If you like your muscle cars to be technically straight forward with none of that turbo or supercharged carry on, then you will love the Aston Martin Vanquish S, but, make the most of it because this will be the last of the normally aspirated V12s from Aston. From now on, you'll be getting engines with a turbo, or two, bolted on.
The Vanquish is a stunning looking car. This latest model has been given a few styling tweaks which make it even more aggressive yet actually improves the aerodynamic features of the car. The suspension has been revised to not only sharpen handling but also to improve the ride. Bearing in mind that this is a 200mph, 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, super car, the ride is uncannily smooth. Even at town speeds you’re not at risk of losing any fillings. You can adjust the dampers to ‘sport mode’ which tightens the handling but, unless you are either heading for a racetrack or aiming for a bit of fun on the twisty stuff, the car is extremely refined left in normal mode.
As with all Aston Martins, the soundtrack from the engine and exhaust is an absolute joy. This latest V12 595bhp has the most glorious burble at tickover. Suddenly, waiting at traffic lights becomes something to look forward to. Firing-up the Vanquish S is not subtle. You’ll waken the slumbering residents in a neighbouring county. Press D on the centre console (no levers for the 8-speed autoÉjust buttons), drop the handbrake (yes, it’s a manual parking brake) and head off for an adventure.
When you get onto the open road, the Vanquish settles into a relaxed cruise. It is the ideal GT, Grand Tourer car. However, floor the throttle and the car hurls itself at the horizon. The noise and acceleration are outstanding. Roadholding levels are staggering. Put it this way, your courage will run out long before the car’s ability to hang on does. You’ll need to be doing something incredibly stupid to get into trouble.
The interior is a work of art. It has spider’s web stitching all over the placeÉit looks wonderful. Okay, some of the electronics like the sat nav screen look a bit dated, but everything else is utterly gorgeous.
As for running costs and price, needless to say that with a 6.0 litre V12 engine earning its keep under the bonnet, it will suck juice at a rate of knots. Aston Martin reckon the Vanquish S will do a shade over 21mpg. HmmmÉ..you’ll be lucky. However, with a starting price of £199,950, we suspect that you might be able to stretch to filling the tank.
The Vanquish S is arguably one of the most handsome Aston Martins and is certainly one of the most accomplished. It may be the end of the line for ‘traditional’ Astons in that cars like the DB11 are the future for Aston Martin, but it is still a remarkable, wonderful piece of machinery and art.