Van-quish, v. 1. To overcome in battle: conquer. 2. To reduce to submission by superior force. 3. To gain mastery over (an emotion, passion ortemptation). Van-quish, n. 1. The 21st century 460 bhp, 190 mph V12 machine with which toaccomplish the above.

POWER, BEAUTY AND SOUL

In 1914 the founders of Aston Martin,Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford,began the company’s now legendarytradition of building handcrafted,high-performance sports cars. Theyhad a very clear belief. Sports carsshould have a distinctive andindividual character, be built to thehighest standards and be exhilaratingto drive and own. The integrity ofthose values remains true today. Over the intervening decades thecompany has gained a reputation foranother rarity, building lifelong one-to-one relationships with each of its cars and each of its owners.From meticulous records and archivesto personal attention from experts atthe factory whenever desired orrequired, it is a bond unrivalled in the automotive industry.

And now with V12 Vanquish, thecompany has added a new jewel to the crown – a supercar without peerthat marries 21st century technologyand performance to the understatedelegance and craftsmanship for whichAston Martin is renowned.

To accomplish this feat, the companyhas drawn on the pool of engineeringand technology resources that hasmade Great Britain a global leader in the design and construction of racingcars and aerospace components. The people at Aston Martin havecreated a supercar which redefines the term in every aspect.

Conventional materials andmanufacturing techniques would no longer suffice for Aston Martin,especially for a car capable ofreaching speeds in excess of 306 km/h(190 mph) and accelerating fromstandstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) inunder 5.0 seconds; and vice versa. The aluminium and carbon fibretechnology developed for the car’sstructure is a world first, combiningdimensional accuracy, durability,efficiency, safety and best-in-classtorsional strength (25,800 Nm/degree)for superior handling. With V12Vanquish, this uniquely developedtechnology becomes an Aston Martinsignature, just as hand-formedaluminium panels were in the past.Purists, however, will be glad to learnthat the aluminium body panels of V12 Vanquish are still hand finished.

As Aston Martin leads the way with its innovative construction techniques,so it also leads with the sophisticatedcalibration of its V12 engine andFormula One-style transmission. With a Stage 2 level of tune on AstonMartin’s highly praised six-litre V12,the new engine is lighter, stronger andmore powerful. The six-speed manualtransmission is operated by an electro-hydraulic gearshift that operateswithout use of a clutch pedal, a furtherdevelopment of the system that is usedin current Grand Prix cars. With a flickof the steering column-mounted paddleshifters, the system changes gear inapproximately 250 milliseconds – thetime it takes to blink.

Styling is unmistakably Aston Martin –menacing, powerful and dynamic with a visual honesty and confidencewhich founders Martin and Bamfordwould have admired. The famousDB4GT Zagato was a primaryinspiration, with its pronouncedshapes, strong, vertical shoulders andenlarged grille. But V12 Vanquish is astunningly contemporary design.Undeniably beautiful with a real depthof British craftsmanship – traditionalskills combined with a modern, free-thinking inventiveness.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

At Aston Martin, the definition of hand-built is the responsibility that anindividual craftsman takes in the creation of every car. And in an age of automated mass production, such a philosophy stands out: despite the car’s ultra high-tech specifications, V12Vanquish is built like all other AstonMartins before it, one at a time, by hand.

In preparation for V12 Vanquishproduction, the factory at Newport Pagnell received a multi-million-poundrefurbishment that included an all-newassembly line, environmental paint shop,rolling road and water test facility, which simulates monsoon conditions to ensure a watertight interior.

Today technicians who used to hold old-fashioned welding guns now wielddual-feed adhesive guns to bond togethercomposite components, crash structures,and aluminium panels. Bonding, whichdoesn’t distort the structure in any way,leads to a more dimensionally accuratechassis than traditional welded steel.

Using aerospace adhesives may seemalien to traditionalists, but Aston Martinengineers have ensured that these 21stcentury ‘crafts’ and materials cometogether to form a car that raises the baron performance, quality, safety, durabilityand comfort.

