The Aston Martin Vanquish Is Back & More Contoured Than Ever

Aston Martin revives the Vanquish badge with 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
The new Aston Martin Vanquish delivers 824 bhp and 737 ft lb of torque, going from zero to 100km/h in 3.3 seconds
Its top speed of 345km/h makes it the fastest series production car offered by Aston Martin
It’s priced from $420,000USD in international markets, with Australian pricing yet to be announced

The Aston Martin Vanquish has made a triumphant return, with the release of a new 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12. The British marque first introduced the ‘Vanquish’ badge in 2001, with the first generation model produced until 2007. It was followed up with the second-generation Vanquish, which was in production from 2012 to 2018. The work of British automotive designer Ian Callum, the Vanquish was revered for its Brutish design and deft line work, with the V12 setting the tone for Aston Martin’s modern era.

Proving it’s not quite ready for retirement, the Aston Martin Vanquish is back to fill the DBS-shaped hole left last year, and will represent the marque’s new flagship model. Like many of the marque’s special edition models, the Vanquish will have a limited production run of 1000 examples per year.

In an era where hybrid and fully electric powertrains are taking over, Aston Martin has kept the heart of the Vanquish intact, with the 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 churning out a massive 824 bhp and 737 ft lb of torque, charging from zero to 100km/h in 3.3 seconds. With a top speed of 345km/h, it’s set to be Aston Martin’s most powerful series production car.

The V12 is mated to a rear-mounted eight-speed automatic transmission and has an electronic rear limited slip differential, torque converter, and a carbon fiber prop shaft.

The newcomer’s impressive output is achieved through a strengthened cylinder block and conrods, redesigned cylinder heads incorporating reprofiled camshafts, and new intake and exhaust ports. Additionally, spark plugs have been repositioned and higher flowrate fuel injectors used to deliver efficiency gains, while higher speed, reduced inertia turbochargers deliver increased performance and throttle response.

“It was inconceivable that a new Aston Martin flagship should be powered by anything other than a state-of-the-art V12,” said Roberto Fedeli, chief technical officer at Aston Martin. “To this end, our engineering team has completely reworked our existing 5.2-litre Twin-Turbo engine, from block casting to cylinder heads. With ambitious targets for gains in power and torque, plus equally tough goals for improvements in driveability, efficiency and global emissions compliance, the result is a modern masterpiece.”

The exterior of the Aston Martin Vanquish remains faithful to the sculpted design proposed by Callum over two decades prior, while imbuing it with the British marque’s contemporary design DNA.

Up front, the Vanquish offers some serious on-road presence, with an oversized grille flanked by matrix LED headlights. The teardrop silhouette makes a welcome return, while the marque’s current design cues are exemplified in the deeply fluted and vented hood. The distinctive side strake, an Aston Martin signature, is executed in chrome and sits within a sculpted infill panel.

To accommodate the beastly engine within, the wheelbase of the chassis has been lengthened by 80mm over the V8-powered DB12 it replaces. The increased length is evident in the sculpted lines of the Vanquish, which end abruptly in a Kamm Tail with an integrated decklid spoiler. In addition to its distinct appearance, the cut-off style of the Kamm Tail improves aerodynamic balance from front to back. On the purely aesthetic side of things, the rear features a carbon fibre panel that Aston Martin has dubbed a ‘Shield’ — when in motion, it creates an optical illusion wherein the marque’s name appears to float in mid-air.

Stepping inside, a bespoke interior layout has been rendered in carbon fibre and leather. The two-seat Super GT is designed with visceral pleasure in mind. With that in mind, the centre console has been lowered into a horizontal plane to promote a more focused driving experience. While it’s a coupe, the rear of the interiors have been bestowed with the same attention to detail as the front; the sculpted cross brace can be fitted with a set of saddle leather luggage, which is available as an optional accessory. Notably, there’s a full-length panoramic glass roof. Coming standard on the Vanquish, it’s tinted and coated to protect against UVA and UVB radiation.

Australian pricing for the Aston Martin Vanquish has not yet been revealed, however it’s priced from $420,000USD (before ORC) in international markets, with first deliveries slated for Q4, 2024.

Explore Vanquish via Aston Martin