Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish is the brand's flagship high-performance, super-premium sports coupe or "Volante" convertible.

Reviving the Vanquish name used in the early 2000s, the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish is an all-new vehicle. The previous Vanquish amounted to a period take on the same basic concepts, however, with its pursuit of extreme style, performance, and exclusivity.

Manufactured from 2001-2005 as the V12 Vanquish, the first Vanquish used a 6.0-liter V-12 engine rated at 450 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Sold as either a 2+2 or a "2+0", the V12 Vanquish used several high-tech methods in its contraction, including a bonded chassis, extensive use of aluminum and composites, a drive-by-wire throttle, and an electro-hydraulic manual transmission. As with many Astons before and after, the V12 Vanquish also played a supporting role in a James Bond film.

The second iteration of the car was known as the Vanquish S, and was built from 2004-2007. More a collection of revisions than a redesign, the primary mechanical difference was an increase in power to 514 horsepower. Slight revisions to the exterior and interior marked the new Vanquish S to skilled observers. A limited run of the 40 final cars built in the line were called the Vanquish S Ultimate Edition, and received a special Ultimate Black paint scheme and special interior touches.

Inspired by the Project AM310 Concept, the new 2014 Vanquish marries Aston's characteristic style--still traceable to the original Vanquish from some angles--with a carbon fiber body and its most powerful V-12 engine to date. That 6.0-liter V-12 engine is rated at 565 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. All of the power is routed to the rear wheels through a six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Despite the carbon fiber body, the Vanquish's extensive luxury and and aluminum-and-steel chassis--the latest advancement on Aston Martin's VH platform--result in a curb weight of 3,900 pounds. The less-than-sprighty weight lends a substantial feeling to the Vanquish's movement, encouraging smooth and effortless cruising, but discouraging any attempts at truly sporty behavior--despite its 4.1-second 0-60 mph capability and 183 mph top speed.

The Vanquish's equipment list is excellent, as you might expect from a car that stickers at $280,000 and up, including a fantastic 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system, iPod and iPhone integration, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, WiFi, and navigation.

Of course, bespoke builds here are the norm; buyers can also specify nearly any custom option they can imagine for the Vanquish, as well as nearly any color combination or upholstery material as well, through the company's personalization services.

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