Aston Martin's new Vanquish car constructed from carbon fibre
June 22, 2012 - United Kingdom
Aston Martin is unveiling a stunning new luxury sports car – the Vanquish. Sitting proudly at the pinnacle of the luxury British car maker’s sports car line-up, this breath-taking new super grand tourer represents the zenith of current Aston Martin design and engineering. Vanquish points to an exciting and confident future for the historic brand.
Vanquish is a new Aston Martin featuring the next generation of the renowned VH architecture as well as a significantly upgraded 6.0-litre V12 engine that is considerably more potent than before.
When the commission for new Vanquish arrived Marek and his team set about working to hone the flowing exterior lines of a classic Aston Martin GT and to create a modern day interpretation of the Vanquish.
The latest engineering methods, innovative technologies and typically understated classic British design come together to make the muscular new Vanquish a true super GT. For instance, each body panel on the car is constructed from carbon fibre because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility of form. Meanwhile torsional rigidity is improved by more than 25%.
The result is a new Vanquish that very clearly retains the presence of its forebear, yet offers it in a much more refined and functional package. Sporting the assertive body language for which the previous Vanquish was renowned, today’s GT is more lean and elegant – highlighting its improved agility and dynamics.
With the exception of the now sold-out One-77 supercar, and limited edition V12 Zagato, the new Vanquish sits atop Aston Martin’s model range. Understandably, therefore, it boasts design language derived from the One-77 such as the elegant and flowing waistline, elongated side strakes, curvaceous, taut, form and LED light blade rear clusters, as well as entirely new design ideas such as the remarkable rear Aero Duct. Blending the aggressive lines of the One-77 with the elegant shape of the DB9 and Rapide, the new Vanquish sets the visual standard for today’s luxury GT cars.
It has amplified gestures – in the form of bonnet vents, side strakes and a sculpted roof – that accentuate the car’s extra performance and edgier character. The car has a more assertive stance, yet is not overtly aggressive.
A near-continuous ring of exposed carbon fibre features at the base of the car in the form of a carbon fibre splitter, light-catching carbon fibre side skirts and imposing carbon fibre rear diffuser. This accentuates the car’s sporting dynamics, as well as making it appear more planted.
Each body panel on the new Vanquish is also constructed from carbon fibre, because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility of form. This not only reduces mass but means that fewer individual body panels are required. For instance, the panel gap on the C-pillar joint is no longer necessary.
The designers have worked hard to pay attention to the finer details of all the materials used, with the carbon fibre weave direction a good example of this. It has been designed, and is constructed, to flow precisely with the car’s elegant shape.
Just as with the exterior, the design team were tasked with redesigning the Vanquish’s interior to give it a more complete and high quality finish. The result is an all-new interior that is more roomy, comfortable and luxurious than ever.
Again drawing inspiration from the One-77, the design team have emulated the flowing lines, quality and craftsmanship while introducing significant refinements over DBS to improve ergonomics and usability.
Showcasing the vast selection of materials and finishes that are now available on the Vanquish, the interior trim is available in a wide range of materials including fine Bridge of Weir Luxmil Leather, Semi-Aniline Leather and Alcantara, all expertly hand-stitched by some of the world’s most experienced craftspeople.
The new design is sleeker with a more elegant finish to complement the rest of the interior. It features new elements that convey a powerful and assertive attitude, and a new Driver Information Module (DIM) that the Vanquish shares with the One-77. The new DIM retains the classic Aston Martin style, but with a more futuristic typeface. The digital displays have been revised following feedback from existing owners, now permanently showing a digital speedo and a trip computer, which details the remaining range and the odometer.
Perhaps one of the most striking new interior design elements, though, is the new centre stack with refinements providing a more elegant form that is also more intuitive and accessible for both driver and front seat passenger.
A direct descendent of the One-77 centre stack, the Vanquish set-up retains familiar elements such as the ECU engine start button and gear selection buttons, while introducing a new infotainment system and a significantly more user-friendly design.
The facia trim now stretches down the whole centre stack and is manufactured from a single piece of material, giving a uniform finish with, obviously, no panel gaps.
The user interface has been completely redesigned, with a more user-friendly and ergonomic layout as well as technological updates that make it one of the most advanced in-car systems available.
Aston Martin’s trademark glass starter module and gear mode selection buttons have been retained while all-new capacitive glass buttons with illumination and haptic feedback have been introduced for the rest of the centre stack’s switchgear.
Haptic feedback is more commonly found in touch-screen mobile phones and Aston Martin becomes among the first significant luxury car manufacturers in the world to use the technology in a series production model.
Importantly, of course, the new car has more space both for occupants, and their belongings in the cabin. In fact the interior of the Vanquish has 140% more storage space than the DBS. The cubby box has been redesigned with a stylish armrest lid and now offers more than three litres of storage space and an integrated USB and AC point for portable devices.
There is further storage space at the base of the centre stack, with more than two litres of storage, generously sized cupholders and a mobile phone holder, as well as additional USB and AC points. Other storage spaces are dotted handily around the car, too, with more than three litres in the door bins and seat pouches alone.