The assembly process begins in a special bonding jig accurate to within less than a millimetre housed in atemperature and humidity controlledenvironment. The specially developedbraided carbon-fibre ‘A’ posts are firstbonded to the aluminium core. Next therear structure, plenum assembly,bodysides, rear wings, and roof are allbonded to the aluminium monocoqueusing a two pack polyurethane adhesive.From there, the body shell moves to thefront end simulator jig, where boot lid,doors, bonnet, front wings and bumpersare fitted to check alignment beforemoving to the paint shop.

Each body receives five coats of surfaceprimer, two coats of colour and two coatsof clearcoat. The painted bodies, whichare hand-buffed after each application,take two days to finish.

In the final assembly area the twin-pumpfuel tank is first fitted in its own safetycell in a cavity above the rear axle. Next, powertrain, fuel and brake lines,underbody heat-shielding, airconditioning, electrical harnesses andinterior sound deadening are fitted.Meanwhile the front end structure whichwill carry the front suspension andpowertrain is assembled together withthe rear suspension. These are thenloaded to the ‘marriage jig’ where thepainted body is lowered in place and the front crash structure bonded on.

Once on its wheels, the painstaking taskof outfitting the interior begins – a processthat takes more than 70 hours of labourand eight hides of leather to complete.When finished, steering and suspensionalignment are rigorously checked usinglaser alignment tools, and then themoment of truth: the red ‘start’ button on the dashboard is pressed for the firsttime. Time on the rolling road, in thewater booth, on nearby roads and in finalinspection complete the six week longbuild process.

STRUCTURE

The unique construction of V12Vanquish is among the mosttechnologically advanced of anycurrent road car, using compositematerials and techniques familiar to the aviation business but rarelyseen in the motor industry.

Each car starts out as a heat-curedaluminium bonded monocoque,known as the ‘tub’, which uses acombination of extruded and foldedaluminium panels that are bonded and then riveted together. The tub isbonded to a nine-layer carbon fibretunnel, which gives V12 Vanquish anextremely rigid and yet lightweightbackbone. The benefit of a carbonfibre tunnel over aluminium is its high strength to weight ratio. Anequivalent aluminium tunnel wouldbe approximately twice the weight ofthe equivalent carbon fibre tunnel,whilst providing the same levels ofstrength and rigidity.

Carbon fibre also provides superiorinsulation from transmission andexhaust heat in the passenger cabin. It is this unique combination of tuband tunnel that gives V12 Vanquish its structural rigidity and allowedengineers to develop a suspensionsystem that combines precise roadbehaviour with unrivalled ride quality.

The aluminium body panels are shapedusing a patented Superform processthat was invented for aerospace use.480OC and 150 psi air pressure areapplied to the aluminium forms tocreate Vanquish’s deep drawn profiles,which are extremely difficult to mouldwith dimensional accuracy fromtraditional aluminium stampings. Final shaping and detailing of eachbody panel are done as they alwayshave been at Newport Pagnell by hand,to ensure flawless edges and finish.

Aston Martin was not content withcomplying with the most stringent crashcriteria; V12 Vanquish comfortablyexceeds them, thanks in part to thefront end’s two forward-mountedcomposite rails, which representanother technological innovation. The rails consist of three elements: the first is a layer of glass fibres alignedin one direction. A second layer ofcarbon fibres is laid at 90 degrees to the first layer to maintain the integrityof the glass fibres in a crash. A thirdcorrugated glass fibre compositeelement is used as the carrier structureto hold the crash rails in positionwithin the vehicle. Similar compositeparts are used in the boot floor toprotect from rear impacts.

Another world-first for Aston Martin: the specially developed braided carbon-fibre ‘A’ posts and engine baycross brace. Engineers from AstonMartin, working in conjunction withthe University of Nottingham, inventeda novel braiding process that encases a polyurethane foam core with triaxialcarbon fibre. The result is an immenselystrong yet light structural componentcapable of withstanding the force of acrash or rollover.

