Aston Martin Vanquish (2014)
Stunning new luxury sports car
Sitting proudly at the pinnacle of the luxury British car maker’s sports car line-up, this breath-taking new super grand tourer represents the zenith of current Aston Martin design and engineering. Vanquish points to an exciting and confident future for the historic brand.
Vanquish is a new Aston Martin featuring the next generation of the renowned VH architecture as well as a significantly upgraded 6.0-litre V12 engine that is considerably more potent than before.
The design represents the latest take on Aston Martin’s iconic visual language.
Vanquish unquestionably sees the brand continue its enviable tradition of producing some of the most beautiful sports cars in the world. Styling cues such as the elegant new waist, elongated side strakes and LED rear light blades are derived from the One-77 supercar.
Unmistakably an Aston Martin, the design shows a clear and coherent lineage from its heritage whileproviding an equally clear pointer to the luxury car brand’s vibrant future. Closer inspection reveals details such as the stunning new Aero Duct on the rear boot lid. This elegantly devised passive engineering feature, which counteracts lift at the car’s rear when travelling at speed, is a triumph of both design and technical ability.
Performance, presence, style and great British craftsmanship – the new Vanquish has all these traits in abundance.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “Vanquish is the ultimate expression of Aston Martin design ethos, engineering innovation and technical ability. It offers luxurious, continent-crossing capability and pure driving excitement without compromise.
“Bearing the same name as the iconic AM V12 Vanquish that did so much to cement Aston Martin’s reputation as a maker of great GT cars in the modern era, I believe the car unveiled today once again puts this great British brand at the top of its class.
“The new Vanquish mixes beautiful design with impressive technology such as the superb new infotainment system. This is the latest incarnation of everything we know, informed and developed from One-77. It is the ultimate Super Grand Tourer – confident and assured – and is the newest representation of Power, Beauty and Soul.”
As happy on the streets of a bustling city as it is carving through the countryside or long distance motorway touring, the Vanquish offers a thoroughbred British luxury sports car that’s also suited to everyday use.
Powered by a significantly revised naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine mated to the proven Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic gearbox, the new car offers suitably impressive performance figures. The V12’s power peak of 565 bhp (573 PS) makes it Aston Martin’s most potent production model yet, outmuscled only by the strictly limited edition One-77 supercar.
The raw statistics speak for themselves: 573 PS at 6,750 rpm, 457 lb ft of torque at 5,500 rpm, 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph place the Vanquish firmly into supercar territory. Yet the brand’s team of engineers have been working towards economy and emissions improvements, too.
The latest engineering methods, innovative technologies and typically understated classic British design come together to make the muscular new Vanquish a true super GT. For instance, each body panel on the car is constructed from carbon fibre because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility of form. Meanwhile torsional rigidity is improved by more than 25%.
Practical improvements such as a newly designed and significantly more spacious cabin and a boot that, at 368 litres, is more than 60% larger than that of the DBS, ensure the new Vanquish can carry sufficient luggage for even the most ambitious grand tourist.
Designed and hand-built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon in Warwickshire, England the new Vanquish, available as a 2+2 or 2+0, sits atop a broad line-up of world-class sports carsincluding the exquisite DB9, sporty V8 Vantage and luxurious four-door Rapide.
Dr Bez said: “The Aston Martin range is stronger now than at any time in our 99-year history. The new Vanquish represents the perfect way to signal the beginning of our centenary celebrations next year.”
Priced from (US Dollar) $279,995 MSRP first deliveries of the new sports car are expected to begin across the Americas in early 2013.
Design
Aston Martin is renowned in the motor industry for the supreme beauty of its cars. The visual language of a modern Aston Martin is highly distinctive, yet timelessly attractive.
The design team at the company’s global HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, is led by Design Director Marek Reichman and, together, they have developed an unmistakable visual interpretation of the brand’s ethos.
When the commission for new Vanquish arrived Marek and his team set about working to hone the flowing exterior lines of a classic Aston Martin GT and to create a modern day interpretation of the Vanquish.
