Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish is a grand tourer introduced by British luxury automobile manufacturer Aston Martin in 2001 as a successor to the Aston Martin Vantage (1993). Axion23, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martin Vanquish S
Aston Martin Vanquish S
Kieran White from Manchester, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Manufacturer Aston Martin
Production
  • 2001–2007 (first generation)
  • 2012–2018 (second generation)
Designer
Body and chassis
ClassGrand tourer (S)
Body style
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel-drive
DoorsSwan

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish is a grand tourer introduced by British luxury automobile manufacturer Aston Martin in 2001 as a successor to the Aston Martin Vantage (1993).

The first-generation of the "V12 Vanquish," designed by Ian Callum and unveiled at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, was produced from 2001 to 2007 as the flagship of the marque. The concept car, known as "Project Vantage" and the first Aston Martin design wholly styled by Callum, was built by the Ford Motor Company with craftsman Dilip Chhabria to display the company's vision for a future sports car to represent Aston Martin after the discontinuation of the Virage-based Vantage. 

The V12 Vanquish closely resembled the concept car, and featured carbon fibre and alloy construction, Aston Martin's most powerful V12 engine, and host of new technologies. A specially modified V12 Vanquish was driven by James Bond in the 2002 film Die Another Day. In 2004, a mildly updated version of the first-generation model named "V12 Vanquish S" was introduced featuring a more highly tuned engine and more track-oriented ride and handling. The V12 Vanquish was indirectly replaced by the DBS after 2007.

The second-generation Vanquish was introduced in 2012, based on the Aston Martin's VH platform, followed in 2017 by a "Vanquish S" with a more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics. The second-generation Vanquish was succeeded by the DBS Superleggera in 2018.[2]

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First generation (2001–2007)

First generation
Vanquish - Sport Dynamic Pack SDP.
JMBwiki1980, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Production2001–2007
  • Vanquish: 1,492 units
  • Vanquish S: 1,086 units
AssemblyUnited Kingdom: Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire
Body and chassis
Body style
RelatedAston Martin Vantage (1993)
Powertrain
Engine5,935 cc (5.9 L; 362.2 cu in) V12
Transmission6-speed automated manual
6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,690 mm (105.9 in)
Length4,665 mm (183.7 in)
Width1,923 mm (75.7 in)
Height1,318 mm (51.9 in)
Curb weight1,835 kg (4,045 lb) (Vanquish)
1,875 kg (4,134 lb) (Vanquish S)
Chronology
PredecessorAston Martin Virage
SuccessorAston Martin DBS V12

V12 Vanquish (2001-2005)

The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish was styled by Ian Callum and drew inspiration from the DB4 GT Zagato, projecting a more aggressive presence than Callum's DB7 Vantage. The production car closely resembled the Project Vantage Concept which debuted with a V12 engine at the North American International Auto Show in January 1998. Underneath, the V12 Vanquish car featured a bonded aluminium composite chassis with a carbon fibre backbone developed in partnership with Lotus,[3] an advanced independent suspension, and a more highly tuned version of the naturally aspirated 5,935 cc (5.9 L; 362.2 cu in) Aston Martin V12 engine that had debuted in the DB7 two years earlier. It was available in 2+0 and 2+2 seating configurations and came only in a coupé body style.

Rear 3/4 view.

Rear 3/4 view. ilikewaffles11, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The naturally aspirated 60° DOHC 4 valves per cylinder V12 engine with a bore and stroke of 89 mm × 79.5 mm (3.50 in × 3.13 in) has a power output of 466 PS (343 kW; 460 hp) at 6,500 rpm and 400 lb⋅ft (542 N⋅m) of torque at 5,000 rpm.[4] It is controlled by a drive-by-wire throttle and driven by a 6-speed automated manual transmission. The Vanquish model debuted with 355 mm (14.0 inches) drilled and ventilated disc brakes with four-piston calipers, ABS, with electronic brake distribution. The interior featured full instrumentation, advanced electronics, and a choice of leather upholstery with metallic details – the latter was an intentional move away from the wood trim seen in the DB7.

