Is there anyone who wouldn’t like to get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin?
It’s over 100 years since Bamford & Martin Ltd’s first successful run at the Aston Hill Climb, and since then the name Aston Martin has become synonymous with luxury and performance – the marque of choice for movie stars, monarchs and, most notably, Mr Bond.
And this year has seen the launch of a bang up-to-date Vanquish: the jewel in the Aston Martin crown and a car which, in the manufacturer’s very own words, represents “the height of our design, engineering, technology and craftsmanship.”
Aston Martin has even gone so far as to describe the 2015 Vanquish as: “the greatest car we’ve ever produced”. So, has anything changed or is it more of the same from Aston Martin?
The 2015 Vanquish – Something old…
The thing with the Vanquish is that it doesn’t really need to change – even as its rivals get faster and more aggressive-looking, they still can’t compete with the air of exclusivity an Aston Martin offers, so there’s not really much that needs changing.
So the Vanquish still runs on the old 5.2 litre V12 engine, and while this can’t match its more modern rivals for raw power, it sounds and responds like no other engine out there – humming in the low revs, roaring in the higher revs – and the absence of any turbos means the V12 is almost perfectly proportional and linear, responding to the slightest tap of the accelerator.
And although the suspension has been firmed up a bit and the dampers stiffened, it still feels a lot like last year’s incarnation. This is no bad thing as it’s still very much a driver’s car and it’s hydraulic power steering reminds you just how much you lose with fully electric systems.
…and something new
So, what’s new on the 2015 Vanquish?
The most noticeable change between this year’s and last year’s model is the new eight-speed automatic transmission, and although it’s the same ZF gearbox that adorns plenty other sports models, it’s been completely re-engineered to fit the Vanquish’s transaxle layout.
This has a noticeable effect on the performance of the new model Vanquish – where its predecessor could hit a top speed of 183mph, the 2015 version has been clocked doing 201mph.
And if it’s an economy boost you’re after, you get around 2mpg more from the new Vanquish when driving extra-urban, that is at speeds of 39mph or more – not a great saving, but a saving all the same.
What’s the verdict?
If you love driving, it’s near impossible to not love the Vanquish.
There are fewer dashboard gadgets than you’d expect in a top a marque car that’s been made in 2015; a case in point being the dashboard doesn’t even have a touch sensitive screen. Nonetheless, the in-car entertainment system is spot on and there are few greater automotive pleasures than cruising at high speed in a Vantage – it’s what it was made to do!
Although its rivals are getting faster, harder and stronger, none of them can match the character of an Aston Martin.
You’ve probably noticed that I’m a bit of a car enthusiast. That’s because I also work as an automotive journalist, in addition to writing for the leading car buying service webuyanycar.com.