Drawing inspiration not least from the iconic One-77 supercar, the team worked to evolve that design language and create a 21st Century successor worthy of sporting the Vanquish moniker.
They worked to stay faithful to the AM V12 Vanquish inspiration – so beloved of Aston Martin fans worldwide – while introducing new aspects that debuted in the One-77.
The result is a new Vanquish that very clearly retains the presence of its forebear, yet offers it in a much more refined and functional package. Sporting the assertive body language for which the AM V12 Vanquish is renowned, today’s GT is more lean and elegant – highlighting its improved agility and dynamics.
With the exception of the now sold-out One-77 supercar, and limited edition V12 Zagato, theVanquish sits atop Aston Martin’s model range. Understandably, therefore, it boasts design language derived from the One-77 such as the elegant and flowing waistline, elongated side strakes, curvaceous, taut, form and LED light blade rear clusters, as well as entirely new design ideas such as the remarkable rear Aero Duct. Blending the aggressive lines of the One-77 with the elegant shape of the DB9 and Rapide, the new Vanquish sets the visual standard for today’s luxury GT cars.
It has amplified gestures – in the form of bonnet vents, side strakes and a sculpted roof – that accentuate the car’s extra performance and edgier character. The car has a more assertive stance, yet is not overtly aggressive.
A near-continuous ring of exposed carbon fibre features at the base of the car in the form of a carbon fibre splitter, light-catching carbon fibre side skirts and imposing carbon fibre rear diffuser. This accentuates the car’s sporting dynamics, as well as making it appear more planted.
Each body panel on the new Vanquish is also constructed from carbon fibre, because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility of form. This not only reduces mass but means that fewer individual body panels are required. For instance, the panel gap on the C-pillar joint is no longer necessary.
The designers have worked hard to pay attention to the finer details of all the materials used, with the carbon fibre weave direction a good example of this. It has been designed, and is constructed, to flow precisely with the car’s elegant shape.
Just as with the exterior, the design team were tasked with redesigning the Vanquish’s interior to give it a more complete and high quality finish. The result is an all-new interior that is more roomy, comfortable and luxurious than ever.
Again drawing inspiration from the One-77, the design team have emulated the flowing lines, quality and craftsmanship while introducing significant refinements over DBS to improve ergonomics and usability.
Showcasing the vast selection of materials and finishes that are now available on the Vanquish, the interior trim is available in a wide range of materials including fine Bridge of Weir Luxmil Leather, Semi-Aniline Leather and Alcantara, all expertly handstitched by some of the world’s most experienced craftspeople.
Elsewhere inside, the new instrument panel is a refinement of the One-77’s, with new detailing and improved ergonomics.
The new design is sleeker with a more elegant finish to complement the rest of the interior. It features new elements that convey a powerful and assertive attitude, and a new Driver Information Module (DIM) that the Vanquish shares with the One-77. The new DIM retains the classic Aston Martin style, but with a more futuristic typeface.The digital displays have been revised following feedback from existing owners, now permanently showing a digital speedo and a trip computer, which details the remaining range and the odometer.
Perhaps one of the most striking new interior design elements, though, is the new centre stack with refinements providing a more elegant form that is also more intuitive and accessible for both driver and front seat passenger.
A direct descendent of the One-77 centre stack, the Vanquish set-up retains familiar elements such as the ECU engine start button and gear selection buttons, while introducing a new infotainment system and a significantly more user-friendly design.
The facia trim now stretches down the whole centre stack and is manufactured from a single piece of material, giving a uniform finish with, obviously, no panel gaps.
The user interface has been completely redesigned, with a more user-friendly and ergonomic layout as well as technological updates that make it one of the most advanced in-car systems available.
Aston Martin’s trademark glass starter module and gear mode selection buttons have been retained while all-new capacitive glass buttons with illumination and haptic feedback have been introduced for the rest of the centre stack’s switchgear.
Haptic feedback is more commonly found in touch-screen mobile phones and Aston Martin becomes among the first significant luxury car manufacturers in the world to use the technology in a series production model.
