The Aston Martin Vanquish made its official entry to the grand tourer market as a replacement for the aging Virage in 2001. Designed by Ian Callum, the man who also penned the gorgeous Jaguar F-Type, the Vanquish was launched with a 5.9-liter V-12 rated at 450 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Production of the first-gen model ended in 2007, when the DBS rolled out as a replacement. Based on the DBR9 race car, the DBS featured the same engine, but output was increased to 510 horses and 420 pound-feet. The Vanquish name returned for the 2012 model year as an evolution of the DBS. Inspired by the exclusive One-77 inside and out, the new Vanquish kept the company's proven 5.9-liter V-12, now squeezing no less than 565 ponies and 457 pound-feet. Going into 2015, the Vanquish remains basically unchanged inside and out, but receives an extensive drivetrain upgrade that includes a brand-new autobox and minor engine tweaks.

Although output gains are slight, the coupe's performance has increased dramatically, as the 2015 Vanquish ascends into a league reserved for sports cars that can return three-second 0-to-60 sprints. How quick is the updated Vanquish and what's new for the 2015 model year? Read on to find out.

UPDATE 02/15/2013: Aston Martin has unveiled yet another cool video for its latest Vanquish supercar, this time presenting the engineering behind this incredible super GT. Enjoy!

Updated 08/06/2014: Aston Martin unveiled details on the 2015 Vanquish which will be put on sale in the third quarter of 2014. The main addition for 2015 model year is a newly developed Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic transmission. Details after the jump.

Hit the jump to read more about the new Aston Martin Vanquish and decide for yourself.

2014 - 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 - 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 568 @ 6650
  • Torque: 465 @ 5500
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

As expected and promised, the exterior of this new Vanquish steals a few styling cues from the One-77 supercar, but there are no drastic similarities to make this appear like a baby- One-77. Thank you Aston Martin.

Starting at the front end, you will notice that there is a completely different front lip. Aston did away with the gaping mouth look that the 2012 DBS had and replaced it with a lower lip and a small rectangular mouth that will likely act as a front-lip spoiler.

The 2012 DBS features rather svelte air dams on either side of the front fascia, whereas the new Vanquish will feature larger air ducts, giving the front end a sportier, racing appearance. The headlight assemblies appear to be very similar to the 2012 model year, but the new Vanquish’s headlights look to come to a harder point on the front, giving it a meaner look and of course they are featuring LED lights.

The hood is also a similar shape to its 2012 counterpart, but the hood on the new Vanquish has nostril-style heat extractors that sit further apart from one another. Short of the nostril repositioning, the hood is nearly identical between the old DBS and new Vanquish.

The front fenders seem nearly identical to the 2012 model year’s fenders and feature the same heat extractor split in half with a chrome strip that runs onto the front part of the door. The most obvious difference down the side of the new Aston Martin Vanquish is a low indentation, reminiscent of the indentation created by the heat extractors on the One-77, on the front fender, door, and rear quarter panel. This definitely gives the new Vanquish' side profile a lot more character than the 2012 model year.

The roofline on the new Vanquish is slightly revised, as it features a little higher peak, which is likely to help increase headroom, but it quickly slopes back downward and finishes in the same fastback-like manner as the 2012 model year. The rear quarter panel arches are slightly more aggressive, giving it an appearance closer to the One-77 supercar.

The rear end is the most redesigned part of the new Vanquish. The first notable difference is a significantly larger and more aggressive spoiler than the one found on the current model. Aston Martin did us all a huge favor and eliminated the god awful and overused clear taillights in favor of more traditional red ones, but the overall shape and design of the taillights is the same as on the 2012 model.

You will also find that the rear bumper and exhaust exits are far more refined in the newest rendition of the Vanquish. The rear bumper actually is complete, as opposed to having the plastic insert that the 2012 model year does, and it features two cutouts where the exhaust pipes protrude.

