Aston Martin has revealed the DBS’s replacement, and has chosen to resurrect the ‘Vanquish’ nameplate for it. The new Vanquish is based on the VH architecture, which addresses one of the few faults of the DBS – cabin space. It can be had as a 2+2 or a dedicated two-seater, and the boot space has increased by as much as 60 per cent! However, it hasn’t turned into a tame beast, because it is the most powerful Aston, second only to the limited-edition One-77.
A reworked 6.0-litre V12 generates 565bhp and 620Nm, taking it to 100kmph in 4.1 seconds and onto 295kmph. Power is fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic or sequential manual gearbox and a carbonfibre prop shaft. The body panels are made from carbonfibre as well, and the car’s torsional rigidity has jumped by over 25 per cent, meaning better handling. Of course, it is a grand tourer and not a dedicated sports car, so creature comforts abound: among them an interior swathed in leather, parking sensors, a 1000W Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker audio system, Garmin sat-nav, iPod integration and, interestingly, the capability for wi-fi. The usual mile-long list of options is available, including different alloys, different colours and finishes for the grille, wheels and interior, a One-77 steering wheel, personalized sill plates and a ‘smoker’s pack’.
Deliveries of the new Vanquish will begin in Europe late this year, after the car is placed on display at the Paris Motor Show in September. It is priced at Rs 1.6 crore before taxes and duties.
