Aston Martin Vanquish: 6 Things You Might Not Know About Aston's New Flagship Model

There are cars that arrive, and then there are cars that land. The new Aston Martin Vanquish is unquestionably the latter. As the successor to the DBS Superleggera and the new standard-bearer for Aston Martin's flagship GT lineup, it arrives with a lot to say - and, to its considerable credit, almost all of it is worth listening to.

Here at Romans International, we were lucky enough to get our hands on one of the very first examples on the market. As part of our “If You Don't Know” video series on YouTube Shorts with Tom Jaconelli, we take a closer look at this incredible model and discover there's more to this car than the headlines suggest. 

So without further ado, here are six things you might not know about the new Aston Martin Vanquish… 

Fact 1: It Has a Feature Called the Shield

Every great car has a signature design element, and Aston Martin has given the Vanquish something genuinely distinctive: a design feature called the shield. Positioned within the car's cam tail at the rear, it's the kind of detail that warrants closer inspection.

What makes it particularly interesting is the level of personalisation on offer from Aston Martin. For example, buyers can specify the shield in carbon fibre for a more overtly performance-focused look, in a contrasting colour for visual drama, or in full body colour for a cleaner, more integrated finish - as seen on our example in the video. 

Flanking it on either side is a blade light design that's sharp, modern, and unmistakably Vanquish. It's a small detail, but it speaks to how seriously Aston Martin has thought about the individuality of this car.

Fact 2: The Proportions Have Fundamentally Changed

The Vanquish doesn't just look different to the DBS Superleggera, it is actually structurally different in ways that directly affect how it looks, sits, and drives. The area between the A-pillars and the front wheels is longer than before, and that's no accident.

Aston Martin has used this extended section to push the engine further back in the chassis and move the front wheels further forward. The result is a more dynamic stance. As you’ll see in our video, it’s lower to the ground, wider in appearance, and more purposeful. 

Granted, it's the kind of proportion shift that you might not be able to articulate if you saw the two cars side by side, but you'd absolutely feel it from behind the wheel. The Vanquish looks planted in a way its predecessor simply didn't.

Fact 3: Aston Martin Has Ditched the Clamshell Bonnet

If you were a fan of the DBS Superleggera's clamshell bonnet (the wide, sweeping panel that opened to reveal the engine in a single dramatic gesture), it's worth knowing that the Vanquish takes an altogether different approach. Aston Martin has reverted to a more traditional bonnet opening for this car.

It's a deliberate nod to classic Aston Martin design language, and for many, it will be the more beautiful solution. Whether you agree or not likely depends on how much theatre you want from your engine bay reveal. What isn't in doubt is what you'll find underneath.

Fact 4: The V12 Now Produces 830 Horsepower and 1,000 Nm of Torque

The 5.2-litre V12 twin-turbo engine carries over from the DBS Superleggera, but is significantly upgraded. In Vanquish specification, it produces 830 horsepower and a frankly extraordinary 1,000 nm of torque. That’s really something for a grand tourer! 

Just as importantly, it still sounds the way an Aston Martin V12 should sound. That exhaust note - layered, sonorous, and with genuine theatre on full throttle - remains one of the most characterful in the business. Of course, power figures matter, but the soul of the car matters more.

Fact 5: It's the First Aston Martin GT Car with a Panoramic Roof

We appreciate that interior revelations don't always generate the same headlines as powertrain numbers, but this one deserves attention. The Vanquish is the first GT car in Aston Martin's history to feature a panoramic roof - and it's a meaningful upgrade for a car in this class. 

The panoramic roof fundamentally changes the quality of light inside the cabin - it’s brighter, more open, and considerably more grand touring in feel. For long-distance driving (which is what a flagship GT is really built for), it transforms the interior from a cockpit into something approaching more of a road-based sanctuary.

Fact 6: The Vanquish Is One of the First Cars in the World with Apple CarPlay Ultra

The Vanquish features an entirely new infotainment system derived from the Aston Martin DB12 (which was already a considerable step forward from what came before), but it goes further still.

The Vanquish is one of the first production cars anywhere in the world to offer Apple CarPlay Ultra, the next-generation evolution of CarPlay that brings full AI integration and Siri voice assistant functionality directly into the cabin. 

It's a genuine world-first moment for Aston Martin's GT lineup, and it signals something important: that Aston is no longer content to be a step behind the technology conversation. And we, for one, are very happy to be part of the chat. 

If You Don't Know About the New Aston Martin Vanquish, Now You Know!

The new Aston Martin Vanquish is a far more important statement of a car than it might initially appear to those who look at it simply as a DBS replacement. The chassis has been rethought, the engine has been turned up to genuinely extraordinary levels, and the technology inside is as current as anything on the market. 

Add a panoramic roof, a redesigned exterior with real character, and a V12 that still sounds like nothing else on the road, and you have a compelling case for this being the finest GT car Aston Martin has ever produced. If you don’t know, now you know!

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To see Tom's full walkthrough of the Vanquish, catch the If You Don't Know short on our YouTube channel. And for more from the series (including our recent deep dive into the BMW Alpina Roadster V8), follow Romans International on YouTube Shorts.

Interested in the Aston Martin Vanquish or other flagship GT cars? Browse the Romans International collection or speak to our team today.