New for 2015

The Vanquish's exterior remains unchanged for the 2015 model year, save for the new ten-spoke, forged alloy wheels. Available in a bevy of finishes, the new shoes are more than just a visually enhancing accessory. Weighing nearly 15.5 pounds less than the standard wheel, the alloys add to Aston Martin's effort to further reduce the coupe's overall curb weight. Aside from the wheels, the Vanquish gained new paint color options. The new palette includes the spectacular Diavolo Red, a color previously limited to the V12 Zagato.

2014-2015 Aston Martin Vanquish - Exterior Dimensions

Length 4692 mm (184.7”) 4728 mm (186”) (including number plate plinth)
Width (excluding door mirrors) 1912 mm (75.2”)
Width (including door mirrors) 2067 mm (81.3”)
Height 1294 mm (50.9”)
Wheelbase 2740 mm (107.9”)
Weight 1739 kg (3834 lb)
Weight Distribution 51%/49% (Front/Rear)


Interior

The new Vanquish will be offered in both 2+2 or 2+0 configurations and features a newly designed and significantly more spacious cabin and a boot that, at 368 liters, is more than 60% larger than that of the DBS.

Aston Martin opted for an all-new interior using features and technologies from the One-77 supercar. The new Vanquish will be trimmed in Fine Luxmil and semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, all hand-stitched, while the center-stack was inspired by the One-77 and features a new infotainment system and improved usability. Carbon fiber is among the many options customers have when designing the interior of the Vanquish.

New for 2015

Cockpit updates are limited to new trim color options. The blue-black Dark Knight combo and Fandango Pink are among the new leather trims customers can wrap the Vanquish's cabin in. All at extra cost, of course.

Drivetrain

It is well known that the engine will be the same 5.9-liter V-12 setup that the 2012 model year utilizes, but with mild modifications. With these mods, the V-12 engine will produce significantly more power: 565 HP at 6,750 rpm and a peak torque of 457 lbs-ft at 5,500 rpm. As a result, the car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and up to a top speed of 186 mph. The engine is mated to a Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic gearbox that ensures some of the most impressive performance figures.

New for 2015

For 2015, Aston Martin dropped a brand-new transmission in the Vanquish. The new unit, a Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic developed in cooperation with ZF, enables the coupe to sprint from naught to 60 mph half a second quicker than the 2014 model, reducing it from 4.1 to only 3.6 seconds. Top speed has also increased, with the Brits claiming the Vanquish can reach 201 mph. More good news come from the fuel economy and CO2 emissions department, as both figures have seen significant improvements. The Vanquish guzzles seven percent less gasoline and emits about ten percent less carbon dioxide. Sure, the V-12-powered beast is no Toyota Prius, but these improvements are essential considering the restrictive regulations that are looming in.

Speaking of V-12 power, the engine received a couple of tweaks of its own. A revised exhaust and a reconfigured engine management system add three extra horses and eight pound-feet of torque to the already powerful mill. The 5.9-liter unit now delivers 568 ponies and 465 pound-feet of twist. Granted, the update is far from being impressive, but the new gearbox saves the day by slashing 0.5 seconds off the Vanquish's 0-to-60 mph time.

2014-2015 Aston Martin Vanquish - Drivetrain/Specifications

Type All alloy quad overhead cam 48-valve 5935 cc V12
Drivetrain Front mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
Exhaust system Fully catalyzed stainless steel exhaust system with cross pipes
Compression ratio 11:1
Maximum power 568 HP @ 6650 RPM
Maximum torque 465 LB-FT @ 5500 RPM
Acceleration 0-60 mph 3.6 seconds
Top speed 201 mph


Suspension and Braking

Aston Martin hasn’t released any information on the suspension and braking systems yet, so we anticipate that the new Vanquish will ride on the same chassis as the current DBS, giving it the same braking and suspension systems. In that case, the suspension will be an adaptive damping system. The front end will feature an independent double wishbone-style system with an anti-roll bar, monotube dampers, and anti-dive geometry, which prevents nose diving on hard braking.

The rear suspension will be essentially the same setup as the front. The only difference would be the geometry of the rear suspension which is set up to reduce squatting and lifting, thereby increasing acceleration and grip, and keeping the tires on the ground.

