If you are a James Bond fan like me, when you read those words, your heart sinks a little. These final words spoken in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” are tragic and when Daniel Craig repeats them towards the beginning of “No Time to Die” you just know things are not going to end well.
As a lover of the suck, squeeze, bang, and blow of the internal combustion engine I feel a similar tinge of sadness at the thought that one day, magnificent engineering masterpieces like the V12 powering the latest Aston Martin Vanquish will cease to exist. But thankfully as far as Aston Martin is concerned the mighty V12 engine will live on as long as the regulations will allow.
And what a V12 engine it is! The new 5.2 litre V12 Twin Turbo engine develops a class leading 614kW of power and 1,000Nm of torque. All that power means that the new Aston Martin Vanquish has the highest maximum speed of any Aston Martin series production car at 344km/h and it will do 0-100km/h in just 3.3 seconds.
One of the most iconic design features of any Aston Martin is the distinctive side strake. On Vanquish unique signature sits purposefully inside a sculpted infill panel. As standard the side strake is finished in bright chrome standing out from the gloss black side infill panel, but this can be customised as part of the optional exterior upper packs. Like Aston Martins of the past, Vanquish is adorned with a red ‘V12’ motif; a subtle detail with evocative historic significance, just like so many scenes from past and present James Bond movies.
The bespoke chassis has an 80mm longer wheelbase (the increase made between the A pillar and front axle) and has received a stiffer engine cross brace to provide greater torsional rigidity and lateral stiffness between the front suspension towers. All the panels on the Vanquish are made from carbon fibre as such the lines are perfect and as gorgeous as you would expect from an Aston Martin.
By amplifying the front-engine proportions Vanquish expresses a fabulous sense of speed and power, its teardrop form capturing the immense flow of propulsion from front to rear. It also draws from Aston Martin’s deep connection with motorsport, the design team taking inspiration from iconic Aston Martins of the past and present. In particular, the intricate functional detailing found on today’s Formula One cars, and the clean, flowing shapes of the fiendishly fast ‘Project Cars’ developed from series production models to race at Le Mans during the 1960s.
Building upon the new interior architecture that has taken such a leap forward in all Aston Martin’s next generation sports cars, Vanquish has received a bespoke interior layout. The centre console has been lowered into a horizontal plane for a greater feeling of clarity, space and luxury. Vanquish interior also utilises a blend of materials to create sections with bold visible lines to boost the feeling of luxury and quality.
I particularly like the full-length panoramic glass and signature Aston Martin scent from the high-quality leather that covers almost every square inch of the interior. This Vanquish is also the most customisable vehicle in the Aston Martin range, offering customers the opportunity to create a true one-of-a-kind vehicle through Q by Aston Martin.
For Aston Martin’s halo model, it is only fitting that Vanquish is equipped with the very best audio system from our audio partners Bowers & Wilkins, as standard. Seamlessly integrated and expertly tuned for the Vanquish, the 15-speaker, double amplified surround sound system delivers the most enthralling sound experience.
The cabin is a mix between digital and analogue features with an emphasis on providing current infotainment technology with beautiful tactile switches that you just want to run your fingers over. All key driver controls are centrally mounted, keeping the frequently used functions within easy reach reinforcing the clarity and simplicity of a driver-focused interior.
When purchasing their new Vanquish, owners are invited to enroll in the new Aston Martin mobile app and create their own unique AML ID. Available on Apple iOS and Android, the app offers a range of connected car subscription packages that are free for the first 3-years and designed to maximise the Aston Martin ownership experience.
Personalised content specific to their vehicle is presented in clear and intuitive screens that seamlessly match the new UI/UX of the infotainment system. From the app, customers can monitor, locate and protect their vehicle and they can also manage their account details and share in the community of Aston Martin owners through integrated media feeds.
To ensure that the Aston Martin Vanquish continues to reign in ultra-luxury exclusivity just 1,000 examples will be produced each year. Pricing starts at $737,000 plus on-road costs and deliveries have already commenced in Australia. You can configure your Vanquish online or visit your nearest Aston Martin dealer for more information on this most powerful, capable and desirable series production flagship in the ultra-luxury brand’s 111-year history.
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.