What we have here is the new flagship model in Aston Martin’s lineup. The superb brand new Vantage costs 190,000 pounds (starting price) and it is a production model in comparison to the previous exclusive Zagato V12 and One-77 models which were limited edition cars. The vehicle will be launched later on this summer and clients will start getting their cars in early 2013.
The first car wearing the Vanquish name debuted back in 1998 as a concept while between the years 2001 and 2007 Aston Martin made the production version. This new and refreshed model benefits from a considerably stiffer Generation 4 version of the company’s adaptable bonded aluminum monocoque chassis (VH), while under its hood there’s a reworked version of the firm’s impressive V12 6.0-liter power unit that has received new heads, variable valve timing, larger throttle bodies and inlet valves, along with new manifolds for the sole purpose of increasing power and torque. This updated version of the engine meets the upcoming clean-air legislation in the United States.
The outer panels of the new Vanquish are made from carbon fiber, which is a novelty for a production model. The front of the car borrows a few styling cues from the very exclusive One-77 which cost no less than 1.2 million pounds. This is the result of a three-year long project that was led by the company’s chief exterior designer Miles Nurnberger. It adopts an integral rear wing and the car is sitting on a skirt of exposed carbon fiber.
Inside the cabin of the new Aston Martin Vanquish there is an entirely new cockpit that comes with a fresh new look of the prominent center stack, along with new ventilation and hi-fi controls, as well as smaller and lighter screens. Instead of the jewel-like instruments seen in most AMs built since 2003, the new Vanquish features analog dials that look more technical and are considerably easier to read. In order to provide more room and also offer the feeling of a more spacious cabin, the fascias volumes have been lowered and moved 20 mm away from the car’s occupants. Since this is a proper Aston Martin, expect to find the same classy materials, rich colors and the excellent hand-stitching technique.
It has the same wheelbase as the DB9, measuring 2740mm as well as the one of the model which it replaces in AM’s lineup, the DBS. However, it is a little bit longer, wider and taller compared to those two models while at the same time the VH structure is 30% stiffer in comparison to the one used on the DBS. This achievement was possible by implementing a brand new design of the engine brace, while this new Gen 4 structure brings several improvements as far as the anodizing and bonding techniques. In addition, the boot space has been improved by no less than 60% in comparison to the DBS.
Compared to the DBS, the new Vantage tips the scales at 1,739 kg which makes it 56 kg lighter. The massive V12 power unit is installed 19mm lower in the chassis so that in case of an impact with pedestrians it can offer a bigger bonnet crush clearance. At the same time, the car’s center of gravity is reduced by 10mm.
This V12 engine has received a wide array of improvements, with the most important one being the inclusion of double variable valve timing, along with a power and torque increase. The engine is capable of developing an impressive 565 hp (55 hp more than before) @ 6,750 rpm, while the peak torque of 457 lb.-ft is reached at 5,500 rpm. The power is sent to the back wheels with the help of a tailshaft made from carbon fiber and through the torque tube manufactured from alloy, reaching the latest generation of the 6-speed automatic gearbox developed by ZF which is now 30% faster when changing gears in comparison to previous versions.
As far as the suspension is concerned, the all-new Aston Martin Vanquish sits on forged double wishbones for both front and rear axles, featuring adaptive dampers and the latest iteration of the chassis stability system along with traction control, which is adjustable by offering three different modes to choose from. The stopping power is provided by the carbon ceramic brakes which improve retardation by 5% and also diminish the noise.
Source: Aston Martin via Autocar.co.uk
