MIAMI, FL: If you're one of those people who keeps a list of dream cars they would like to own one day, you probably have to get out the eraser and reconsider your selections.
To the list of the most desirable cars in the world we must add the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, which was recently unveiled at the auto show here and will be the Ford-owner British brand's flagship model when it goes on sale during the second quarter of 2001.
The Vanquish is the "most sophisticated and technologically advanced new model ever to be designed, developed and built by Aston Martin," says the press bumpf. It is the production variation on the Vantage concept car that debuted at the Detroit auto show in January, 1998.
The Vanquish will likely cost more than your house if you live in Montreal or Toronto or Vancouver and more than your block if you live anyplace else in the country.
For a more exact idea of a likely sticker price, take today's dollar-pound exchange rate and multiple it by the 180,000-pound figure being bruted about at Aston's headquarters in Newport Pagnell in England.
If this is actually more than a dream for you, you better speak up now. Plans currently call for Aston Martin to build just 300 of these beauties and fewer than 100 of them are earmarked for an Atlantic crossing. They may all go to the U.S., but there are ways around that since, as we all know, money talks.
However much talking you have to do, Vanquish will certainly be one the best-performing cars in the world, thanks to a 6-liter V12 that will turn out 450 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 410 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm. This engine will push the 1820-kg (the current estimate) Vanquish from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and keep it going until it reaches 306 km/h.
For those of you keeping score, these numbers are better than the ones attached to the V8-powered Vantage model that the Vanquish will replace. The new car will also be lighter, stiffer and stronger than the Vantage, thanks to the "application of advanced design techniques and materials."
There are already rumors swirling around England about the likelihood that Aston will jam a supercharger under Vanquish's long, slooping hood and create horsepower and torque figures in the 600 vicinity, which would mean a car capable of 0 to 100 km/h times under 4 seconds.
Thanks to the electronic drive-by-wire throttle system that's built into the V12, finger tip-controlled Formula 1 style paddles enable what are promised to be "almost imperceptible gear changes" to be completed in under 250 milliseconds.
Advanced electronics also permit the close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission to be programmed to operate automatically, with the added facility of a special programme tailored to winter driving conditions.
This car is the first serious payoff from Ford's ownership of the Aston Martin name and comes with the imprimatur of one of the most respected gearheads in the auto industry -Bob Dover- who brought this vehicle through development as chairman of Aston Martin, and for his efforts was given the possibly impossible task of bringing some level of quality control to Land Rover, another BritBrand owned by Ford.
The main body structure use carbon-fibre, extruded aluminium and composite materials bonded together to form a central monocoque safety cell with additional deformable composite structure energy absorbent zones at both front and rear.
It's supposed to provide standards of efficiency, structural integrity, torsional rigidity and occupant crash protection compatible with a modern Formula 1 car. According to Aston Martin, "The V12 Vanquish exceeds by a substantial margin all known or projected safety legislation."
All the exterior body panels are constructed from aluminium with each individual panel hand-tailored to the central structure to ensure a perfect panel fit.
There is a limitless range of body colors and a limitless choice of Connolly hide upholstery for the air-conditioned interior. Each body receives eight coats of paint, and there are eight Connolly hides and 12m² of Wilton carpet spread throughout the interior.
The V12 Vanquish is available as either a 2- or 2-plus-2 seat coupe with each and every model hand-built, "finished and equipped to the exact and individual requirements of its customer."
For that much money, it had better be finished and equipped to suit the customer.
To the list of the most desirable cars in the world we must add the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, which was recently unveiled at the auto show here and will be the Ford-owner British brand's flagship model when it goes on sale during the second quarter of 2001.
The Vanquish is the "most sophisticated and technologically advanced new model ever to be designed, developed and built by Aston Martin," says the press bumpf. It is the production variation on the Vantage concept car that debuted at the Detroit auto show in January, 1998.
The Vanquish will likely cost more than your house if you live in Montreal or Toronto or Vancouver and more than your block if you live anyplace else in the country.
For a more exact idea of a likely sticker price, take today's dollar-pound exchange rate and multiple it by the 180,000-pound figure being bruted about at Aston's headquarters in Newport Pagnell in England.
If this is actually more than a dream for you, you better speak up now. Plans currently call for Aston Martin to build just 300 of these beauties and fewer than 100 of them are earmarked for an Atlantic crossing. They may all go to the U.S., but there are ways around that since, as we all know, money talks.
However much talking you have to do, Vanquish will certainly be one the best-performing cars in the world, thanks to a 6-liter V12 that will turn out 450 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 410 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm. This engine will push the 1820-kg (the current estimate) Vanquish from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and keep it going until it reaches 306 km/h.
For those of you keeping score, these numbers are better than the ones attached to the V8-powered Vantage model that the Vanquish will replace. The new car will also be lighter, stiffer and stronger than the Vantage, thanks to the "application of advanced design techniques and materials."
There are already rumors swirling around England about the likelihood that Aston will jam a supercharger under Vanquish's long, slooping hood and create horsepower and torque figures in the 600 vicinity, which would mean a car capable of 0 to 100 km/h times under 4 seconds.
Thanks to the electronic drive-by-wire throttle system that's built into the V12, finger tip-controlled Formula 1 style paddles enable what are promised to be "almost imperceptible gear changes" to be completed in under 250 milliseconds.
Advanced electronics also permit the close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission to be programmed to operate automatically, with the added facility of a special programme tailored to winter driving conditions.
This car is the first serious payoff from Ford's ownership of the Aston Martin name and comes with the imprimatur of one of the most respected gearheads in the auto industry -Bob Dover- who brought this vehicle through development as chairman of Aston Martin, and for his efforts was given the possibly impossible task of bringing some level of quality control to Land Rover, another BritBrand owned by Ford.
The main body structure use carbon-fibre, extruded aluminium and composite materials bonded together to form a central monocoque safety cell with additional deformable composite structure energy absorbent zones at both front and rear.
It's supposed to provide standards of efficiency, structural integrity, torsional rigidity and occupant crash protection compatible with a modern Formula 1 car. According to Aston Martin, "The V12 Vanquish exceeds by a substantial margin all known or projected safety legislation."
All the exterior body panels are constructed from aluminium with each individual panel hand-tailored to the central structure to ensure a perfect panel fit.
There is a limitless range of body colors and a limitless choice of Connolly hide upholstery for the air-conditioned interior. Each body receives eight coats of paint, and there are eight Connolly hides and 12m² of Wilton carpet spread throughout the interior.
The V12 Vanquish is available as either a 2- or 2-plus-2 seat coupe with each and every model hand-built, "finished and equipped to the exact and individual requirements of its customer."
For that much money, it had better be finished and equipped to suit the customer.
Article Gallery