Aston Martin Vanquish

It’s as if our positions have been swapped

“So, let me hear your opinion after comparing them.”

Renato Bisignani asked me this question as I stepped out of the new Vanquish after a morning session. I’d had a chance to chat with him at length the night before my test drive, and I’d told him that Maranello’s 12-cylinder model had made quite an impression on me recently.

As his name suggests, he is Italian and a former resident of Maranello (and also an F1 driver). He is a marketing and communications expert and is currently a director at Aston Martin. It is no exaggeration to say that Aston Martin Lagonda’s latest strategies, from products to F1, are being created by former Maranello residents.

“It’s hard to choose one. If I had to choose, I’d rather use the Dodichichi Lindori during the week and the Vanquish for weekend fun.”

I don’t know if he was satisfied with that answer, but that was my first impression. It was as if the two brands had swapped positions. The Dodici-Clindri was endlessly refined, silky, and smooth. The new Vanquish, on the other hand, remained dramatic, gorgeous, and wild. It also had handling performance that was completely different from previous V12+FR Astons like the DBS and the old Vanquish.

Maximum torque is 1000Nm

In any case, the maximum output of 835 PS is undoubtedly a specification that takes Maranello’s splendid horse into consideration. Equipped with two large turbochargers, the maximum torque is advertised as a whopping 1000 Nm, 300 Nm more than the Maranello-made one. When it comes to transmissions that can withstand such powerful torque, the ZF 8-speed automatic is the one to go for. This is one of the reasons why many of the latest high-performance turbo and hybrid cars boast a maximum torque figure of 1000 Nm.

Anyway, I’d like to report back on my impressions of driving around Sardinia in an Epsilon Black.

I’ve driven around here before. The roads are fairly well maintained, but not very wide. I thought it would be a tough ride for a large, long-nosed GT coupe with over 800 PS. That was before I set off.

The best Aston Martin FR ever

Within five minutes of starting to drive on a gentle uphill road, with the Costa Smeralda occasionally in sight, I got the impression that the car was quite different from previous Aston Martin 12-cylinder FR road cars. I felt a sense of unity, as if I was wrapped in muscles, rather than being inside a skeleton. NVH performance has also improved dramatically. The ride feel is as solid as the DBS, but it’s much more comfortable.

The positive impression continued even when I entered the country roads. Not only was the width of the car negligible, but the length of the nose was also completely unnoticeable. This feeling of unity with the car is a real benefit, as even when passing large trucks and tractors (with their rotary going over the center line!) on tight curves, I was able to pass them without flinching because they knew exactly where I was driving.

The handling is also the most pleasant of all the Aston Martin FR models to date. You can accurately trace the line you want without worrying about the length or width of the car. The feeling itself is even comparable to the latest Vantage. The front axle is firmly planted, and there is also a high degree of freedom in left and right movement. This is why you can attack exactly as you want.

Rapidly evolving rear control

In addition to the 51:49 front/rear weight distribution, the newly developed damper system and the integrated control system for the chassis and brakes are also noteworthy. The stability during cornering is so good that it’s hard to believe it’s a high-powered FR car. The rear wheel braking control in particular was excellent. In this area, the Vantage is better than the DB12, and the Vanquish is better than the Vantage, and there are constant improvements.

What surprised me the most was the mid-range acceleration. I reached 200km/h in no time while accelerating to overtake. And yet it felt stable and didn’t feel like I was going that fast. After seeing the numbers, I quickly relaxed my right foot. The power of the 1000Nm maximum torque is, of course, a benefit of the new acceleration preparation function called “Boost Reserve.” The exhaust sound was also quite heroic. The sound was also lovely, surpassing that of the Italian model.

SPECIFICATIONS

Aston Martin Vanquish

Body size: Length 4850, Width 1980, Height 1290mm

Wheelbase: 2885mm

Vehicle weight (EU): 1910kg

Engine: V12 DOHC twin-turbo

Total displacement: 5204cc

Maximum power: 614kW (835PS) / 6500rpm

Maximum torque: 1000Nm (102kgm) / 2500-5000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Drive system: RWD

Suspension type: Front double wishbone, rear multi-link

Brakes: Front and rear carbon ceramic ventilated discs

Tire size (rim width): Front 275/35ZR21 (9.5J), Rear 325/30ZR21 (11.5J)

Top speed: 345km/h

Acceleration from 0 to 100km/h: 3.3 seconds

Environmental performance (EU combined): 312g/km

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