The Aston Martin Vanquish will not appear in Skyfall, the next Bond movie. Still, it makes you wonder just how awesome it would be if it did. It was first unveiled to the world back in 2001, where it was joined by a more powerful variant, the Vanquish S which received a power hike and improved aerodynamics and finally replaced by the DB9/DBS. The new Vanquish (codenamed AM310) was unveiled earlier this year, and has been busy making its round across the globe, and was showcased at the Aston Martin showroom in Malaysia earlier this month.
As you might expect, the good old V12 has been retained; the 5.9-litre engine features a new intake system, variable valve timing and a higher compression ratio making a healthy 565hp/620Nm and is mated to a ZF sourced six-speed automatic. Zerotohundred is dispatched in a claimed 4.1 seconds, and the Vanquish eventually runs out of breath at a heady 295km/h. These numbers might not be overtly impressive (numbers that the Porsche 991 Carrera S easily matches), but let’s be honest – Astons have always been prettier than they have fast.
Visually, the new Vanquish is stunning – I just can’t seem to peel my eyes away from the sheet-metal displayed in front of me. The front carries some cues from the Aston Martin Rapide, especially in the headlamp design. But also prominent are the restyled, much sleeker front grille and elongated side vents. There’s a new Aero Duct that has been integrated into the boot-lid which helps to counteract lift, and the tail lamps clearly eschew hints of the super rare One-77. Much of the body panels on the Vanquish are made of the lightweight black stuff, standing out clearly in the chin spoiler and rear diffuser.
The interior feels a little more spacious than in the DBS and, like the exterior, looks fantastic. Much of the center console has been redesigned, featuring touch-sensitive controls, with fit and finish of exemplary standards. More controls have now been integrated into the steering wheel, and the quirky, squared-off steering wheel design from the One-77 is an option if you so desire. Practicality has been raised in the new car; boot-space is now 368 litres, significantly larger than in the DBS and is now capable of swallowing two golf bags. You get to choose between a 2+0 or 2+2 layout, and prices will start north of RM2mil. We suspect most men are likely to tick the latter to keep their womenfolk happy.
Despite not getting any airtime in the next Bond movie, there’s a clear 007 connection; head for Aston Martin’s official website, and scroll through the paint options for the Vanquish configurator and you just might notice ‘SKYFALL SILVER‘… we’re not sure yet if we’ll be able to review the Vanquish, but do stay tuned for our write-up on the Rapide!
