Everything A V12 Should Be

Contrary to popular belief, the V12 is as deeply ingrained in Aston Martin’s lineage as you might think. The original DB cars used inline-sixes and V8s; it wasn’t until the late 1990s—under Ford’s ownership, naturally—that the British marque started shoving 12-cylinder engines into everything it made. The DB7, the Vanquish, the Rapide, and so on.

But global downsizing and a recently revamped lineup, largely kick-started by the DBX SUV, had us worried that Aston might simply walk away from the 12-cylinder entirely. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. In fact, Gaydon brought back the V12 in a way only it knows how: stronger, better, and of course, non-hybridized.

Picking up where the previous model left off, the new Vanquish is, for lack of a better phrase, peak Aston. It’s still the front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, V12-powered British brute we’ve come to know and love, only now it’s (somehow) even prettier, nicer to drive, and features a fully revamped cabin that finally feels worthy of its $552,600 price tag as tested.

The Price Of Admission

Yeah, there’s really no way to soften that number—$552,600 as tested. If it makes you feel any better, the base model starts at a slightly more reasonable $434,000 with destination. Tack on $85,000 in options (yes, seriously), and a hefty $31,600 import tax (thanks, Obama), and that’s what gets you to the MSRP of an upper-middle-class home.

It should be said: Neither the Lamborghini Revuelto nor the Ferrari 12Cilindri are the definitions of affordability, either. The Lambo costs a whopping $604,000 while the Ferrari starts at $464,000.

But most people shopping for a Vanquish or its rivals probably aren’t looking at the price, nor are they truly worried about the Porsche Panamera’s worth of options. The things that might convince them to drive home in a Vanquish over the next-best Revuelto or 12Cilindri are all here—the engine, the presence, and most certainly, the looks.

Photos by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Yes, Lambos are edgy, and modern Ferraris are… let’s say, interesting, but very few cars will make you fall to your knees in an Arby’s quite like this Vanquish. It is an absolute stunner from every angle.

The new Vanquish adopts Aston’s latest design language, and it wears it well—arguably better than any other car in the company’s current lineup (Vantage purists might argue otherwise). Yet, it doesn’t stray from the cues that have historically made the nameplate such a stunner.

Sharing its platform with the equally lovely DB12, the Vanquish has a 3.1-inch longer wheelbase than its sibling. The loooooong and lovely hood, short rear overhang, and elegant details emphasize that length. In this shade of Supernova Red, it’s an especially pretty thing.

The V12 Steals The Show

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

How does it drive? Great question.

If I’m being brutally honest, it doesn’t drive nearly as well as it looks—as high a bar as that may be. The steering is nicely weighted, the handling is crisp, and the ride is firm but not unforgiving. There’s nothing truly remarkable about tossing this car into a corner; it’s just… good.

At over 4,200 pounds, the Vanquish is definitely on the heavier side, and you can feel a lot of that weight in the corners. It also crashes down pretty harshly over speed bumps and broken pavement. What makes the Vanquish feel special from a performance standpoint is what’s under the hood: dat V12.

What makes the Vanquish feel special from a performance standpoint is what’s under the hood: dat V12.

The twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter engine is a monstrous motor, sending 824 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. It’s all routed through a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

The V12 is loud, powerful, and at moments, scary as hell. There’s not enough rubber on the rear Pirellis, nor enough road in Southwest Florida for me to truly push the limits of this engine. But even the faintest whisper of the throttle sends this super coupe racing off the line. This thing is frighteningly quick.

On paper, the Vanquish takes just about 3.2 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour. It feels quicker. Find a long enough stretch of legal road, and it’ll hit 214 miles per hour flat out. A clever “Boost Reserve” function manages the throttle opening and wastegates in an effort to keep the two turbos spooled at all times—which sound absolutely delectable, by the way.

A Cabin Worthy Of The Badge

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Like most modern Aston Martin interiors, this one is lovely. The interior is awash in premium leather and high-end metal fixtures, and the 16-way adjustable bucket seats offer a near-perfect blend of comfort and capability.

If I’m going to nitpick, the inside of the Vanquish isn’t all that different from a DB12 or Vantage. That’s not a huge complaint given the praise we’ve lobbed onto both of those cars, but it feels like there should be a little bit more for the extra $200,000-plus you’re paying. Like I said, nitpicking.

Photos by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

The technology does see a huge improvement over the previous Vanquish, but with Apple CarPlay Ultra, it can be clunky at times. There’s a 10.3-inch central touchscreen and a corresponding digital instrument cluster, but also a whole bunch of physical knobs and dials that keep you from poking the center screen while driving. I love it.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and this is one of the first Astons to implement CarPlay Ultra—which extends to the clusters and embeds deeper into the native system.

When it worked, it was awesome. But early connectivity issues soured an otherwise interesting experience. I’m assuming most of those issues have been or are still being ironed out.

Verdict: Last Of The Great V12s

Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

In the age of downsizing, electrification, and increasingly interchangeable supercars, the Vanquish still feels special. Sure, you can go out and buy a 12Cilindri—a car so proud of its 12-cylinder roots that it’s quite literally in the name. Or you could opt for Lamborghini’s V12 hybrid Revuelto, a car we’re quite fond of.

But the Vanquish has something those two don’t: a sense of occasion. The long hood, rear-wheel drive, massive V12, gorgeous cabin, and sheer presence all come together to make the Vanquish feel special every time you get behind the wheel.

At $552,600, that’s a hell of a proposition. But if you have the means, the Vanquish doubles down on unapologetic British excess. That alone makes it worth celebrating.