One of the first as well as one of last remaining bastions of the UK luxury car industry is
Aston Martin who have been producing hand made cars of the finest qualities since nineteen fourteen. When you think of
Aston Martin, the imagination immediately conjures up the image of Bond, James Bond driving his silver grey DB6 with red leather upholstery in the nineteen sixties.
Aston Martin cars have always been associated with power, sophistication and class, and not necessarily with speed, preferring to leave the right to be the fastest cars on the road to the European or North American performance car makers. However that situation changed for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in 2004 with the introduction of the V12 engined version of Aston Martin’s successful Vanquish which had been introduced for the first time in 2001, and had enjoyed relative success in its standard format.
In order to contend with the aerodynamic challenges that the high speed V12 Vanquish S was required to meet,
Aston Martin made several subtle but significant changes to the car’s body, adding a hint of strength to its elegant lines. The
Aston Martin grille, a trademark style going back to the early days of car production at the company’s rustic car plant in Newport Pagnell now has a more rounded edge, as well as being split in the center to provide increased aerodynamics. The rear of the SV12 also has been upgraded from the standard version, now featuring as high mounted stop lamp.
The art of bodywork building that
Aston Martin have been masters for almost a century is as well portrayed in this upgrade as it has been in any car that the company has previously produced. The car’s classic profile is accentuated by her low curving roof and windshield pillars that are swept back creating a somewhat dramatic effect.
Modern car building technology is displayed in the V12 Vanquish’s main body structure, where carbon fiber, extruded aluminum and other composite metals were bonded together to create a cell that will form the body of the car.
Aston Martin make no secret of the fact that this technological breakthrough was taken from the aerospace industry and provides a combination of strength and lightness of weight without the need for any welding or bolting, designed to provide improved protection in the case of accidents.
The 2004
Aston Martin Vanquish SV12 is indeed an impressive piece of automotive architecture, more the fifteen foot long and just slightly more than four foot tall.
If one could forget for a moment that the Vanquish SV12 is not a hand built car, the people who decided to order one received a pleasant surprise when they did. No less that an invitation to Aston Martin’s new headquarters to select the car’s color and its matching livery. The first choice is to whether to go for a two seater of four seater configuration, as it is possible to fit the Vantage with a small back seat. Once that issue has been decided, then the next choice is which color of rich leather will be used on the seating and trim of the car, to complement the almost traditional burr walnut. Also part of the tradition of owning an
Aston Martin is the white faced instruments and bright red starter button, situated in the deep center console. A compromise to the digital age and the fact that the car was sold widely outside the United Kingdom is the car’s message center, capable of providing messages in eleven different languages.
The Vanquish’s six liter dual twelve cylinder engine capable of developing 520 horsepower and 425 pounds per feet of torque was developed in conjunction with
Ford, who are the owners of the
Aston Martin Car Company, With a maximum speed in excess of 200miles per hour (321km/h) and the capability of reaching from 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds, the Vanquish may not be the fastest car on the road, but certainly faster than any car that the company has produced to date.
New cylinder heads with fully machined inlet ports and combustion chambers to improve airflow as well as newly upgraded fuel injectors are among engine enhancements including in the V12 engine.
Power to the wheels is through a close-ratio six-speed-manual transmission, the transmission uses
Formula One-style paddles to produce gear changes. If the occasion and the road conditions permit it is also possible for the car to be driven in automatic mode.
Sports Dynamics suspension is a standard feature on the Vanquish S, providing stiffer springs, dampers and shorter steering arms.
Larger six piston calipers and larger grooved and ventilated front discs have been incorporated in the car’s braking systems to provide improved heat dissipation and controlled braking.
A final reminder of Aston Martin’s care and flair for customer service and marketing was an invitation to each new owner of a Vanquish S to attend a Performance Driving Course with the company’s complements. To further emphasize the Aston Martin’s international commitment the courses were held not only in the UK but also in Europe and North America.
Most Powerful Aston Martin Road Car Ever Produced
• 6.0 Liter Aluminum V12
• 520 bhp @ 7,000 RPM
• 425 lb-ft of Torque @ 5,800 RPM
• Sports Dynamics Suspension System
• 6 Speed Manual F1 Paddle Shift Transmission
• Changes Gears in 250 Milliseconds! The time it takesto blink
• 0.62 MPH in 4.8 Sec.
• Top Speed 200+ MPH
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March 12, 2008, 10:01 am
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