- Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish, 2013
The Aston Martin has unveiled a stunning new luxury sports car - the Aston Martin AM 310 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.
Aston
Martin AM 310 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.
The design represents the latest take on Aston Martin's
iconic visual language. Vanquish unquestionably sees the brand continue
its enviable tradition of producing some of the most beautiful sports
cars in the world. Styling cues such as the elegant new waist, elongated
side strakes and LED rear light blades are derived from the One-77
supercar.
Unmistakably an Aston Martin, the design shows a clear
and coherent lineage from its heritage while providing an equally clear
pointer to the luxury car brand's vibrant future. Closer inspection
reveals details such as the stunning new Aero Duct on the rear boot lid.
This elegantly devised passive engineering feature, which counteracts
lift at the car's rear when travelling at speed, is a triumph of both
design and technical ability.
Performance, presence, style and great British craftsmanship - the new Vanquish has all these traits in abundance.
Aston
Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: "AM 310 Vanquish is
the ultimate expression of Aston Martin design ethos, engineering
innovation and technical ability. It offers luxurious,
continent-crossing capability and pure driving excitement without
compromise.
As happy on the streets of a bustling city as it is
carving through the countryside or long distance motorway touring, the
Vanquish offers a thoroughbred British luxury sports car that's also
suited to everyday use.
Powered by a significantly revised
naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine mated to the proven
Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic gearbox, the new car offers suitably
impressive performance figures. The V12's power peak of 565 bhp (573 PS)
makes it Aston Martin's most potent production model yet, outmuscled
only by the strictly limited edition £1.2m One-77 supercar.
The
raw statistics speak for themselves: 573 PS at 6,750 rpm, 620 Nm of
torque at 5,500 rpm, 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph
place the Aston Martin Vanquish firmly into supercar territory. Yet the
brand's team of engineers have been working towards economy and
emissions improvements, too.
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%.
Practical
improvements such as a newly designed and significantly more spacious
cabin and a boot that, at 368 litres, is more than 60% larger than that
of the DBS, ensure the new Vanquish can carry sufficient luggage for
even the most ambitious grand tourist.
Designed and hand-built at
Aston Martin's global headquarters at Gaydon in Warwickshire the new
Vanquish, available as a 2+2 or 2+0, sits atop a broad line-up of
world-class sports cars including the exquisite DB9, sporty V8 Vantage
and luxurious four-door Rapide.
Priced from £189,995 RRP first
deliveries of the new sports car are expected to begin in the UK and
Continental Europe late in 2012.
Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish: Design
Aston
Martin is renowned in the motor industry for the supreme beauty of its
cars. The visual language of a modern Aston Martin is highly
distinctive, yet timelessly attractive.
The design team at the
company's global HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, is led by Design Director
Marek Reichman and, together, they have developed an unmistakable visual
interpretation of the brand's ethos.
When the commission for new
Aston Martin AM 310 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.
Drawing
inspiration not least from the iconic One-77 supercar, the team worked
to evolve that design language and create a 21st Century successor
worthy of sporting the Vanquish moniker.
They worked to stay
faithful to the AM V12 Vanquish inspiration - so beloved of Aston Martin
fans worldwide - while introducing new aspects that debuted in the
One-77.
The result is a new Aston Martin 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 AM V12 Vanquish is 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 AM 310 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.
Elsewhere inside, the new instrument panel is a refinement of the One-77's, with new detailing and improved ergonomics.
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 Aston Martin AM 310
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.
The Aston Martin Vanquish is available with either 2+0 or 2+2 seating configurations.
Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish: Performance
As
with all Aston Martin sports cars, the need for perfect balance,
high-performance stability, nimble handling ability and minimised kerb
weight define the new Vanquish. The comprehensive use of carbon fibre
body panels for the first time in an Aston Martin underline the new
Vanquish's credentials as a truly innovative model.
Strenuous
efforts have been made to limit the new car's weight, contributing to
its impressive performance, handling and significantly improved power to
weight ratio. The combination of controlled weight, near-perfect 50:50
weight distribution, a powerful new V12 engine and a performance-honed
six-speed transmission combine to make the Vanquish as rewarding and
engaging on the move as it is elegant standing still.
At the
heart of the new car is the latest iteration of Aston Martin's a
6.0-litre V12 engine. Significant re-engineering of this iconic V12
includes a revised block and new head including the debut of dual
variable valve timing, uprated fuel pump, enlarged throttle bodies, a
revised 'big wing' intake manifold and fully machined combustion
chambers help the engine to a peak power output of 573 PS (565 bhp) at
6,750 rpm.