As Aston Martin's flagship car for the era, the V12 Vanquish was designed to deliver new performance benchmarks for the company. In addition to delivering impressive figures including an acceleration of 0–60 mph in under 5 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph, the first-generation V12 Vanquish was generally very well received by the motoring press. Road tests included near-universal praise for its powertrain, chassis, advanced engineering, and design. The V12 Vanquish was described without caveat as "The ultimate Grand Tourer" by Road & Track magazine.[5] Car and Driver described the V12 Vanquish as "worthy of the marque's heritage and a serious alternative to the top Ferrari."[3]

The V12 Vanquish series would become the last all-new model to be made in Aston Martin's Newport Pagnell facility. While the traditional craft techniques had evolved somewhat from those used to make the previous generation of cars, primarily in the panel shaping, there was still a great deal of work done by hand in assembly and finishing as each car was very time-consuming to manufacture. As such, the Vanquish represents both the end of an era as the last model assembled at Newport Pagnell, and the beginning of another with its forward-looking engineering and performance.

Its appearance in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day[6] earned the V12 Vanquish the number three spot on the list of Best Film Cars Ever,[7] behind the Minis from The Italian Job, and DB5 from Goldfinger and Thunderball. The car also appears in the video games namely Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, James Bond 007: Nightfire, and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing. The V12 Vanquish was recognized, along with the DB4 GT Zagato, as one of the ten most beautiful cars of all time.[8]

The V12 Vanquish featured in Die Another Day (2002).

The V12 Vanquish featured in Die Another Day (2002). FR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

V12 Vanquish S (2004–2007)

Aston Martin Vanquish S.
Aston Martin Vanquish S. Supermac1961 from CHAFFORD HUNDRED, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, with a number of subtle styling revisions. The engine displacement remained at 5,935 cc (5.9 L; 362.2 cu in), but advertised power increased from 466–527 PS (343–388 kW; 460–520 hp). Visual changes included new wheels, a slightly different nose shape, a new raised boot lid with a larger integrated spoiler incorporating the third high-level brake light (in the rear window on the original Vanquish), a Vanquish S badge on the boot lid (the original Vanquish had no rear model designation), and the addition of a small front splitter. One result of these changes was a reduction in the drag coefficient (drag coefficient of Cd=0.32 (from Cd=0.33 of the Vanquish). The Vanquish S front and rear track measured 1,524 mm (60.0 in) and 1,529 mm (60.2 in), respectively. A higher gear ratio enabled the S to reach a top speed of 322 km/h (200 mph).

The V12 Vanquish S also incorporated the features of the optional Sports Dynamic Package (available for the Vanquish for the 2004 model year), which included stiffer suspension, revised steering, and larger brakes – 378 mm (14.9 in) front discs with six-piston calipers and 330 mm (13.0 in) rear discs with four-piston calipers. The V12 Vanquish S was sold for the 2005 model year for alongside the original Vanquish, and 2006 onward as a stand-alone model. The 2007 model year V12 Vanquish was not sold in the United States.

Aston Martin Vanquish S.

Aston Martin Vanquish S. Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Special editions and one-offs

Vanquish S Ultimate Edition

The end of the Vanquish's production run was celebrated with the Vanquish S Ultimate Edition. Aston Martin announced that the last 50 cars built would have a new 'Ultimate Black' exterior colour, upgraded interior, and personalised sill plaques.[9]

Vanquish Zagato Roadster

The Vanquish Zagato Roadster is a right-hand drive, 2-seat, open-top roadster initially shown by Zagato at the 2004 International Geneva Motor Show as a prototype and based on the V12 Vanquish.[10] It was then displayed by Zagato at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where an American collector acquired the prototype. The car had to be flown back to Italy as it was only on temporary import papers before being properly imported to the US by a Massachusetts Aston Martin dealer as a "show and display" car.[11] The car was offered at a Bonhams auction in Carmel in August 2015 at the Quail Lodge and Golf Club with an estimated price of US$700,000–850,000. The car had only been driven 13,000 miles. The car's VIN number is SCFAC13391B50PP19.

