The 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish Is Sex On Wheels, Actually

Aston Martin is bringing the Vanquish back after a six-year hiatus, and it’s clear they’re sticking to their formula: big, fast, and unapologetically expensive.

The 2025 Vanquish lands with a twin-turbo V12 pumping out 824 horsepower, wrapped in a carbon-fiber body that’s lighter than it has any right to be. Starting at $420,000, it’s a car that seems determined to remind everyone that Aston Martin still knows how to make a grand tourer that turns heads, even if it’s only for a select few.

The Vanquish’s return wasn’t guaranteed. It’s not the mid-engine supercar Aston teased and then scrapped years ago. Instead, the company leaned back into its heritage: a big front-engine, rear-drive GT, powered by a heavily revised 5.2-liter V12 that shares almost nothing with the one before it, apart from its basic layout. The engineers changed everything from the turbochargers to the fuel injectors to the spark plugs.

Performance isn’t just about numbers, though. Sure, the 214 mph top speed and 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds are impressive, but Aston knows the real key to making a car like this memorable is in the details. The Boost Reserve system keeps the turbocharger spooled and ready, so the power comes on the moment you ask for it, without waiting for the engine to catch up. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential—tech that keeps the rear wheels from doing anything stupid when you stomp on the throttle.

Underneath, it’s all modern Aston Martin. The bonded aluminum chassis keeps it stiff, and most of the body is carbon fiber, a move that helps keep the weight under control. But at 4,000 pounds once it’s got its fluids, the Vanquish isn’t exactly lightweight.

Still, with its custom Pirelli tires, carbon-ceramic brakes, and Bilstein DTX dampers, it feels more agile than its mass suggests. The handling tech is where the engineers really went to work, adding features like Corner Braking, which helps keep the car stable as you brake into a turn. For a car this size and power, keeping the rear end from misbehaving at speed is no small feat.

Inside, Aston Martin’s designers took another shot at fixing one of their long-standing criticisms—the cabin. It’s not just a pretty face this time. The new Vanquish gets a more functional layout, with physical controls where you need them and a new infotainment system that doesn’t feel like an afterthought. It’s a place where long road trips might finally make sense, even if you’re spending more time enjoying the noise of that V12 than the stereo.

Size-wise, the Vanquish has grown compared to the DB12. It’s longer, wider, and sits a little lower. The wheelbase stretches an extra three inches, and the whole car has a more pronounced stance. The Kamm tail is a nod to Aston Martin’s racing past, while the rest of the design pulls in influences from the Valour and the GTs of the 1970s.

This is only the third time Aston Martin has revived the Vanquish name, and both previous models set a high bar. It’s a name that carries weight—an icon of V12 grand touring cars. And now, with the V12s disappearing from most automaker lineups, this Vanquish feels like a quiet reminder that Aston Martin still builds cars for the people who care about real things.

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