hypercars. Where the Vanq used to be the top of the whole tree, it’s now a high branch in a veritable forest. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though - let the SUV do family stuff, the unobtanium hypercars contort faces, and the rest of the lineup let pedestrians know you’re just a bit better than they are. The Vanquish is for those who have business to attend to on the other side of the country, demand utmost luxury, and are always late…all the time.
The Important Stats
There’s no escaping the fact that the Vanquish is a massive car. Truly, it’s huge. Fine for America, or the Middle East, but if you live down a narrow lane in Surrey after the first oncoming van, you’ll find you’ve developed incredible glutes in no time. The size is necessary, though - partly because it has a boot that’ll fit a squishy bag or two, space behind the front seats for more stuff, and so much leg and shoulder room up front that you could quite happily use it as a luxury suite. The bits for people aren’t important, though. That’ll be the engine. A 5.2-litre turbocharged V12 that kicks out 823bhp and 737lb ft luxuriates under the hood, and needs plenty of room to breathe. All of that power goes to the rear wheels, too. No all wheel drive safety net here. Aston says that if you give it a kick up the arse, it’ll hit 62mph in 3.2 seconds, and you’ll see the fun side of 200mph. Fuel economy is not something a Vanquish owner need concern themselves with, but the number isn’t big.
Yes, it weighs a fair bit, but big things tend to be heavy. It doesn’t feel heavy though. Thanks to some incredibly trick dampers, if the car’s set to ‘GT’, it wafts most aimably. It’s smooth, almost quiet (there’s a hint of V12 in everything it does), and lets you get on with getting about calmly. It doesn’t feel urgent here. Big, yes, urgent… not at all. As you (sort of) stealthily crawl around town you become painfully aware that there are eyes on you. Lots of them. The Vanquish is easy to spot because of its size, sure, but also its looks. Put simply: The Aston Martin Vanquish is one of the best looking cars available today. It may well be one of the best looking cars made full stop.
Exterior
It’s got a big ‘ol gob on it. Aston’s hallmark grille is very much present and correct, and it’s huge - partly to match the car, partly so its honking great V12 doesn’t overheat and go bang. Its hood, complete with chunky looking air vents, is a work of art, and the sides… perfection. It’s when you get to the rear, though, that your eyes get the biggest treat. Quad pipes, neat aero details, and a flat slab of a rear proudly displaying the company name. It’s not subtle, but it’s very pretty.
Interior
Inside is pure Aston luxury - leather, perfectly formed seats, a wheel with convenient (though perhaps a few too many) controls, a big infotainment screen that’ll handle everything you need quickly and efficiently (or you can skip it and use CarPlay). It’s quiet in there, calm, and comfortable, but when you want to make progress, it can get pleasingly raucous.
Driving Experience
Sling it into Sport mode and the car tightens up - the ride gets a touch harder, the powertrain more aggressive, the pipes noisier. What was once a serene place to relax becomes an angry missile set on covering ground as quickly as possible. Sport+ makes it more. It’s here that the massive power makes itself known. It’s packing a luscious amount of torque and deploys it savagely.
Yes, there are plenty of cars with lots of grunt, but few quite like this. It’s so, SO quick, quicker than you’ll ever really need, but it’s bloody fun to use. The steering feels just so - not too heavy, not too light - and offers fantastic feedback, so you know that when you’re making progress, you can trust what the front of the car is doing. On the road, the Sport Plus suspension is a bit much - fine for the track or super smooth European roads, but the moment things get lumpy, your back’ll know about it. Softer settings also add a bit more tactility to the car, which I rather enjoy. There are so many powertrain, spring, noise, and everything options, you’ll find the Goldilocks set up for you with some inquisitive prodding, no fear.
“A near peerless way to get around”
Its name brings history and expectation with it. That first Vanquish heralded a new era for Aston Martin. The cars that followed - DB9 and Vantage - set the tone for Gaydon’s finest going forward, and the firm’s ridden that wave wonderfully since. To give the flagship GT that name is an honour, and one that, thankfully, it lives up to. In moderation, the Vanquish is a near peerless way to get around; in anger, it feels hard to beat.
words: Alex Goy
pictures: Aston Martin
