The New Aston Martin Vanquish | An Icon Returns

Powertrain

With great appreciation of customer desires, Aston Martin has committed to continuing its 25-year dynasty of V12-engined flagships with the most powerful V12 engine yet seen from the brand in its core sports car range. With a class leading 835PS and 1000Nm of torque the new V12 engine is unmatched. So much so that in fact, this engine delivers the highest specific power output ever from an Aston Martin V12 engine at 160PS/Litre. As such the 2024 Vanquish sits at the summit of a relentless evolution, one which has seen the power and torque outputs of Aston Martin’s V12 flagship model almost double since the introduction of the first Project Vantage concept back in 1998.

Hardware highlights of the new V12 engine include a strengthened cylinder block and conrods, redesigned cylinder heads incorporating reprofiled camshafts, plus new intake and exhaust ports. Repositioned spark plugs and new higher flowrate fuel injectors deliver optimised combustion for class leading performance and efficiency gains. In addition, new higher speed, reduced inertia turbochargers deliver increased performance and throttle response.

Exploring some of those highlights in more detail, to help take the new V12 engine to increased levels of performance new reduced inertia turbochargers with a higher maximum speed (+15%), have been fitted to harness the increased energy in the exhaust and to provide increased airflow to the engine. New fuel injectors with 10% higher flowrate enable the engine to reach its peak power while also ensuring it meets its emissions targets.

To make this latest generation Twin-Turbo V12 the most responsive-ever offered, as well as the most powerful, Vanquish gains a new Boost Reserve function. This new technology allows for even more reactive power delivery, particularly beneficial for overtaking manoeuvres as well as dynamic driving.

Boost Reserve increases turbo boost pressure above what would normally be required for any given part throttle position, so it is ready to go when full power is needed. This is done during partial throttle demands, imperceptibly to the driver, by balancing the throttle flap position (to restrict the intake flow), and the intelligent wastegate in the turbo (to fine tune the increased intake pressure) to match what the driver expects. When the driver demands full power/ torque, the throttle releases the accumulated boost pressure for immediate response.

Additional performance gains have been found with the help of Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team technical partner, Valvoline, who have supplied the latest high performance engine oil for Vanquish. Flowing through a larger engine oil cooler with 50% more heat rejection capability, the fully synthetic engine lubricant is kept at its optimal operating temperature, helping to maintain optimum engine oil pressure in all situations.

For the first time on an Aston Martin front-engined V12 sports cars, the renowned ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox is paired with an electronic rear limited slip differential (e-diff). This e-diff is integrated into the electronic stability programme (ESP), providing a direct link to the car’s dynamic behaviour and allowing wheel slip to be managed across the rear axle to optimise traction in all conditions.

Body structure

Such a formidable powerplant demands an equally peerless chassis. One which sets new standards for structural rigidity and provide the ultimate platform for a state-of-the-art suspension system capable of delivering impeccably tuned dynamics.

Like its acclaimed stablemates, DB12 and Vantage, Vanquish is built around a bonded aluminium body structure with double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. Enhanced to deliver more focused and engaging dynamics, additional underbody stiffening components provide a 75% increase in lateral stiffness over Aston Martin’s previous flagship, the DBS 770 Ultimate.

Some 80mm longer in wheelbase (the increase made between the A-pillar and front axle) the chassis has received a stiffer engine cross brace to provide greater torsional rigidity and lateral stiffness between the front suspension towers. This translates into improved mounting stiffness for the Bilstein DTX dampers; new to Vanquish and with a bespoke calibration, enabling more efficient damping performance and enhanced refinement.

A new front undertray and front crossmember bring additional gains in stiffness, the thicker front undertray supporting front subframe’s horizontal stiffness for improved steering feel and response. Re-engineered and repositioned rearwards to increase mounting point stiffness for the double wishbone front suspension, the new crossmember brings tangible improvements in on and off-centre steering feel.

Increased lateral strengthening between the rear suspension towers improves mounting stiffness of the new Bilstein DTX dampers for greater stability and an enhanced feeling of connection between body, suspension and rear axle. Completing the suite of structural improvements, a thicker rear undertray improves horizontal stiffness of the rear subframe horizontal stiffness, increasing rear axle stability and optimising vehicle dynamic balance.

Exterior

With an all-new surface language, Vanquish expresses contemporary elegance through its toned physique, broad stance and fluid curves. The key to achieving such compelling presence is an increased wheelbase; the distance between the A Pillar and the front axle being extended by +80mm to lengthen the bonnet for a rakish and indulgent profile.

By amplifying the front-engined proportions Vanquish expresses a fabulous sense of speed and power, its teardrop form capturing the immense flow of propulsion from front to rear. It also draws from Aston Martin’s deep connection with motorsport, the design team taking inspiration from iconic Aston Martins of the past and present. In particular, the intricate functional detailing found on today’s Formula One cars, and the clean, flowing shapes of the fiendishly fast ‘Project Cars’ developed from series production models to race at Le Mans during the 1960s.

This motorsport DNA can be seen in some of the Vanquish’s defining features; the sculpted bonnet, with F1® inspired thermos louvres to help cool the V12 engine, and the distinctive Kamm Tail which serves to reduce speed-sapping drag and was such a distinctive feature of the Project Cars. The seamless incorporation of these and other details demonstrates an instinctive mastery of design form and technical function.

Interior

Craftmanship and precision is a core theme running through the Vanquish interior. Designed purposefully as a 2 seat flagship, Vanquish’s interior is focused on delivering enjoyment to the driver and sharing the visceral experience with just one other.

Building upon the new interior architecture that has taken such a leap forward in all Aston Martin’s next generation sports cars, Vanquish has received a bespoke interior layout. The centre console has been lowered into a horizontal plane for a greater feeling of clarity, space and luxury.

Vanquish interior also utilises a blend of materials to create sections with bold visible lines to boost the feeling of luxury and quality. Regardless of jewellery pack specification, a subtle bright chrome horizon line replaces a traditional stitch line across the dashboard.