Vanquish Bertone Jet 2

The Vanquish Bertone Jet 2 is a 2-door shooting brake shown by Bertone also at the 2004 International Geneva Motor Show. The car gets its name from the 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Jet also built by Bertone. The car was originally shown in silver in 2004 and in gold in 2013 again at the International Geneva Motor Show at the reveal of the Aston Martin Rapide Bertone Jet 2+2.[12]

Vanquish 25 by Ian Callum Design

In September 2019, Ian Callum Design (the company started by Ian Callum, the designer of the first generation Vanquish) publicly revealed the Vanquish 25. It is a restoration package for the first generation Vanquish to "make the Vanquish the Grand Tourer for the 2020s,". Only 25 cars will be made by British company R-Reforged. The 5.9-liter V12 has been tuned to now make 580 hp, a 120-hp jump over the standard Vanquish and a 60-hp increase over a Vanquish S. The car can be had with the original six-speed, single-clutch Speedshift automated manual, a six-speed GM-sourced torque converter automatic, or a six-speed manual conversion already offered by Aston Martin Works.[13]

Vanquish 25.
Vanquish 25. Liam Walker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Technical specifications

Model Year Engine displacement Transmission Max. power (at rpm) Max. torque (at rpm) Max. speed Acceleration 0–60 mph (0-97 km/h)
Vanquish V12 2001–04 5.9 litres (5,935 cc) 6-speed automated manual 466 PS (343 kW; 460 hp) at 6,500 542 N⋅m (400 lbf⋅ft) at 5,000 306 km/h (190 mph) 4.5 seconds
Vanquish S 2004–07 5.9 litres (5,935 cc) 6-speed automated manual 527 PS (388 kW; 520 hp) at 6,500 576 N⋅m (425 lbf⋅ft) at 5,000 322 km/h (200 mph) 4.6 seconds

End of production

The production of the V12 Vanquish ended on 19 July 2007, coinciding with the closing of the company's Newport Pagnell factory after 49 years of operation. Despite ongoing enthusiasm for the original V12 Vanquish and V12 Vanquish S, the hand made nature of their construction limited production to levels commensurate with earlier cars assembled at Newport Pagnell.

Second generation (2012–2018)

Second generation
Aston Martin Vanquish
Guillaume Vachey, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Production2012–2018
AssemblyUnited Kingdom: Gaydon, Warwickshire
Body and chassis
Body style
PlatformVH Generation III
RelatedAston Martin DB9
Powertrain
Engine
  • 5.9 L AM28 V12 (2012–2014)
  • 5.9 L AM29 V12 (2014–2018)
Transmission6-speed ZF 6HP26 (Touchtronic II) automatic (2012–2014)[14]
8-speed ZF 8HP70 (Touchtronic III) automatic (2014–2018)
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,740 mm (107.9 in)
Length4,720 mm (185.8 in)
Width1,905 mm (75.0 in)
Height1,280 mm (50.4 in)
Kerb weight1,739 kg (3,834 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorAston Martin DBS V12
SuccessorAston Martin DBS Superleggera

Project AM310 Concept (2012)

The second-generation "Vanquish" (the "V12" part of the name was dropped for this generation of cars) started life as the Project AM310 Concept and was unveiled at the 2012 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este held on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. The concept car was based on the latest generation of the VH platform, and was internally known as project VH310.[16] It included a tweaked version of Aston Martin's familiar grille and headlight design and a more pronounced bulge in the bonnet – with One-77-inspired flourishes saved for the sides and the rear, the side vents run almost to the door handles (shared with the One-77), new rear light design shared with the One-77, and a 5.9-litre V12 engine that has a power output of 558 PS (410 kW; 550 hp).[17] Aston Martin later announced that the concept would be put into production as the all-new Vanquish.[18][19][20]

Vanquish (2012–2018)

The exterior styling of the Vanquish is an evolution of the DBS with many styling cues such as the elongated side strakes being inspired by the One-77. The boot lid included an integrated rear spoiler designed to look as if it is impossible to make; this was done on the orders of the then Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez. The car has an exposed carbon fibre side skirt showing its all carbon fibre body. The Vanquish uses the VH Generation III platform (VH310)[16] which is lighter and uses more carbon fibre components than the VH Generation II platform used in the DBS.[21]

The car featured a new interior with details inspired by the one found in the exclusive One-77. The standard interior was upholstered in hand stitched leather and Alcantara and was available in a range of colours. The centre console has a revised infotainment system as opposed to the one found in the DBS.[22] The car was available as either a 2-seater or 2+2.[23]