Importantly, of course, the new car has more space both for occupants, and their belongings in the cabin. In fact the interior of the Vanquish has 140% more storage space than the DBS. The cubby box has been redesigned with a stylish armrest lid and now offers more than three litres of storage space and an integrated USB and AC point for portable devices.
There is further storage space at the base of the centre stack, with more than two litres of storage, generously sized cupholders and a mobile phone holder, as well as additional USB and AC points. Other storage spaces are dotted handily around the car, too, with more than three litres in the door bins and seat pouches alone.
Occupant space grows in all axes versus DBS with, in essence, the interior ‘pushed’ outward. Legroom is up 37 mm, shoulder room grows 25 mm, elbow room extends by 87 mm while knee room is boosted by 50 mm. All this, as the dash surface is moved forward 20 mm, too.
The Vanquish is available with either 2+0 or 2+2 seating configurations.
Performance
As with all Aston Martin sports cars, the need for perfect balance, high-performance stability, nimble handling ability and minimised kerb weight define the new Vanquish. The comprehensive use of carbon fibre body panels for the first time in an Aston Martin underline the new Vanquish’s credentials as a truly innovative model.
Strenuous efforts have been made to limit the new car’s weight, contributing to its impressive performance, handling and significantly improved power to weight ratio. The combination of controlled weight, near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, a powerful new V12 engine and a performance-honed six-speed transmission combine to make the Vanquish as rewarding and engaging on the move as it is elegant
standing still.
At the heart of the new car is the latest iteration of Aston Martin’s a 6.0-litre V12 engine. Significant re-engineering of this iconic V12 includes a revised block and new head including the debut of dual variable valve timing, uprated fuel pump, enlarged throttle bodies, a revised ‘big wing’ intake manifold and fully machined combustion chambers help the engine to a peak power output of 573 PS (565 bhp) at 6,750 rpm.
Crucially, too, the unit has been tuned specifically to deliver greater torque low down the rev range to make the car feel even more willing and muscular from very low revs. The result, predictably perhaps, is an improved 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) time of 4.1 seconds. The top speed, where legal, is 183mph (295km/h).
As is the modern custom with all Aston Martin sports cars the engine is handassembled at the dedicated Aston Martin engine plant in Cologne, Germany.
The Vanquish uses the latest generation of Aston Martin’s class-leading VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture, a lightweight bonded aluminium structure that provides outstanding strength and rigidity. In this iteration, the Vanquish tub now includes the addition of significant carbon fibre components, as well as the use of bonding derived directly from the latest aerospace technologies.
The architecture has been re-engineered to control weight and improve packaging.With 75% new parts, the depth of re-engineering to achieve major packaging improvements cannot be overestimated.
Engineers have employed the extensive use of advanced materials and processes – some derived direct from the aerospace industry – to control weight and optimise the new car’s driving experience.
For the first time in an Aston Martin, carbon fibre is used to make every external panel. The race car-inspired technology gives benefits for weight and body stiffness but, more importantly, has been essential in realising the design of Vanquish. Two notable components are the door skin and boot lid – neither of these unbroken surfaces would have been possible without the use of carbon fibre.
“There are no restrictions on form or shape when using carbon fibre,” says Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Design Director, “and the material allowed us to wrap bodywork around the 20-inch wheels and maintain the precise relationship between the wheel and the bodywork.”
Each panel has been carefully sculpted to direct the airflow around the car, into the engine and to help cool the braking system. The carbon fibre elements are produced using advanced manufacturing techniques developed from the aerospace and motorsport industries.
The panel-making procedure also delivers an exceptional surface finish. The application of a 200 micron layer of epoxy and glass to the panel delivers a class-A surface that is in line with Aston Martin’s tradition of high-quality finishes. Inside the car, the weave patterns on the exposed carbon fibre elements have been carefully selected to present the most harmonious surfaces.
EXCLUSIVE DEBUT
The new Aston Martin Vanquish last night made its eagerly-awaited London debut in the suitably star-studded surroundings of the London Film Museum, Covent Garden.
