Aston Martin Vanquish, the fastest in history

Presented last year for Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary, the exclusive Valour coupé, produced in just 110 units, inspired a new Vanquish. The shapes are largely inspired by those of the DB12, but the sides are hollowed out and, above all, the rear borrows its codes from the Valour. Compared to the DBS 770 Ultimate which it succeeds, the brand’s new flagship stands out with its rear width increased by 10 mm.

Sitting at the top of the Aston Martin range, the new Vanquish is powered not by the V8 from the Mercedes organ bank but by the in-house 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12.

Incredible performance

Back in the hands of the engine designers and engineers, it gained 120 hp compared to the Valour to deliver a power of 835 hp and a gargantuan torque of 1,000 Nm, from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm. To achieve this level of power, the engineers installed new turbochargers, developed a reinforced cylinder block and connecting rods, redesigned the cylinder heads which integrate reprofiled camshafts. The spark plugs were repositioned and new fuel injectors with a higher flow rate optimise combustion. Thus rigged, the Vanquish becomes the fastest Gaydon model in history with a top speed of 345 km/h. 100 km/h is also reached in 3.3 seconds.

Unlike the Valour, the V12 here is mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The Vanquish adds an electronic limited-slip rear differential (e-diff) integrated into the electronic stability programme (ESP).

Compared to the DB12, the chassis has seen its wheelbase extended by 80 mm and its rigidity reinforced by the adoption of a new engine crossmember. The suspension is based on adaptive Bilstein DTX shock absorbers which combine sportiness and comfort. The 21-inch P Zero tires have been specially designed by Pirelli. As for the braking, it is based on a carbon-ceramic device with 410 mm discs on the front axle and 360 mm on the rear axle.

A panoramic glass roof

Starting with a DB12 cabin, the designers have imagined an even more luxurious layout. The central console has been lowered horizontally to give a greater impression of light. Finally, the Vanquish is the first Aston Martin to be equipped with a panoramic glass roof.