ASTON MARTIN Vanquish S Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

In November 2016, the British car-maker Aston Martin introduced the Vanquish S, a V12 version for the already known Vanquish.

Aston Martin builds fast cars for long roads more than fast cars for race-tracks. It can perform well in both situations, but the GT oriented brand most of the time traded performance for comfort. Its concept was to offer a car that could take its owner for a few hours' drive and, at the end of the trip, the passengers would not be tired, like it would happen in a super-sport car.

The 2017 Vanquish S styling was an evolution over the Aston Martin DBS which was based on the Aston Martin DB8. It featured some different styling over the regular Vanquish. It featured different bumper design, with special lip-spoiler for aerodynamic purpose. It was made out of carbon-fiber. The same material was extensively used for the front grille, rearview mirrors and the exhaust scoops on the hood. On top of all, it featured a carbon-fiber roof.

Inside, there was an embroiled “Vanquish S” badge on the front seat headrests. The 2+2 configuration has hardly left some room for a rear passenger. The instrument cluster design was typically Aston Martin, with the rev-counter rotating counter-clockwise than the speedometer. To adjust the dampers and other settings of the car, there were buttons installed on the steering wheel.

The engine was the 5.9-liter V12 mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission from Mercedes-Benz. It was the last V12 offered by Aston Martin on the Vanquish.

Unveiled at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, the Vanquish S was the fastest Aston Martin ever made to that moment. It's over 200 mph (320 kph) speed qualified it as a supercar, even though it was based on a GT.

Aston Martin lived its final years with Ford when it launched the Vanquish S. Due to that, it had to get some bits and pieces from the American car-giant. Strangely, it wasn't forced to get an American supercharged engine. It was allowed to develop its V12 and it did it well.

The Vanquish S was the sportiest version of the already existent Vanquish. But it wasn't just a trim level. It featured new wheels, a slightly different front fascia with a small front splitter, a higher trunk lid, and a larger, integrated, spoiler where the third brake-light was installed. A Vanquish S badge was added to the back.

Inside, the plastic steering wheel from the early Vanquish has disappeared and a new, leather-wrapped one, was installed. The seats featured high bolsters to hold its occupants in place. The hand-stitched leather trim was extended across the center stack. In the rest, there was a mix of cast aluminum parts and switches from Ford Fiesta.

Under the hood, there was the same 6.0-liter V12 from the Vanquish but upgraded to develop 60 more horsepower. It was mated to the same 6-speed automatic, but tuned for performance.