An exclusive invited audience of more than 500 Aston Martin owners and enthusiasts mingled with screen and TV stars, society guests and a host of other influential visitors as Chief Executive Officer Dr Ulrich Bez formally unveiled the new super grand tourer.
The official debut of the Vanquish came just days after its ‘sneak preview’ at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where eagle-eyed sports car connoisseurs will have glimpsed the new V12 coupe completing a handful of suitably swift runs up the famous Goodwood hill.
Guests at last night’s London event enjoyed an exclusive opportunity to get far closer to Aston Martin’s latest flagship as a brace of Vanquish models, together with a unique ‘cutaway’ display showcasing the car’s remarkable carbon fibre skin, took star billing.
Vanquish is a new Aston Martin featuring the next generation of the VH architecture as well as a significantly upgraded 6.0-litre V12 engine boasting 573 PS and 620 Nm of torque. Capable of a 0-62 mph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph, the Vanquish claims a place firmly in supercar territory.
As with all modern Aston Martin sports cars, the Vanquish has been designed and will be hand-built at the company’sglobal headquarters at Gaydon in Warwickshire.
It will be available as a 2+2 or 2+0 with the first privileged owners taking delivery of their cars before the end of the year.
Aston Martin C.E.O. Dr Ulrich Bez said: “I am very happy to unveil our exceptional new supercar here in London.
“As Aston Martin is in its 100th year and prepares for the 100th birthday of the brand in January next year, the debut of this new super grand tourer means we can look forward to the next century with confidence and real excitement.”
He added: “I’m very proud of the new Vanquish, and my team that have worked tirelessly to perfect it, and I’m convinced that it will quickly become one of the most sought-after and admired cars on the road.”
Vanquish American
August 2012 – Aston Martin’s stunning new luxury sports car; the Vanquish is set to make its American debut at a series of celebratory events around the globally renowned Monterey automotive week in California, from 15-19 August.
Aston Martin will commence the celebrations on the evening of Wednesday 15 August at McCall’s Motorworks Revival, where the new Vanquish will make its American debut. Sitting proudly at the pinnacle of the luxury British car maker’s sports car line-up, this breath-taking new super grand tourer represents the zenith of current Aston Martin design and engineering.
As well as attendance at Quail: A Motorsports Gathering (17 August) and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (19 August), Aston Martin will host guests at The Aston Martin Estate over the weekend. This exquisite private venue, situated high above Carmel with panoramic views across the Monterey Bay, will provide the perfect backdrop for showcasing Aston Martin’s latest sports car to customers and friends of the brand for the first time.
This grand estate will also serve as the location for a myriad of exclusive events including private viewings for customers of the new Vanquish with Design Director Marek Reichman and dynamic test drives of Aston Martin’s award-winning line-up of current, handcrafted high performance sports cars.
Vanquish Canadian
Aston Martin’s stunning new luxury sports car; the Vanquish is set to make its Canadian debut at a series of exceptional events across the country.
Aston Martin, in partnership with MCL Motor Cars and the Dilawri Group, will commence thecelebrations with a special media sneak peek and an exclusive preview for attendees on Friday 7 September during the grand opening of the third annual Luxury & Supercar Weekend, held at the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, where the new Vanquish will make its Canadian debut. Sitting proudly at the pinnacle of the luxury British car maker’s sports car line-up, this breath-taking new super grand tourer represents the zenith of current Aston Martin design and engineering.
As well as attendance at Vancouver’s Luxury & Supercar Weekend (7-9 September) Aston Martin, along with the brand’s Canadian dealer-partners, will hold three other captivating reveals of the new Vanquish over the next month.
Priced from (US Dollar) $279,995 MSRP (CAD $296,000) first deliveries of the new Vanquish will begin across the Americas in early 2013.