Even the distinctive grille plays afunctional role. Made from glass-fillednylon, it forms an integral componentof the front crash structure.

Within, the seats have been speciallydesigned so the occupants sinkdownwards before moving forwardagainst the seat belts in the event of an accident.

Equally impressive are the brakes andstate-of-the-art active control systems.Ventilated discs, 355 mm front and330 mm rear, with four-piston calipers,effortlessly scrub off speed. An antilockbrake system (ABS) prevents lock-upunder heavy braking, and tractioncontrol monitors wheel spin andadjusts engine power accordingly.When engaged, the Wheel SlipProtection (WSP) mode operates theclutch and gearbox, auto-shifting at3200 rpm in low-grip conditions toprevent slippage.

But it isn’t just the mechanics that make a car safer. The design team spent many hours in the wind tunnelhoning the car’s profile to ensurestability throughout its speed range andadequate airflow for power and cooling.A Formula One-style venturi, and flatunderbody, increases aerodynamicefficiency while also dramaticallyincreasing the car’s stability andtherefore road grip at high speed.

Passive safety is only part of theequation. Equally vital in any car butespecially in one with the potential of V12 Vanquish is dynamic safety. V12 Vanquish epitomises this withforged aluminium double wishbonesuspension all round combined withsprings and dampers tuned for anaggressively sporty yet comfortabledriving personality, and anti-roll barsfront and rear. Speed-related power-assisted steering accomplishes lock to lock in 2.73 turns, and speciallydeveloped high-performanceunidirectional Yokohama tyres mated to 19” forged aluminium alloy wheelsensure optimum handling dynamics.

POWERTRAIN

The figures speak for themselves: 343kW (460bhp) at 6800rpm and 542Nm (400lb.ft.) of torque at 5500rpm.The Stage 2 version of Aston Martin’smagnificent six-litre V12 engine, benefitsfrom a 18kgs (40lb) reduction in weight,including 6kgs (14 lb) subtracted fromthe forged crankshaft, 4kgs (9 lb) fromthe centrally mounted cast aluminiuminlet manifolds, and 5.5kgs (12 lb) fromthe hollow forged camshafts. In terms of throttle response, a full 12kgs (26 lb) of rotating inertia has been removed,resulting in an engine that revsaggressively up to its 7200rpm red line.

Beyond the power, the engine ofV12 Vanquish surpasses all emissionsrequirements worldwide, includingCalifornia’s strict LEV (low emissionsvehicle) standards. One of the technicalfeatures that makes the V12 so cleanand efficient are re-engineered inlet andexhaust manifolds. The inlet manifoldshave been relocated to a point midwayalong each bank of cylinders to achievean even air flow into the engine andbalanced breathing between all 12cylinders. In addition, the exhaustcatalysts are now ‘close coupled’ to theengine for rapid heat up when startingfrom cold, the most critical moment inthe emissions cycle.

The other key factor in the engine’sefficiency is its new high-speedmultiplex communications system,called PTEC (Power Train ElectronicControl), which is capable oftransmitting information in four one-thousandths of a second. In fact thereare two PTECs, one for each bank ofcylinders, linked by a high-speedCANBUS system, which controls thefuel injection and spark timing. PTECfeatures full electronic throttle control,or ‘drive-by-wire’. Here there is nomechanical link between throttle pedaland engine, rather throttle movementmeasures how fast the driver wishes toaccelerate, and the engine managementsystem does the rest electronically.

The PTEC system links constantly to thesix-speed manual transmission, whichis operated by a electro-hydraulicgearshift. It is the first time that such asystem has been used in a productioncar with the power of V12 Vanquish,and it is the fastest of its kind. Unlikesome systems, V12 Vanquish allows thedriver to ‘skip’ down changes from say,sixth to fourth or fifth to second with a pull on the paddle for each gearchange. A failsafe system ensures theengine won’t over-rev at any time andwill automatically opt for the nexthighest ratio.

