Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish is a grand tourer built as the successor to the 1993 Aston Martin Vantage.
== Overview ==
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish was styled by Ian Callum and drew inspiration from the DB-4 Zagato - projecting a more aggressive presence than Callum's DB7 Vantage. The production car closely resembled the Project Vantage Concept' which debuted with a V12 engine at the North American International Auto Show in January 1998. Underneath, the car featured a very strong carbon fibre/aluminium composite chassis, an advanced independent suspension, and a tuned 5,935 cc (5.9 L; 362.2 cu in) V12 engine. It was available in 2+0 and 2+2 seating configurations and came only in a coupé body style. The V12 Vanquish was the fastest production Aston Martin in terms of top speed ever produced up to that time (V-600 and LeMans versions of the earlier Vantage had engines modified by Works Service after production and delivery) and the model remained the most powerful Aston Martin in the range throughout its life.
The naturally aspirated 60° DOHC 4 valves per cylinder V12 engine with a bore x stroke of 89 mm × 79.5 mm (3.50 in × 3.13 in) has a power output of 466 PS (343 kW; 460 hp) at 6,500 rpm and 400 lb⋅ft (542 N⋅m) of torque at 5,000 rpm. It is controlled by a drive-by-wire throttle and driven by a 6-speed Electrohydraulic manual transmission. The Vanquish model debuted with 355 mm (14.0 inches) drilled and ventilated disc brakes with four-pot calipers, ABS, with electronic brake distribution. The interior featured full instrumentation, advanced electronics, and rich leathers with metallic details - the latter an intentional move away from the wood trim seen in the DB-7.
The first-generation V12 Vanquish was generally very well received by the motoring press receiving near universal praise for its powertrain, chassis, advanced engineering and design. Described as "The ultimate Grand Tourer" by Road & Track magazine , the V12 Vanquish and V12 Vanquish S represented Aston's entry into the top tier GT market - a "no excuses" technological wonder meant to show that Aston Martin was back at the top of its game. With a top speed over 190 mph and 0-60 times in the mid-4s there was no question about capability, and after experiencing it in action Car & Driver described it as "...worthy of the marque's heritage and a serious alternative to the top Ferrari." 
The V12 Vanquish series would become the last all new model to be made in Aston Martin's Newport Pagnell facility. While the traditional craft techniques had evolved somewhat from those used to make the previous generation of cars, primarily in the panel shaping, there was still a great deal of handwork in assembly and finishing - and each car was very time-consuming to create. As such, the Vanquish represents both the end of an era as the last new Newport Pagnell model - and the beginning of another with its forward-looking engineering and performance.
Its appearance in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day earned the V12 Vanquish the number three spot on the list of Best Film Cars Ever, behind the Minis from The Italian Job, and DB5 from Goldfinger and Thunderball. The car also appears in the video games namely Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, James Bond 007: Nightfire, and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing. The V12 Vanquish was recognized - along with the DB-4 Zagato - as one of the ten most beautiful cars of all time.
The V12 Vanquish was the basis of two concept cars, both shown at the International Geneva Motor Show in 2004, the Zagato Roadster (a 2-seat, open-top roadster) and the Bertone Jet 2 (a 2-door shooting brake).
== Asphalt Urban GT ==