The front brakes feature six-piston calipers that squeeze onto 398 mm (15.66-inch) carbon ceramic ventilated discs. The rear brakes have four-piston calipers that squeeze 360 mm (14.17-inch) carbon ceramic ventilated discs. As expected of a high-performance luxury ride, the DBS includes an electronic brakeforce distribution system and traction control.

New for 2015

The quicker, 2015 model year Vanquish is being kept on its best behavior by a set of uprated dampers, which are 15 percent stiffer at the front and 35 percent stiffer at the rear. The new dampers improve the dynamic characteristics of the car and, in conjunction with a revised steering ECU, helps return better handling. Additionally, the Vanquish received a retuned brake booster and redesigned rear suspension bushes that are 20% stiffer than its predecessors.

Pricing

In Europe, deliveries will begin in late in 2012. Prices will start from £189,995, which is about $297,000 at the current exchange rates.

For 2015, pricing will be unveiled towards the end of the year, when the updated Vanquish is scheduled to arrive in dealerships.

Competition

Jaguar XKR-S

Although there's a huge pricing gap between the two, the XKR-S is what we like to call a traditional competitor to the Vanquish. Its smaller, 5.0-liter V-8 engine is powerful enough when the British gran tourer wears an "S" badge on its trunk and its design is equally menacing, albeit not particularly enchanting. With 550 horsepower and 501 pound-feet of torque on tap the XKR-S screams from naught to 60 mph in only 3.9 seconds. Quicker than the Vanquish until 2014, the British feline will have to step out of the way in 2015 as far as performance figures go.

Its six-speed automatic transmission is capable of sustaining a top speed of 186 mph, which also lags behind that of the Vanquish, now able to roar up to 201 mph. The bad news is that the XKR-S won't live beyond the 2015 model. On the other hand, you can snatch one for as low as $132,000 before it goes out of production. It's not cheap by all means, but definitely affordable when compared to the Vanquish.

Maserati GranTurismo

The GranTurismo may be a little slow for the Vanquish, but it's a grand tourer we simply can't ignore. Like the Jaguar, the GranTurismo also uses V-8 power in the shape of a 4.7-liter block. Mated to a ZF six-speed automatic, the mill churns 454 ponies and 380 pound-feet of torque, a respectable figure given the trident on the front grille. Able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, the GranTurismo is a full second slower than the Vanquish. As far as top speed is concerned, customers will have to settle for 185 mph. Far from impressive when compared to the mind-boggling 201 mph that come with the Vanquish, but it's not like you're getting up there on a daily basis.

Pricing for the 2015 Maserati GranTurismo begins from $126,500, relatively affordable to what Aston Martin is asking for the Vanquish.

Ferrari F12Berlineta

On the more extreme side of the grand tourer market lies Ferrari F12Berlinetta. We say "extreme" because this Prancing Horse comes with no less than 740 horsepower and 508 pound-feet of torque, which are enough to obliterate anything in its segment plus a various selection of supercars. The output comes from a 6.3-liter V-12 engine connected to an F1 dual-clutch transmission and pushes the front-engined Ferrari from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. Top speed sits at 211 mph, making the F12Berlineta one of the fastest vehicles on the market.

On the outside, the F12Berlinetta screams “Supercar,” whereas the Aston Martin is more of a luxury sports car. That’s not to say that the F12 Berlinetta is a better looking car, it is just more muscular looking than the Vanquish. All these feats come with a hefty price tag, as the F12Berlinetta fetches well over $300,000. The Aston Martin Vanquish doesn't sound that expensive now, does it?

Conclusion

For a buyer that prefers sleek styling and a luxurious look and feel over pure unadulterated muscle looks, the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish is the way to go. If you prefer the muscular look, then the way to go is the Ferrari.

As we said, pricing is still unknown, so that may ultimately make up your mind. What we do know is that both the Jaguar XKR-S and the Maserati GranTurismo are more affordable, albeit less powerful. If money is no object and you're not a huge fan of British craftsmanship, then the F12Berlinetta is your best bet.