2013 Aston Martin Vanquish
The 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish comes as a replacement to the highly successful DBS. The British manufacturer’s new top-of-the-line model will come with a 5.9-liter 12-cylinder engine. Aston Martin has been able to squeeze out 55 more horses from the V-12 to produce a total of 565 hp at 6750 rpm and 457 lb-ft of torque at 5750 rpm. Top speed will be around 183 mph and 0 to 60 mph comes in 4.1 seconds. With a steep base price of $279,995, all of these performance upgrades are very welcome.
For the transmission the Vanquish kept the ZF6HP six-speed automatic previously used in the DBS but it now shifts up to 37 percent quicker. Some people complain about the lack of a manual transmission but the sleek paddle shifters seem to get the job done much faster and more efficiently than we could.
As for the interior, the Vanquish also retains the sloping center console, swing up navigation system, and futuristic transparent gauges; the type of interior we would expect in a top of the line Aston Martin. The Aston also has an impressive new climate control system that involves two touch sensitive pads. A high end Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System fills the interior with 1,300 watts of crisp, premium sound through 15 speakers. Noise compensation technology also helps maintain a constant volume under varying road conditions and speed. The interior is also touched up with Aston’s signature unique stitching. As for the trunk, it contains an impressive 13 cubic feet of space. When it comes to sophisticated interiors, Aston Martin seems to have always led the pack.
The exterior styling of the Vanquish is completely in line with the performance upgrades it received this year. Some of the new designs implemented in this car include: The half wing shape to its taillights, the angular rear side windows, an integrated rear spoiler, and exposed carbon fiber in the front splitter, side skirts, and rear valance. Aston chose to use bixenon headlights and LED daytime running lights, which are similar to that of the other Aston Martin models. The Vanquish can either come as a two seater or in a 2+2 configuration. A Vanquish designer summed up the exterior very well: “The styling tells you to move out of the way, in a polite way.”
For the price you can easily find cars that will put up similar numbers on the track compared to the Aston Martin Vanquish; but you'd be pressed to find something that looks as good while doing it.
