Aston slams down new Vanquish

Aston Martin has revealed its all-new luxury flagship, the Vanquish. Open for Australian customer orders this month priced from $473,340 plus on-road costs, it's expected first local deliveries will take place around November (2012).

Faithful to the Project AM 310 concept revealed at the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance on Italy’s Lake Como in May, the successor to Aston’s six-year-old DBS is based on a fourth-generation version of the British brand’s bonded aluminium monocoque VH (Vertical-Horizontal) chassis architecture. The new underpinnings are claimed to increase torsional rigidity by more than 25 per cent.

The Vanquish is positioned below Aston’s sold-out One-77 limited-edition supercar and pack a revised 6.0-litre V12 which now incorporates dual variable valve timing to produce 420kW at 6750rpm and 620Nm at 5500rpm. That’s enough to accelerate Aston’s new “super grand tourer” from 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds, making it quicker than all but the million-dollar One-77 in Aston’s range, but slower than Porsche’s $100,000-plus-cheaper 911 Turbo.

Driving its rear wheels via a carbon-fibre tailshaft and rear-mounted Touchtronic 2 ZF six-speed (torque converter) automatic transmission with paddle shifters (claimed to shift 30 per cent faster than before), Aston says the Vanquish will deliver a top speed of 295km/h top speed. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are said to be reduced but no figures are yet specified.

Aston’s newest model revives the Vanquish nameplate sold between 2001-2007 and will play a key role in the Gaydon maker’s centenary celebrations next year. It features a voluptuous derriere with U-shaped tail-lights with LED light blades, an elegant new waist line and elongated side strakes clearly inspired by the One-77.

Elements of the DBS replacement’s sleek new styling -- including its new ‘Aero Duct’ on the rear boot lid -- are also likely to be seen on the replacements for the current Vantage, DB9 and Virage.

Lessons learned from the One-77 include the use of carbon-fibre for all exterior body panels and the interior’s sweeping centre console. The Vanquish will be available in both two-seat and 2+2 guises, and configurations are said to offer 60 per cent more boot space than the outgoing DBS, at 368 litres.

Other Vanquish highlights include four-wheel double-wishbone suspension with adaptive dampers, latest-generation stability/traction control, carbon-ceramic brakes, a 10mm lower centre of gravity and a kerb weight of 1739kg – 56kg less than the DBS, with which it shares its 2740mm wheelbase.

“Today’s Vanquish is the ultimate expression of Aston Martin design ethos, engineering innovation and technical ability,” said Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez.

“It offers luxurious, continent-crossing capability and pure driving excitement without compromise.

“Bearing the same name as the iconic original 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,? Dr Bez stated.