Crucially, too, the unit has been tuned specifically
to deliver greater torque low down the rev range to make the car feel
even more willing and muscular from very low revs. The result,
predictably perhaps, is an improved 0-100 km/h time of 4.1 seconds. The
top speed, where legal, is 295 km/h (183 mph).
As is the modern
custom with all Aston Martin sports cars the engine is hand-assembled at
the dedicated Aston Martin engine plant in Cologne, Germany.
The
Vanquish uses the latest generation of Aston Martin's class-leading VH
(Vertical Horizontal) architecture, a lightweight bonded aluminium
structure that provides outstanding strength and rigidity. In this
iteration, the Vanquish tub now includes the addition of significant
carbon fibre components, as well as the use of bonding derived directly
from the latest aerospace technologies.
The architecture has been
re-engineered to control weight and improve packaging. With 75% new
parts, the depth of re-engineering to achieve major packaging
improvements cannot be overestimated.
Engineers have employed the
extensive use of advanced materials and processes - some derived direct
from the aerospace industry - to control weight and optimise the new
car's driving experience.
For the first time in an Aston Martin,
carbon fibre is used to make every external panel. The race car-inspired
technology gives benefits for weight and body stiffness but, more
importantly, has been essential in realising the design of Vanquish. Two
notable components are the door skin and boot lid - neither of these
unbroken surfaces would have been possible without the use of carbon
fibre.
"There are no restrictions on form or shape when using
carbon fibre," says Marek Reichman, Aston Martin's Design Director, "and
the material allowed us to wrap bodywork around the 20-inch wheels and
maintain the precise relationship between the wheel and the bodywork."
Each
panel has been carefully sculpted to direct the airflow around the car,
into the engine and to help cool the braking system. The carbon fibre
elements are produced using advanced manufacturing techniques developed
from the aerospace and motorsport industries.
The panel-making
procedure also delivers an exceptional surface finish. The application
of a 200 micron layer of epoxy and glass to the panel delivers a class-A
surface that is in line with Aston Martin's tradition of high-quality
finishes. Inside the car, the weave patterns on the exposed carbon fibre
elements have been carefully selected to present the most harmonious
surfaces.
Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish: Control
As well as
being light, strong and flexible in its application, the latest
generation VH architecture is also extremely stiff. The new Aston Martin
AM 310 Vanquish is, in fact, 25% torsionally stiffer than the outgoing
DBS making it highly resistant to flex and allowing for responsive and
predictable handling.
This rigid and stiff structure also
provides an ideal foundation from which the suspension can control the
vehicle effectively, further highlighting the importance of the body
structure and the effect it has on the dynamic performance of the car.
Aston
Martin's engineering teams have worked particularly hard to minimise
the weight outside the wheelbase of the new car to reduce yaw inertia.
As a result, carbon fibre has been used extensively in the rear
structure and the weight of the aluminium front structure has been
reduced significantly.
The front chassis structure is a full 13%
lighter than that of the DBS - a direct result of using hollow cast
aluminium rather than solid cast aluminium. It has also been redesigned
to allow for a lowering of the engine. Now 19 mm lower within the body,
the repositioned engine improves both the Vanquish's agility and its
handling.
The car's front-mid mounted engine and rear-mid mounted
transaxle ensuring a near perfect weight distribution: 85% of the car's
weight is positioned within its wheelbase.
To take full
advantage of its precise and rigid new architecture, the Aston Martin AM
310 Vanquish employs a battery of sophisticated technologies including,
for the first time on an Aston Martin, a motorsport-derived Launch
Control system. This works to deliver the optimum take-off from a
standing start - balancing throttle, gearbox and various traction aids
to deliver a perfect 'launch'.
Once on the move, the Vanquish
boasts a plethora of dynamic aids including Dynamic Stability Control
and Positive Torque Control to help harness its fearsome potential and
deliver a rewarding, controlled, refined Grand Tourer experience.
The
latest iteration of Aston Martin's Adaptive Damping System (ADS) allows
the driver to switch between three distinct damping modes: Normal,
Sport and Track, delivering instant adjustment of the car's ride and
handling characteristics.
The ADS automatically alters the
suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at
all times, with the ability to respond quickly to different driving
conditions. The different damping modes available help significantly
broaden the Vanquish's character, adapting its set-up to suit the
driver's mood and requirements. Thus it can be a cruising GT car in
Normal mode with the capacity to morph into an assertive sports car in
Sport and Track modes.
The damper settings are determined by an
electronic control unit which takes sensor readings from the car's
systems, including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel
rotation and vehicle speed. This data establishes the prevailing driving
conditions and the demands the driver is making on the car.
