Aston Martin | Vanquish stays true to V12

Who said the V12 engine was dead? Certainly not Aston Martin, which has elevated this powerful and melodious engine to dynastic status during its complex and exciting journey. The all-new Vanquish, presented last week, will be entitled to this exceptional engine to flatter a design that seeks timelessness.

Many people's first contact with the Vanquish probably dates back to the movie Die Another Day released in 2002, one of the James Bond films starring Irish actor Pierce Brosnan. Twenty-two years later, the coupe still occupies the top of the English manufacturer's hierarchy with a V12, which is now equipped with two turbochargers.

With a displacement of 5.2 L, it pushes the mark to 824 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. This is almost double the cavalry of the first generation of the model launched in 2001. The torque is relayed to the rear wheels by means of an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and an electronically assisted limited-slip differential.

The chassis has also been revised rather extensively. The wheelbase has been increased by 80 mm, and reinforcements have been added to improve torsional rigidity and lateral stiffness. New adaptive Bilstein DTX dampers bolt to it to improve the stability of the big coupe. A lightweight and powerful carbon-ceramic brake system as standard aids endurance under repeated braking.

For those interested, Aston Martin has confirmed to us that the order book is now open at a starting price of $514,800.