Rear 3/4 view.
Rear 3/4 view. Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Vanquish used an upgraded version of Aston Martin's 5.9-litre AM11 V12 engine called the AM28 with a power output of 573 PS (421 kW; 565 hp) at 6,750 rpm and torque of 620 N⋅m (457 lb⋅ft) at 5,500 rpm. The Vanquish can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds, and has a top speed of 295 km/h (183 mph). Like many modern Aston Martin automobiles, the engine is front-mounted with the transmission in the rear for better weight distribution. The Vanquish has 51/49 front/rear weight distribution, and a kerb weight of 1,739 kg (3,834 lb). It uses a fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves. The 2012-2014 cars use an updated ZF Touchtronic II six-speed automatic gearbox, which was then further replaced by an updated ZF Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic gearbox starting from 2015. It was the first Aston Martin model to be available with launch control.[23] The combined space of cabin and a boot that, at 368 litres, is more than 60% larger than that of the DBS.[24]

The braking system uses ventilated carbon-ceramic discs, 398 mm (15.7 in) six-piston callipers in the front and 360 mm (14.2 in) four-piston callipers in the rear. The suspension is a lightweight aluminium front subframe with hollow castings with independent double wishbones incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar, and monotube adaptive dampers in the front and independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar, and monotube adaptive dampers in the rear. It has a three-stage adjustable adaptive damping system including normal, sport, and track modes. The tires are Pirelli P Zeros, 255/ZR20 in the front and 305/30 ZR20 in the rear.[25]

The Vanquish was unveiled in the London Film Museum, Covent Garden,[26] followed by the 2012 Monterey Car Week.[27] Deliveries to UK and Continental Europe began in late 2012.[28]

In August 2014, Aston Martin revealed technical modifications to the Vanquish. The changes include a new eight-speed Touchtronic III gearbox and upgraded AM29 V12 engine that has a power output of 576 PS (424 kW; 568 hp) and torque of 465 lb⋅ft (630 N⋅m). The changes greatly enhanced performance, with an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) being achieved in 3.6 seconds, and a top speed of 324 km/h (201 mph).[29]

Vanquish Volante (2013–2018)

Aston Martin Vanquish Volante.
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante. Norbert Aepli, Switzerland, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2013, Aston Martin unveiled a convertible variant of the Vanquish, called Volante. The Volante has a full carbon fibre body, triple-skin lightweight fabric roof, 50% larger boot than its predecessor and the third generation Brembo 398 mm × 36 mm (front) and 360 mm × 32 mm (rear) Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brake discs with six-piston front and four-piston rear brake callipers. The Vanquish Volante is 13% torsionally stiffer than the outgoing DBS Volante.[30]

The Volante was unveiled at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.[31] Deliveries to Europe began in late 2013,[32] with deliveries to the US starting in early 2014.[33]

Vanquish S (2017–2018)

Interior.
Interior. Norbert Aepli, Switzerland, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On 16 November 2016, Aston Martin announced the new Vanquish S model. The Vanquish S features the AM29 V12 engine, with power increased to 603 PS (444 kW; 595 hp), and a new aerodynamic package. The Vanquish S can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 201 mph (324 km/h).[34][35] The car's deliveries started in December 2016.[36] Aston Martin also unveiled a convertible version of the Vanquish S called the Vanquish S Volante in 2017.[37]

Technical specifications

Model Year Engine displacement Transmission Max. power at rpm Max. torque at rpm Max. speed Acceleration 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph)
Vanquish Coupé 2012–14 5.9-litre (5935 cc) V12 6-speed automatic 573 PS (421 kW; 565 hp) at 6,750 620 N⋅m (457 lbf⋅ft) at 5,500 295 km/h (183 mph) 4.1 seconds[36]
Vanquish Volante 2013–14 5.9-litre (5935 cc) V12 6-speed automatic 573 PS (421 kW; 565 hp) at 6,750 620 N⋅m (457 lbf⋅ft) at 5,500 295 km/h (183 mph) 4.3 seconds[37]
Vanquish Coupé 2014–18 5.9-litre (5935 cc) V12 8-speed automatic 576 PS (424 kW; 568 hp) at 6,650 630 N⋅m (465 lbf⋅ft) at 5,500 324 km/h (201 mph) 3.6 seconds[38]
Vanquish Volante 2014–18 5.9-litre (5935 cc) V12 8-speed automatic 576 PS (424 kW; 568 hp) at 6,650 630 N⋅m (465 lbf⋅ft) at 5,500 317 km/h (197 mph) 3.8 seconds[39]
Vanquish S Coupé & Volante 2017–18 5.9-litre (5935 cc) V12 8-speed automatic 603 PS (444 kW; 595 hp) at 7,000 630 N⋅m (465 lbf⋅ft) at 5,500 324 km/h (201 mph) 3.5 seconds[40]