Aston Martin Vanquish Specification
Body
- Two-door coupe body style with 2+0 or optional 2+2 seating
- New generation bonded aluminium and carbon fibre VH structure
- Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body
- Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
- Bi-xenon headlamps
- LED light blade rear lamps and LED side repeaters
Engine
- All-alloy, independent quad variable camshaft timing, 48-valve, 5,935 cc V12
- Compression ratio 11.0:1
- Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
- Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
- Six three-way catalytic convertors
- Max power: 573 PS (565 bhp) at 6,750 rpm
- Max torque: 457 lb ft (620 Nm) at 5,500 rpm
- Acceleration: 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.1 seconds
- Max speed: 183 mph (295 km/h)
Transmission
- Rear-mid mounted, six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic
- Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
- Limited-slip differential
Wheels and Tyres
- Front: 9J x 20” Pirelli P Zero 255/35 ZR20
- Rear: 11.5J x 20” Pirelli P Zero 305/30 ZR20
Steering
- Speed-dependent electronically controlled rack and pinion power-assisted
- steering, 2.62 turns lock-to-lock. Column tilt and reach adjustment
Suspension
- Lightweight aluminium front subframe with hollow castings
- Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil
- springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
- Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil
- springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
- Three-stage adjustable Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Normal, Sport and
- Track modes
Brakes
- Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398mm diameter with six-piston calipers
- Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360mm diameter with four-piston calipers
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
- Positive Torque Control (PTC)
- Traction Control
- Launch Control
Dimensions
- Length:4720mm (inc. front number plate plinth)
- Width:2067mm (inc. mirrors)
- Height:1294mm
- Wheelbase:2740mm
- Weight:1,739kg
- Fuel tank capacity:78 litres (17.2 Imp.galls, 20.5 US galls)
Standard Specification
- Full-grain leather interior
- Alcantara headlining
- Electrically operated front seats
- Memory front seats and exterior mirrors (three memory positions)
- 2+0 seating configuration with flexible rear environment storage
- Powerfold exterior heated mirrors
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Cruise control
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Alarm and immobiliser
- Remote-control central door locking and boot release
- Automatic temperature control
- Heated front seats
- Curtain side head airbags
- Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Front Airbags
- Pelvis and thorax seat mounted airbags
- Seat belt dual-pretensioners and digressive load limiters
- Trip computer
- Laminated windscreen with clear noise-insulation layer
- Glass ECU
- Titanium bonnet and side strake meshes
- Bright aluminium front grille
- Chrome side strakes and tailpipe trim
- Heated rear screen
In Car Entertainment
- New infotainment system with capacitive switching
- 1000W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 13-speaker audio system
- Garmin satellite navigation system*+
- 6.5″ LCD Screen
- iPod® and iPhone® Integration and USB playback
- Satellite radio system (USA only)
- AM/FM radio1
- A2DP Bluetooth® audio and phone streaming
- Wi-Fi Hub5
Options
- Ten-spoke alloy wheel in a Graphite finish
- 20-spoke alloy wheel in a Liquid Silver, Silver finish with diamond turning, Graphite finish with diamond turning, Gloss Black with diamond turning and Satin Black with diamond turning
- Black-vaned grille
- Magnum Silver or Black Mesh finish
- Matt black textured tailpipe
- Black, blue, yellow or red calipers
- Exposed carbon fibre roof panel
- Exposed carbon fibre door mirror caps
- Exposed carbon fibre side strakes
- Exposed carbon door handles
- Protective tape
- Black Luxmil Leather and part-Alcantara steering wheel
- Colour-Keyed Luxmil Leather steering wheel
- Black One-77 leather steering wheel with black Alcantara Inserts
- Colour-Keyed One-77 Luxmil leather steering wheel with black leather inserts
- Centre stack facia in carbon fibre 2×2 twill, carbon fibre 2×2 fishbone, Piano Red, Piano Black or Piano Ice mocha.
- Headrest embroidery – Aston Martin wings or Vanquish logo
- Black hardware pack
- Full carbon fibre gearshift paddles
- Personalised sill plaques
- Rear parking assist camera
- Auto-dimming mirror with garage door opener
- Heated and ventilated seats
- Smoker’s Pack
- Second glass key
- Tracking device**1
- Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensors)
- Option toolkit
- Six-CD auto-changer
- First-aid kit
*+ Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) in Continental Europe
** Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK
1 Not available in all markets
2 iPod® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries