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The driver has a number of gear changemodes to choose from. In Select ShiftManual or (SSM) mode, the driver shiftsgears up and down using the steeringcolumn-mounted shift paddles (right toupshift, left to downshift). The only timethe system intervenes for the driver is at the red line, when the computerautomatically upshifts. Additionally,there is Auto Shift Manual (ASM) mode,in which the computer takes care of allgear selections according to engine androad speed without driver intervention.However, whilst in ASM mode, subtleuse of the throttle can induce gearchanges to really enhance the drivingexperience. There is an optional ‘Sport’mode in both settings; in SSM Sport, thesystem allows the driver to bounceagainst the rev limiter without shiftingautomatically. ASM Sport allows thegearbox to rev higher in order to usemore of the engine’s power, and shiftsmore quickly.

As a matter of convenience and safety,V12 Vanquish is equipped with asophisticated tyre pressure monitoringsystem. If the air pressure in a tyre dropsbelow a level optimal for maximumdriving speeds, a facia-mountedwarning light will instantly illuminate. If the sensor light flashes, it means thatpressure in one of the tyres hasbecome dangerously low. A boot-mounted LCD readout enables thedriver to identify the faulty tyre.Additionally, rain-sensing wipers andautomatic lights are standard.

INTERIOR STYLING

Whilst other road users enjoy theexternal beauty of V12 Vanquish, bothdriver and passenger will be equallyenamoured by the interior‚ a stunningblend of future and tradition. Dominating the cabin is a polishedmetallic centre console that arches fromthe top of the facia down to thetransmission tunnel. Owners mayspecify their own finish for this specialcomponent, leaving it polished ormatching it to the car's body colour.Door pulls, grab handles and gear shiftpaddles are finished in matching castaluminium, whilst other interior stylingcues, such as full grain leather, Alcantaraand Wilton carpet, echo Aston Martinheritage. So does the black-on-creaminstrumentation, with numeralschanging to a soothing blue at night.

Owners have the choice of two interiorconfigurations: a 2+2 with rear seatsor a pure two-seater with a rear shelf toaccommodate a golf bag or personalluggage items. As with all AstonMartins, customers are free to selectwhichever colour they choose eitherfrom Aston Martin’s extensive palette, or their own imagination and taste.

V12 Vanquish interior shown withoptional aluminium trim steering wheel.

LINN AUDIO SYSTEM

V12 Vanquish is the most technologicallyadvanced Aston Martin ever built withan array of features and materials thatmakes it one of the worlds's great sports cars.

Linn, a Scottish company, founded in Glasgow in 1972, has becomeinternationally renowned for creatingexceptionally high quality entertainmentsystems for home and commercial use,as well as supplying systems for marineapplications in luxury yachts andcruise liners.

The Linn Audio System engineered forV12Vanquish has been created as theultimate in-car entertainment package.

All of the loudspeaker drive units havebeen developed uniquely for V12Vanquish. There are two door mountedspeaker units each containing a mid-range speaker, tweeter and supertweeter. The door speaker units areencased to maintain very high levels of sound control whilst containing the sound inside the car.

The two rear shelf-mounted speakersalso each contain a mid-range speaker,tweeter and super tweeter and each of these twelve loudspeakers is drivenby a separate 75 watt amplifier channel.The bass drive unit, centrally mountedin the rear shelf, incorporates aprecision accelerometer providinginstantaneous feedback of the unit’smovement to a dedicated 300 wattbass servo system. This arrangementresults in totally controlled bass withoutresonance and with minimal distortion.

The bespoke case housing the boot-mounted amplifier also includes theswitch mode power supply and twocooling fans. The cover is machinedfrom solid aluminium and hardanodised for a natural, durable finish.A blue light emitting diode indicatesnormal operation.

The very high power capacity and use of individual amplifiers for eachfrequency range and speaker deliversthe exceptionally high quality soundfor which Linn systems are renowned.

Standard 2+0 interior with quiltedAlcantara seat centre panels.

Optional 2+2 interior with all leather seats.

OPTIONS AND FEATURES

Navigation system*

With the optional navigation system,guidance is provided by means ofaudible instructions (voice guidance),complemented by diagrammaticinformation, which is displayed on theLCD panel of the radio. Using a seriesof menus, text screens and turndisplays, the LCD panel also displaysinformation on the operating system.The system uses GPS and advancedmap matching algorithms for pinpointaccuracy. Digital map information isheld on a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)loaded in a navigation control unithoused in the boot.

Smokers’ pack.Navigation system. Umbrella and holder. Integral telephone.

Integral telephone*

The optional Motorola fixed integraltelephone system has an 8 watt outputfor clarity and excellent overall callquality.Installed into a cradle in thecentral cubby-box, the integraltelephone interfaces with amicrophone in the roof console andmay be controlled either through akey pad and buttons on the radio, orby using the handset itself. Telephone-related messages are shown on theaudio system display when thetelephone is active. The system’s roofconsole also features spatial lighting,which illuminates the centre consolewith a low light for ease of operation.

Integral telephone (USA only)For the USA, a Motorola DigitalTimeport handset is available, which is compatible with the “Sprint” and“Verizon” telephone networks.

Umbrella and holder ▲

Designed to accommodate a standardor golf umbrella, the holder fits neatlyto the underside of the boot lid and isoffered with its own exclusive AstonMartin umbrella in black fabric withaluminium handle.

Smokers’ packFor smokers, the standard centraloddments tray may be replaced withan optional cigar lighter and ashtray.

Battery conditioner ▲

The battery conditioner should be used whenever the car is stored for any length of time in order to maintainthe battery in perfect condition. Thebattery conditioner connects into aconveniently mounted socket inthe boot.

Multitool kit ▲

Mounted in the glove box, this handy kitcomprises a multi-tool combination, tyrepressure gauge, small torch and pen.

Aluminium trim steering wheelDesigned to coordinate perfectly with the violet chrome interior details,the optional aluminium trim steeringwheel provides a contemporaryalternative to the standard all leathersteering wheel.

Colour keyed leather trim steering wheelDesigned to coordinate with yourinterior leather colour, sections of thisoptional wheel may be specified inthe colour of your choice.

Personalised sill plaques. Colour keyed steering wheel.Aluminium trim steering wheel.Colour-keyed facia console.

Colour-keyed facia consoleAs an alternative to the standardpolished metallic finish, the distinctivecentre console may be finished toexactly match the body colour of your car.

Personalised sill plaquesManufactured from high quality stainless steel, these optionalpersonalised sill plaques may beengraved with your name, title orspecial message or wording.

Fitted load space overmat ▲

This protective load space mat isfinished in black with embroideredAston Martin logo.

First aid kit ▲

Supplied in a full grain leather wallet,the kit contains a selection of first aid essentials and stows awayconveniently within the boot area.

* Not available in all markets. Please consult your Dealer for details.

▲

Fitted as standard.

Powerfold exterior mirrors*

For ease of manoeuvrability in tightspaces and for peace of mind whenparked, these optional electronicfolding door mirrors retract at the touch of a button, and include anelectrochromatic function which linksto the car’s interior electrochromaticrear view mirror for synchronisedautomatic ‘dipping’ at night.

Powerfold exterior mirrors. Alternative brake caliper colours.

Coloured brake calipersAdding a flash of colour to the brakes,and as an alternative to the standardgraphite grey colour, optional brakecalipers in red, gold or black may be specified.

Heated front screenFor the ultimate in convenience onthose frosty winter mornings, theoptional front screen defrosts inseconds at the touch of a button.