Special editions

Vanquish Centenary Edition (2013)

The Centenary Edition is a limited edition of the Vanquish limited to 100 units commemorating 100 years of the Aston Martin company, unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.[43] Changes include unique graduated paint finish, solid sterling silver Aston Martin wing badges with tailored 'trans flux' enamel inlay, a special Aston Martin hallmark, leather interior upholstery from Aston Martin One-77 with contrasting silver stitching, a silver thread embroidery of the Aston Martin wings in the head restraints, solid sterling silver sill plaques individually numbered with an Aston Martin hallmark, a unique presentation box containing a number of exclusive gifts to mark the first 100 years of the company (two glass keys, two bespoke key pouches made from leather matching the car's interior trim, solid silver cufflinks featuring the Aston Martin script, solid silver Rollerball pen, Bang & Olufsen headphones, and a silver polishing cloth).[44][45]

Vanquish Volante Neiman Marcus Edition (2013)

The Neiman Marcus edition is a limited edition of the Vanquish limited to 10 cars named after the US department store Neiman Marcus. Based on the US market Vanquish Volante, the bespoke features of the car are designed by the company's bespoke customisation arm; Q by Aston Martin. The design was inspired by the 1969 DB6 Volante owned by HRH Prince of Wales. The car was unveiled at the 2013 Pebble Beach Automotive Week, followed by the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show[46] with delivery scheduled for early 2014.[47]

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato (2017)

Aston Martin announced a limited series production of the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato; the latest creation from its long-standing partnership with the prestigious Italian design-house Zagato. The Vanquish Zagato Concept was unveiled to great acclaim at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como, Italy in May 2016. The Vanquish Zagato is available in 4 body styles - coupé, convertible, speedster, or shooting brake. 99 each were built of the coupé, convertible, and shooting brake, while a mere 28 speedsters were made, for a total of 325 cars.[48] The Vanquish Zagato features the same AM29 V12 from the Vanquish S, which has a power output of 603 PS (444 kW; 595 hp) and 630 N⋅m (465 lb⋅ft) of torque, allowing the Vanquish Zagato to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of 324 km/h (201 mph).[49]

Marketing

As part of Aston Martin's 100th anniversary celebration, a Vanquish was airlifted onto the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 17 January 2013.[50][51]

Vanquish Vision Concept

The proposed third generation concept car was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. It features a rear mid-engine layout, aluminium bonded chassis and a new 3.0-litre V6 engine that can develop up to 700 PS. The production car will be on the same market segment as the Ferrari F8 Tributo and McLaren 720S. The next-generation Vanquish is planned to enter production in 2023.[52]

The model will be known as the Aston Martin Valhalla

Comments

Aston Martin Lagonda road car timeline, 1948–present.

Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
89012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901
OwnerDavid BrownWilliam WilsonMinden & SpragueVictor Gauntlett et al.FordIndependent consortium
City CarCygnet
Luxury CarRapide
2.6 ltr3 ltrRapideLagondaTaraf
Grand TourerDB4DB5 & VolanteDBS & VantageV8 VantageV8 VantageVantageVantage
DB1DB2DB2/4 & MKIIIDB6DB7DB9 & V12 VirageDB11
DBS V8 & AM V8V8 VirageV8VanquishDBS V12VanquishDBS Superleggera
Limited ProductionOne-77VulcanVictor
DB4 ZagatoV8 ZagatoDB7 ZagatoDB AR1V12 ZagatoDBS/DB9/Virage ZagatoVanquish ZagatoDBS GT ZagatoValkyrie
Valhalla
Sports prototypeV12 Speedster
SUVDBX
Concept Car
Colour code

  Aston Martin badge   Lagonda badge

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