The DBS, which was discontinued after 2023, is de facto replaced by the Vanquish nameplate once more. It will be more expensive and have more power than the DB12 and Vantage, making the new 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish the most powerful and expensive GT car. Delivery to the US will start just before the end of the year, and the price will start at $429,000 plus location. At Aston Martin, you’ll see a lot of V-names. The lineup includes the base-level sports car Vantage, the multimillion-dollar hypercar Valkyrie, the hybrid supercar Valhalla, the ultra-limited-production model Valour that just came out, a different car called Valiant, and the convertible Vanquish. The latest version of the brand’s GT cars has long been seen as the best. The first generation came out in 2001, and the second generation in 2012. A new top-of-the-line GT with the nameplate Vanquish is taking the place of the recently retired DBS. Moreover, the new Vanquish is different from the DB12 or DBS, even though it looks like one step down from those cars. It is, however, one that keeps the past very much in mind. The Vanquish is different in many ways, such as not having electric turbochargers, all-wheel drive, a dual-clutch transmission, rear-axle steering, or hybrid help. Other automakers are moving away from 12-cylinder engines and toward smaller ones, often with electric help, so the car’s newly created V-12 engine is likely more interesting. A new V12 “The V-12 now holds a unique position in the market, reserved exclusively for very special products,” says Alex Long, head of product and marketing. He explains, “Pairing the V-12 with a special product ensures continued demand. We won’t bring the V-12 down from the Vanquish—that marks a strategic shift.” Long also mentions, “This engine will be with us at least until the end of the decade. It’s built for today, but it also has room for future evolution.” Maintaining the same 5.2-liter displacement as the previous Aston V-12, this engine is entirely new, according to James Owen, senior manager of vehicle engineering operations. “It’s a new engine from the ground up,” he explains. “Nothing has been carried over from the previous V-12. It features a new block, new heads, new intakes, new exhaust ports, and new turbos.” The exhaust is the only thing that powers the turbochargers, which have an overboost feature. Owen also says that the engine goes faster than the one before it, even though its peak output changes a lot, from 2000 to 5000 rpm. Instead of 739 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, this version had 824 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. According to Owen, it was crucial to move beyond our previous experiences. Its top speed is 214 mph, which is a new record for the brand. From 0 to 60 mph, it takes 3.2 seconds, and from 0 to 100 mph, it takes 6.2 seconds. Giving Power to Pavement Like other Aston Martins, the V-12 is driven by a ZF eight-speed torque-converter transaxle in the back that is connected to a carbon-fiber propeller. For the first time, however, the 12 has an electronically controlled back differential. Thanks to its front-mid engine and rear transaxle, the Vanquish has a 49/51 weight balance between the front and rear wheels. People can choose between a stainless steel or titanium exhaust system. The titanium system weighs 23 pounds less. When Aston experts designed the exhaust tone, they looked at the original Vanquish S for ideas. The titanium system, on the other hand, sounds higher than the stainless steel system, which sounds lower down. Like the DB12, the frame has Bilstein DTX dampers. The 21-inch wheels come with specially made Pirelli P Zero tires that come in summer or winter compounds and are sized 275/35-ZR21 up front and 325/30ZR21 in the back. Both tires have parts inside that make them quieter. Standard brakes are made of carbon ceramic. The computer stability control system, which came from the DB12, was tuned to work with the Vantage. The traction control system has eight levels of participation and a full-off setting, just like the DB12. A New Point of View The new motor equipment is protected by a new skin made of carbon-fiber body panels. CEO and executive vice president Marek Reichman led the team that worked on the car. They wanted it to look like it had more speed than the brand’s current GT models. The wide sills make the car look like it’s firmly grounded on the road, while the deep insets in the bodysides make it look lighter. The bodywork at the top of the grille sticks out into the wind, and the back has multi-element taillights that you can’t see until they’re on. He says of the design, “I can see the present, the past, and the future in this car.” More than three inches longer than the DBS, the length is longer than that of the DB12 or Vantage. The difference is between the front axle and the A-pillar. A grille with 13% more surface area helps cool the engine, and matrix LED lamps are used. The cabin is unique to this car and can only fit two people, but it looks like the cabin in the DB12. To quote him, “If you want to detox from digital completely, you can drive the car as a physical object, which is really important.” There are actual controls for all features that affect the driver, like drive modes, engine stop/start, the electronic stability program, and the active exhaust. Roller switches are also sometimes used to control the temperature. Also, the entertainment system wasn’t just a Benz unit with a new shell; Aston made it. For an extra 23 pounds, you can order a carbon-fiber roof instead of the usual roof made of fixed glass. “Obviously, in the past, we’ve had Volantes—but not for a good while,” Long said. The Vanquish is only offered as a coupe for now, though. The price has gone up compared to the DBS 770 Ultimate and is now over $400,000 at $429,000 plus destination. It’s possible that this won’t come as a surprise to you. It is planned that shipping to the US will begin before the end of the year. How important is this V-car compared to the other cars that Aston makes? Reichman states, “This is our beating heart.”
