Since they were designed in the 1960s, the basic formula for GT cars hasn’t changed significantly. Take a long coupe, install a large engine in the front, equip it with components that allow it to cover vast distances quickly and comfortably, outfit the cabin with luxury, and attach a hefty price tag—there you have it.
This has always been the recipe for the Vanquish (which translates loosely to "to prevail" or "to conquer") by Aston Martin. It was true for the first generation, famously seen in the James Bond film "Die Another Day," and it was also true for the second generation introduced in 2012. Besides a stunning appearance, it always had a huge V12 engine in the front, making it a car that 007 would need to save the world.
And this approach—combining design, opulence, exclusivity, and, of course, the engine—continues in its third generation. We start with the front grille, which is large even by Aston Martin standards to supply air to the immense engine, air vents on the hood, frameless doors, prominent rear wings, and a rear end with an integrated spoiler on top and four exhaust outlets below. All this beauty stretches over 4.85 meters in length and stands just 129 cm high.
Inside the cabin, as expected, there is grandeur, leather, and carbon fiber, but the design is restrained, much less dramatic than the exterior suggests. The dashboard is digital, but the multimedia screen is modest in size at 10.25 inches, primarily because Aston Martin didn’t skimp on the customers under the guise of "technology" and retained physical controls around the driver.
Its dozen V-shaped cylinders are positioned forward of the front axle and towards the cabin, what is known as a front-mid position, hence the extremely long hood. This tradition has been ongoing for 25 years at Aston Martin, but this time the displacement is 5.2 liters, slightly less than before, but with two turbochargers.
Although its base is that of the DBS Superleggera, it receives upgrades that boost the power to 835 hp and torque to 102 kgm.
To achieve the optimal weight distribution (51:49), the 8-speed ZF transmission is located at the rear, near the driving wheels. This means it will accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 345 km/h, showcasing all this red beauty (where have the days of British racing green pride gone?).
Aston Martin will produce only 1,000 units per year, with initial deliveries to selected customers slated for the last quarter of the year. At "Auto Art," the Aston Martin importer to Israel, they’ve already set a price tag for the new Vanquish, starting at NIS 3.5M. This means it will be one of the most expensive cars in Israel, should its owner choose to buy and drive it here when the first allocations to Israel arrive in early 2025.