Occupant space grows in all axes versus DBS with, in essence, the interior ‘pushed’ outward. Legroom is up 37 mm, shoulder room grows 25 mm, elbow room extends by 87 mm while knee room is boosted by 50 mm. All this, as the dash surface is moved forward 20 mm, too.
Vanquish is a new Aston Martin featuring the next generation of the renowned VH architecture as well as a significantly upgraded 6.0-litre V12 engine that is considerably more potent than before.
When the commission for new Vanquish arrived Marek and his team set about working to hone the flowing exterior lines of a classic Aston Martin GT and to create a modern day interpretation of the Vanquish.
The latest engineering methods, innovative technologies and typically understated classic British design come together to make the muscular new Vanquish a true super GT. For instance, each body panel on the car is constructed from carbon fibre because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility of form. Meanwhile torsional rigidity is improved by more than 25%.
The result is a new Vanquish that very clearly retains the presence of its forebear, yet offers it in a much more refined and functional package. Sporting the assertive body language for which the previous Vanquish was renowned, today’s GT is more lean and elegant – highlighting its improved agility and dynamics.
With the exception of the now sold-out One-77 supercar, and limited edition V12 Zagato, the new Vanquish sits atop Aston Martin’s model range. Understandably, therefore, it boasts design language derived from the One-77 such as the elegant and flowing waistline, elongated side strakes, curvaceous, taut, form and LED light blade rear clusters, as well as entirely new design ideas such as the remarkable rear Aero Duct. Blending the aggressive lines of the One-77 with the elegant shape of the DB9 and Rapide, the new Vanquish sets the visual standard for today’s luxury GT cars.
It has amplified gestures – in the form of bonnet vents, side strakes and a sculpted roof – that accentuate the car’s extra performance and edgier character. The car has a more assertive stance, yet is not overtly aggressive.
A near-continuous ring of exposed carbon fibre features at the base of the car in the form of a carbon fibre splitter, light-catching carbon fibre side skirts and imposing carbon fibre rear diffuser. This accentuates the car’s sporting dynamics, as well as making it appear more planted.
Each body panel on the new Vanquish is also constructed from carbon fibre, because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility of form. This not only reduces mass but means that fewer individual body panels are required. For instance, the panel gap on the C-pillar joint is no longer necessary.
The designers have worked hard to pay attention to the finer details of all the materials used, with the carbon fibre weave direction a good example of this. It has been designed, and is constructed, to flow precisely with the car’s elegant shape.
Just as with the exterior, the design team were tasked with redesigning the Vanquish’s interior to give it a more complete and high quality finish. The result is an all-new interior that is more roomy, comfortable and luxurious than ever.
Again drawing inspiration from the One-77, the design team have emulated the flowing lines, quality and craftsmanship while introducing significant refinements over DBS to improve ergonomics and usability.
Showcasing the vast selection of materials and finishes that are now available on the Vanquish, the interior trim is available in a wide range of materials including fine Bridge of Weir Luxmil Leather, Semi-Aniline Leather and Alcantara, all expertly hand-stitched by some of the world’s most experienced craftspeople.
The new design is sleeker with a more elegant finish to complement the rest of the interior. It features new elements that convey a powerful and assertive attitude, and a new Driver Information Module (DIM) that the Vanquish shares with the One-77. The new DIM retains the classic Aston Martin style, but with a more futuristic typeface. The digital displays have been revised following feedback from existing owners, now permanently showing a digital speedo and a trip computer, which details the remaining range and the odometer.
Perhaps one of the most striking new interior design elements, though, is the new centre stack with refinements providing a more elegant form that is also more intuitive and accessible for both driver and front seat passenger.
A direct descendent of the One-77 centre stack, the Vanquish set-up retains familiar elements such as the ECU engine start button and gear selection buttons, while introducing a new infotainment system and a significantly more user-friendly design.
The facia trim now stretches down the whole centre stack and is manufactured from a single piece of material, giving a uniform finish with, obviously, no panel gaps.
The user interface has been completely redesigned, with a more user-friendly and ergonomic layout as well as technological updates that make it one of the most advanced in-car systems available.
Aston Martin’s trademark glass starter module and gear mode selection buttons have been retained while all-new capacitive glass buttons with illumination and haptic feedback have been introduced for the rest of the centre stack’s switchgear.
Haptic feedback is more commonly found in touch-screen mobile phones and Aston Martin becomes among the first significant luxury car manufacturers in the world to use the technology in a series production model.
Importantly, of course, the new car has more space both for occupants, and their belongings in the cabin. In fact the interior of the Vanquish has 140% more storage space than the DBS. The cubby box has been redesigned with a stylish armrest lid and now offers more than three litres of storage space and an integrated USB and AC point for portable devices.
There is further storage space at the base of the centre stack, with more than two litres of storage, generously sized cupholders and a mobile phone holder, as well as additional USB and AC points. Other storage spaces are dotted handily around the car, too, with more than three litres in the door bins and seat pouches alone.
Occupant space grows in all axes versus DBS with, in essence, the interior ‘pushed’ outward. Legroom is up 37 mm, shoulder room grows 25 mm, elbow room extends by 87 mm while knee room is boosted by 50 mm. All this, as the dash surface is moved forward 20 mm, too.