- New Aston Martin Vanquish replaces the DBS Superleggera
- Horsepower, luxury, and size are all up
- Aston Martin will limit production of the new Vanquish to 1,000 units per year
Aston Martin has a new Vanquish on its hands, but it isn’t the mid-engined Vanquish supercar shown as a concept five years ago.
The new Vanquish, which sails into showrooms late this year as a 2025 model the U.S., follows the same front-engined grand tourer path as its predecessors, as well as the DBS Superleggera which it replaces.
The car represents the third generation of the Vanquish nameplate, and is currently the sole V-12 model in the Aston Martin lineup. It packs a powerful 824-hp punch, courtesy of a new engine derived from the DBS Superleggera’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V-12. The displacement stays the same but the power rating is a major step in performance over the DBS which has 715 hp in standard guise and 759 hp in its DBS Ultimate runout special.
The extra power is courtesy of upgrades like extra boost pressure, strengthened internals, new cylinder heads incorporating reprofiled camshafts, plus new intake and exhaust ports. New fuel injectors and new turbos are also fitted. The latter deliver higher speeds and reduced inertia, resulting in increased performance and throttle response.
The engine is mated to a rear-mounted 8-speed automatic transmission via a carbon-fiber prop shaft, and drive is to the rear wheels only. An electronic limited-slip differential is also fitted at the rear. According to Aston Martin, the big coupe will hustle to 60 mph from rest in 3.2 seconds and top out at 214 mph.
2025 Aston Martin Vanquish
The DBS Superleggera was already big for a coupe but the Vanquish has grown several inches. Total length is close to 191 inches, versus 185.6 inches for the DBS. Most of the extra length is between the A-pillar and front axle, resulting in different proportions to those of the DBS. A larger grille, new headlights with matrix LED technology, a panoramic glass roof, and a large black panel at the rear all result in a dramatically different look from the DBS.
Stiffness has been increased for the bonded aluminum platform underpinning the car, thanks in part to a stiffer engine cross brace and thicker undertrays. According to Aston Martin, there’s a 75% increase in lateral stiffness over the DBS Superleggera. Double wishbone suspension is used up front and a multi-link setup at the rear, and at each corner the engineers have fitted Bilstein’s DTX dampers which have been given a unique tune for the Vanquish. GT, Sports, and Sports+ modes offer varying levels of damping force.
A 21-inch forged wheel wrapped in a bespoke Pirelli P Zero tire sits at each corner and houses a carbon-ceramic brake rotor as standard. For improved speeds when entering a corner, Aston Martin includes a Corner Braking feature that uses more rear-end braking to enable the driver to brake later entering a corner. The system works with other chassis systems, like slip torque vectoring, to help maintain stability.
Inside, an uncluttered dash with a similar interface and infotainment system to what’s found in the DB12, new Vantage, and latest DBS can be found. There’s a digital gauge cluster (10.3 inches) and infotainment screen (10.3 inches), plus physical center console controls that do away with the DBS Superleggera’s outdated touchpad and scroller wheel borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin. An Aston Martin app provides various additional features via subscription (free for the first three years).
A sporty bucket seat is standard but a performance seat option with carbon-fiber seat backs can be added as an alternative. At the rear of the cabin, the almost comical rear seats that were featured in the DBS Superleggera have been replaced by a sculpted rear cross brace and storage space for luggage. Aston Martin offers its own leather bags that perfectly fit into the recessed storage areas. A 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system is included as standard.
Aston Martin said it plans to limit the car’s production to 1,000 units annually, for worldwide sale. Order books are open and deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of the year. A price tag hasn’t been mentioned.
The Vanquish serves as the flagship of Aston Martin’s front-engined lineup. However, the automaker this year will also launch the mid-engined Valhalla that will sit atop the lineup and also usher in plug-in hybrid technology at the brand. The Valhalla will skip the V-12, though. It will instead use a version of the AMG-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 common to the Vantage and DB12.