British car-talking style seen in the “Aston Martin Vanquish” article [Car English Studies vol. 03]

“Posh” writing style

British writing style not only conveys facts, but also places importance on a narrative style that gives a sense of elegance. — The photo shows the new Aston Martin Vanquish. British writing emphasizes not only conveying facts but also a style of narrative that conveys elegance.

The teaching material this time is an article comparing the first-generation Aston Martin Vanquish, which debuted in 2007, with the third-generation model that was released last year. Andrew Frankel’s writing is impressive, with a style that is full of Britishness. The word “posh,” which is often used by the British to describe luxury and sophistication, seems to fit perfectly.

In the UK, academics and journalists for quality newspapers tend to prefer a sophisticated style of writing. As is common in papers and academic books, Frankel’s writing makes extensive use of inversions and literary expressions throughout. It has a strong emotional and literary tone.

Inversion to evoke a scene

A Vanquish test drive report that uses a technique to evoke a scene using only text. — This Vanquish test drive report uses a technique that allows you to visualize the scene using only text. The photo shows the first-generation Vanquish.

At the beginning of the article, the suburban area where the test drive took place is described using inversion: “Barely a cloud in the sky, nor other motorists to be seen.” If this were written in the normal word order, following the SVO/SVC (subject + verb + object/complement) learned in junior high school, it would become “There was barely a cloud in the sky, and no other motorists were to be seen.” This is grammatically easier to understand and the meaning is clearer, but it also has a more explanatory and simple feel.

In contrast, expressions using inversion are reminiscent of poetry or film narration, bringing the scene to mind. These inversions are used when you want to create a poetic rhythm, tone, and lingering impression. Furthermore, “were to be seen” is used in conjunction with the passive voice, using the infinitive conjugation of the verb “to do” followed by the verb “be.” Simply saying “no other motorists were seen” would convey the fact that there were no other motorists (i.e., cars), but the use of the passive voice infinitive creates a sense of quietness and the feeling that “there is no one there.”

A poetic expression that compares the sound of an engine to music

The sound of the new V12 engine uses a musical metaphor. — A Vanquish test drive report that uses a technique to evoke a scene using only text.

Let me also introduce a poetic expression. The new Vanquish’s 5.2-liter V12 engine changes character powerfully and smoothly once it exceeds 2,500 rpm. This is likened to a musical performance, described as “…V12 extemporizing on the hoof.” Extemporize means to “improvise” something, such as music. “On the hoof” literally means “on the hoof,” but in the UK it is sometimes used with the nuance of “while running” or “while responding instantly.”

The previous section also features the uniquely British expression “on song,” which means “in tune” or “in top form,” and is often used in relation to cars to poetically describe the appealing sound and feel of an engine. Frankel describes the V12 engine this way:

“What is delightful and somewhat breathtaking is the way it is able to change its personality. Once on song above 2500rpm it does the effortless GT thing as if born to it, surging forward, V12 extemporising on the hoof; it is masterly and it is magnificent.”

If we were to translate this into Japanese, taking into account as much nuance as possible, it would be something like this:

“What’s most captivating and breathtaking is how the engine transforms into a completely different character. Once it hits its stride, past 2500 rpm, it accelerates effortlessly, as if born a GT. At that point, the V12 roars as if improvising on the move. The experience is magnificent, and truly sublime.”

Texts are not just for conveying information

The British term "posh" is a combination of elegance and irony. — The British term “posh” is a combination of elegance and irony.

In the previous article, I compared the old and new Porsche 911s with a test drive, and I used casual metaphors. The article, including the choice of words, was simple and easy to understand. In contrast, Frankel’s article this time may be difficult to understand at first glance unless you are very fluent in English.

Britain has a unique culture in which writing not only conveys information but also requires dignity as a “work of art.” This article is a clear example of this. As I mentioned at the beginning, I felt a strong British “posh” quality in this article. It conveys the aesthetics of the brand more than it talks about the car’s performance. Perhaps it was decided that this style was appropriate for Aston Martin, a traditionally British brand.

By the way, depending on the context, “posh” can also have a sarcastic meaning, such as “pretentious” or “annoying.”

PHOTO/ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA

MAGAZINE/ GENROQ June 2025 issue