Road Test: Aston Martin Vanquish V12 2+2 2dr Touchtronic Auto

What's this?

It's refresh time for the Vanquish. Out goes the old six-speed 'box, in goes a new quick-and-smooth eight-speed auto from ZF. It's one of the best.

But it looks the same as always...

Bar some trim updates and new alloy wheels options, it has the same pretty face and lovely lines as before. Why mess with it? This revamp is all about the undergarments.

Such as the gearbox?

Correct. And new electronics, which means better emissions. So you're looking at a naturally-aspirated 6.0-litre V12 that produces 298g/km CO2 and might scrape 31mpg.

It's an Aston Martin. Who cares about emissions?

Fair enough. More excitingly, the new brains mean more power. So 0-62mph now arrives in 3.8 seconds, while top speed creeps over the double-tonne to 201mph.

What else?

The suspension has been stiffened by 15 per cent at the rear and 35 per cent up front. A bit of a shame, because the Vanquish suited a slightly softer setup, as we found out in Scotland recently. 

Ferrari F12 vs Lamborghini Aventador vs Aston Martin Vanquish

Isn't it supposed to be a hairy monster?

If you lost concentration in the old Vanquish, you might have ended up in a cabbage field. This new version, even with these updates, still feels more like a big GT than a bitey racer. The new gearbox and electronics fit well with that progression. The suspension, not so much.