2025 Aston Martin Vanquish First Test: A V12 Masterpiece?

A Stunning Design Evolution

• 💎 The 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish is described as a "jawdropper" and "gorgeous," potentially surpassing even the iconic Jaguar E-Type in looks.
• 📐 Design elements like a long dash-to-axle ratio and precise roof height contribute to its classic, appealing proportions.
• ✨ Unique features include classic Aston Martin "face," functional hood extractors for the V12, and striking "reverse nacaducts" to manage heat.
• 🍑 The rear design boasts "voluptuous" hips reminiscent of Jessica Rabbit and distinctive taillights, with a controversial but ultimately praised body-colored rear panel.

A Decade of Progress: Vanquish Gen 2 vs. Gen 3

• 🚀 The second-generation Vanquish (over a decade old) weighed two tons and featured a 5.9L naturally aspirated V12 producing 565 horsepower.
• 📈 The third-generation Vanquish boasts a massive leap in power with a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 delivering 824 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.
• 🏁 While the Gen 2 was a capable GT, it struggled in performance comparisons against sports cars, highlighting Aston Martin's focus on power and desirability for the new model.

The V550: A 90s V8 Supercharged Icon

• ⚙️ The Aston Martin Vantage SC V550 from the 90s was a rare (239 made) V8 model enhanced with twin superchargers to compete with V12-equipped Ferraris.
• 🔊 It produced 550 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, an astounding figure for its era, offering "old school muscle car" performance and "crazy induction noise."
• 🌟 This V550 is highlighted as a "unicorn car," representing Aston Martin's earlier efforts to build high-performance, desirable machines.

Driving the 2025 Vanquish: A Dual Personality

• 🛣️ In GT mode, the Vanquish is an elegant and comfortable grand tourer, cruising smoothly with ample room and a decent trunk.
• ⚡ Switching to Sport or Sport Plus modes transforms the car into a "beast," delivering immense torque to the rear wheels with a thrilling V12 soundtrack.
• 🏁 While not a dedicated track car like a Porsche GT3 RS, its handling is "good enough" for spirited driving, offering a planted front with a lively, controllable rear.
• 🤯 The driving experience is described as transformative, exceeding expectations with increased beauty, power, sound, drama, and character.

Exclusivity and Verdict

• 💰 The 2025 Vanquish starts at $463,000, with only 1,000 units being built globally and just 333 allocated for the US market.
• 🚫 All units are already sold out, making it unobtainable for most.
• ✅ Despite the exclusivity and price, the reviewer expresses immense pride and satisfaction, concluding that Aston Martin has truly "done it" with this V12 masterpiece, questioning what a competing Ferrari could offer that this Vanquish doesn't.