* Not available in all markets. Please consult your Dealer for details.

Heated front seatsFor those cool evenings and evencolder mornings, optional heated frontseats warm up quickly to provide extra comfort.

Front wheel stone guardsWhen driving over loose or gravelsurfaces these optional stone guards are designed to provide additionalprotection to the leading edge of your car’s sills.

Exterior chrome door handlesAvailable at no extra cost to replacestandard body colour door handles.

Reversing sensorsOptional body coloured reversingsensors are mounted within the surfaceof the rear bumper. Selecting reversegear activates the sensor with an audiblewarning emitted from a speaker locatedin the rear of the vehicle. The warningbeeps get progressively quicker untilthe tone becomes continuous alertingthe driver to stop reversing.

Reversing sensors.

BrakesFront: Ventilated cross drilled steeldiscs 355 mm (14 inches) diameterwith four piston calipers.Rear: Ventilated cross drilled steeldiscs 330 mm (13 inches) diameterwith four piston calipers and separatehandbrake caliper. Teves vacuumassisted anti-lock braking system.Electronic brake and engineintervention traction control system.

Wheels and TyresLightweight forged aluminium alloywheels 9J x19 (front), 10J x 19 (rear),Yokohama 255/40 ZR19 tyres (front),285/40 ZR19 (rear).

DimensionsLength: 4665 mm (183.7 inches).Width: 1923 mm (75.7 inches).Height: 1318 mm (51.9 inches).Kerb Weight: 1835 kgs (3969lbs).Wheelbase: 2690 mm (105.9 inches).Boot space: 0.22 cu.m. (7.78 cu.ft.).Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres (17.6 Imp. galls., 22.0 US galls.). 95RON unleaded fuel only.

Fuel ConsumptionLitres/100 km (mpg): Urban 25.6 (11.0). Extra Urban 11.5 (24.6). Combined 16.7 (16.9).

CO2 Emissions396 g/km.

Gas Mileage (North America)City 12 mpg.Highway 19 mpg.

Smog Index (North America)0.37.

EngineAll alloy twin overhead cam 48 valve5935 cc 60º V12. Compression ratio10.5:1. Visteon twin PTEC enginemanagement controlling fuel-injection,ignition and diagnostics. Fully catalysedstainless steel exhaust system.Maximum power: 343 kW(460bhp) @ 6800 rpm.Maximum torque: 542 Nm(400 lb.ft) @ 5500 rpm.Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 5.0 secondsMaximum speed: 306 km/h (190 mph).

TransmissionSix speed manual gearbox with AutoShift Manual/Select Shift Manual(ASM/SSM) electro-hydraulic controlsystem. SCP/CAN interface toengine management control system.Limited slip differential 3.69:1.

SteeringRack and pinion, variable powerassistance, 2.73 turns lock to lock.Column tilt and reach adjustment.

SuspensionFront: Independent double aluminiumwishbones. Coil springs, monotubedampers and anti-roll bar.Rear: Independent double aluminiumwishbones. Coil springs, monotubedampers and anti-roll bar.

SPECIFICATION

BodyTwo door Coupe with 2+0 or 2+2seating. Extruded aluminium andcarbonfibre bonded monocoque.Composite front and rear crashstructures. Aluminium skin panels.Extruded aluminium door side impactprotection beams.

InteriorFull grain leather and Alcantara interior.Electrically controlled front seatsincorporating optional seat heaters. Air conditioning. Heated rear screenand optional heated front screen.1200 watt, thirteen speaker 13-channelLinn Audio System with 6CDautochanger. Alarm and immobilisersystem with remote central locking and boot release. Tyre pressure sensingsystem. Automatic rain sensing wiperoperation. Blade mounted washer jets.Automatic headlamp operation. Auto dimming rear view mirrors. Trip computer. Instrument packmessage centre display. Batterydisconnect switch. Batteryconditioner. Boot-mounted umbrella.First aid kit. Multitool kit.