The
Vanquish is fitted with new generation Pirelli P-Zero tyres that have
been developed especially for the car, along with new 20-inch
lightweight alloy wheels.
The car's braking system features third
generation Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes to deliver shorter
stopping distances with resistance to fade in even the most demanding
driving conditions. CCM brakes are also lighter than a conventional
system, reducing the weight of the car overall and, in particular, the
unsprung weight and rotational masses, further enhancing the performance
of the suspension.
The front brakes use 398 mm x 36 mm CCM brake
discs with larger front brake pads and six-piston brake callipers from
the One-77, while the rear brakes use 360 mm x 32 mm CCM brake discs
with a four-piston calliper.
Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish: Quality
Craftsmanship,
attention to detail and ingenious design and engineering techniques
combine in the Vanquish to deliver a GT of exceptional quality.
It
takes, for instance, more than 70 hours of expert handcraftsmanship to
build and trim one interior. Seven leather hides are used in each
Vanquish to create the sports car's luxurious ambience.
The new
car also benefits directly from the experience of creating the One-77
supercar and features new design highlights such as quilted material as a
result. The quilting uses detailing not seen on any other car and is
delivered via a state-of-the-art machine developed specially for Aston
Martin. It produces a finish of rare quality and complexity, with around
one million separate stitches used in each new Vanquish quilted leather
interior.
Designers at Aston Martin are renowned for paying
attention to every minute detail on the brand's sports cars, with
numerous examples of this on the Vanquish. One such case is the removal
of the towing eye from in the bumper to improve aesthetics. Now
positioned hidden away in the front grille, this results in a bumper
with less clutter that gives the Vanquish a much cleaner face. And on
US-spec cars, the side markers have also been incorporated into the head
and tail lamps, again removing clutter from the bumper.
Quality
and craftsmanship come together in the Vanquish's new Aero Duct on the
deck (boot) lid. This elegantly devised passive engineering feature is
included to counteract lift at the car's rear when travelling at speed.
The
challenge from CEO Dr Ulrich Bez was to create a part that was
"impossible to make". This naturally generated some huge headaches for
the design, engineering and manufacturing teams, but the result is a
look of unrivalled beauty, form and function. It takes one person two
days to construct this one-piece carbon fibre moulding, while the Aston
Martin paint team created unique paint guns and polishing tools to be
able to finish the decklid to the same glass-like finish as the rest of
the car.
The fact that this part has no joint lines is a true
testament to the ingenuity, dedication and meticulous attention to
detail of the car's designers, engineers and craftsmen.
Testing
is, of course, fundamental to the quality and longevity of an Aston
Martin and the Vanquish has undergone an exhaustive series of
examinations. Digital modelling analysis, bench tests and, of course,
thousands of hours of real-world testing around the globe have produced
the most comprehensively engineered GT ever to leave Gaydon.
For
instance the engineering team carried out more than 5,000 km of
durability and high speed testing at the Nardo Ring in northern Italy
alone. The circuit is one giant loop that stretches for 12.5 km (7.8
miles), so is perfect for high speed testing, allowing the driver to
examine the car at high speed without having to brake for corners. This
test puts high levels of stress on all systems and helps to prove out
high speed durability.
Following this, a Vanquish prototype was
sent to the Aston Martin test centre at the Nürburgring for yet more
intense limit handling work. The notorious German track is an ideal
place to test and refine the Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish as it is
regarded as the most demanding race circuit in the world. There the new
car underwent more than 10,000 km of testing to prove-out the car's
durability, brakes, DSC system, tyres and chassis set-up.
Outside the auto, you feel the low recurrence beats that can just
originate from an expansive dislodging V12. At full melody, it satisfies
our wishes for how an intemperate Aston Martin motor ought to sound,
exemplifying immaculate, unbridled animosity.
After a downshift, the pops and burbles from the fumes on overwhelm are
basically delightful. Furthermore, you'll never have the capacity to
make the costly, conceivably weepy, fifth-to-second downshift. Besides,
this Graziano-sourced box spares 25 kilograms over the old manual
transmission.
The great carbon fired stopping automation is held and affirms that
Aston Martin still conveys a portion of the best carbon brakes
accessible today. Lighter weight, ten-spoke amalgams, still fitted with
Pirelli's P Zero Corsa tires, help unsprung weight and, when painted
dark, look altogether the business.
A Sport seat is standard, however the more bad-to-the-bone character of
this Vantage requests the accessible lightweight containers. The
consummately situated, accurately estimated, and Alcantara-secured
controlling wheel continues.
