The second-generation Aston Martin Vanquish broke cover in 2012 when it replaced the DBS V12 and revived a nameplate Aston Martin had previously used between 2001 to 2007. Essentially an evolution of the DBS design-wise, the Vanquish also sports a few One-77-inspired cues that give it a unique appearance in the Aston Martin lineup. Five years old as of 2017, the Vanquish has already gained a mild update by now, but 2017 brought a more comprehensive mid-cycle facelift.

While not as fancy as the limited-edition Zagato model, the standard Vanquish Volante now sports notable updates inside and out and a more powerful engine under the hood. Much like the first-gen model, the current Vanquish received an "S" badge with the facelift. Usually used for higher-performance models by many brands, Aston Martin’s "S" specification now stands for mid-cycle upgrades and extra power. Expect the Vanquish S Volante to remain on the market for two to three years before it will be replaced by a redesigned grand tourer.

Continue reading to learn more about the Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante.

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 592 @ 7000
  • Torque: 465 @ 5500
  • Transmission: eight-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Much like we've seen on the coupe, exterior updates are far from extensive, but they do make the facelifted model stand out compared to the outgoing Volante. The most significant change is the new aerodynamic package that includes a front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser made from exposed carbon-fiber. The upgrade reduces frontal lift by keeping additional drag away from the car almost entirely, but also gives the car a race-inspired look. What's more, the carbon-fiber provides a strong contrast against light, metallic body colors, such as the blue seen on the presentation model.

The revised Volante also comes with new quad exhaust outlets and a new "Vanquish S" badge on the trunk lid. The 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels with gloss black accents are also new. The facelift also brings a few additional options, including carbon-fiber hood louvers, black side strake meshes, carbon mirror caps, and carbon front grille with black mesh. The options list also includes forged five-spoke "diamond turned" wheels, and "striking painted graphics" packages. The latter includes seven color choices and combos such as yellow stripes over green paint, red over white, and orange over blue, among others.

2015 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante


Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (Inches)

107.87

Length (Inches)

186.22

Width (Inches)

75.19

Height (Inches)

50.98


Interior

Interior updates are similar, with a few new features added to spice things up. The upholstery is arguably the biggest change, with customers now being able to order the "Filograph" quilted seats. The dark leather is paired with white contrast stitching, while matching "Vanquish S" embroidery adorns the headrests. There also a new and cool finish of the center stack, with all knobs and buttons are now enclosed in a satin "Chopped Carbon Fiber" fascia. It looks like a carbon-fiber "veneer," and it's downright gorgeous. Finally, there's the Bridge of Weir Caithness leather upholstery, which is supposed to add "a touch of luxury and tactility" and seems to be a good option if you're looking for something different.

As usual, the options list is quite extensive. Highlights include a 2+2 seating configuration, exclusive Rokona upholstery, perforated leather seat inserts, contrast carpet binding, colored seatbelts, and herringbone carbon-fiber center stack. Aston Martin also offers a leather steering wheel or a One-77 unit, carbon, aluminum or chopped carbon sill plaques, ventilated front seats, and Auto-Dim mirror. Packages include Black Hardware and Shadow Bronze Jewellery and allow you to further customize the Vanquish S Volante.

Drivetrain

As it's usually the case with every Aston Martin facelift, the drivetrain was also updated. The big 5.9-liter has been massaged to deliver 592 horsepower, which is the exact same output of the limited-edition Vanquish Zagato. Expected, but welcomed, because you can't have too much oomph in a grand tourer. Compared to the outgoing model, the Vanquish S benefits from an extra 24 horsepower, while torque remained unchanged at 465 pound-feet.

Thanks to the extra oomph, the convertible should be quicker from 0 to 60 mph. Aston Martin has yet to release figures, but it's safe to assume that the added 24 horses and the other upgrades shaved a tenth-second off the benchmark, taking it down to 3.7 seconds instead of 3.8. Top speed should remain unchanged at 197 mph, which is four mph less than the coupe. The calibration of the eight-speed Touchtronic III transmission has also been revised and now delivers faster gearshifts and greater refinement at low speeds.

The chassis received a retuned suspension system with with spring rates and anti-roll bar bushes set up for a more aggressive behavior under spirited driving. On the other hand, comfort is still there as Aston Martin claims that performance enhancements were achieved without compromising the car’s ability to deliver "supple ride quality on demand."

Drivetrain Specifications

Engine

All alloy quad overhead cam 48-valve 5935cc V12

Horsepower

592 HP @ 7,000 RPM

Torque

465 LB-FT @ 5,500 rpm

Transmission

Rear mid-mounted ‘TouchtronicIII’ eight-speed automatic gearboxwith electronic shift-by-wirecontrol system

Acceleration 0-62 mph

3.7 seconds

Top speed

197 mph


Prices

Pricing for the new Vanquish S Volante starts from $312,950, which accounts for a $14,955 premium over the outgoing model. Given the upgrades, I'd say that the price hike is decent. This doesn't mean that the British convertible is affordable though...

Competition

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

Somewhat of a traditional competitor for the Vanquish Volante, the Continental GT Speed Convertible has received several upgrades in recent years. Although seemingly not as aggressive on the outside, the GT Speed stands out from the pack thanks to an enhance aerodynamic package and several unique features. The massive looks are complemented by spectacular craftsmanship on the inside, complemented by fine leather, wood veneer, aluminum and carbon-fiber. The Conti GT is also up to date in terms of technology, featuring onboard Wi-Fi, infotainment with smartphone connectivity, and state-of-the-art navigation. Motivation comes from a big 6.0-liter W-12 that generates a solid 633 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. Routed through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with Quickshift, all this oomph enables the GT Speed to hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, slower than the Vanquish. Top speed is the only department in which the Bentley wins thanks to its mind-boggling 206-mph rating.

Read our full review of the Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible.

Maserati GranCabrio

The GranCabrio is the oldest vehicle in this comparison, and even though the convertible was launched seven years ago, the GranTurismo it is based on is actually 10 years old. However, Maserati isn't yet willing to give up on the nameplate and introduced some sort of facelift for the 2018 model year. Granted, the Italian tourer remained largely the same, but the bumpers, front grille, side vents, and diffuser have noticeable upgrades. The same goes for the cabin, which sports new high-fashion stitching for the seats, a revised center console, a new 8.4-inch infotainment screen, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. Unfortunately, the 4.7-liter V-8 carried over unchanged, so output is still rated at a significantly inferior 454 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of twist. The transmission is the familiar six-speed ZF automatic with no option for a manual. Charging from 0 to 60 mph takes more than 4.5 seconds, making the GranCabrio the slowest of the pack.

Read our full review of the updated Maserati GranTurismo.

Conclusion

Although it's already five years old and the British firm launched a significantly better and lighter platform with the DB11, the Aston Martin Vanquish can still hold its own against the competition. But this is also because both the Continental GT and the Maserati GranCabrio have also been on the market for quite some time. On the other hand, high-profile gran tourers do not change generations as often as regular models, which is why the mid-cycle upgrade came after some five years. The current Vanquish might not be around for another five years, but as long as it will be available, you can rest assured that Aston Martin will do its best to keep it competitive. For the time being, it has the looks, the power, the speed, and the comfort a full-fledged luxury grand tourer needs.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S.