Blog / Models
By the Exotic & Classic Specialists team · · 4 min read
The Aston Martin Vanquish is a front-engined, rear-drive, two-seat V12 GT with a 5.2-litre twin-turbo engine rated at 835 PS (824 bhp) and 1,000 Nm. Its natural rival is the Ferrari 12Cilindri, which counters with a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 and a lower weight. The Aston wins on torque and shows up earlier in the rev range, while the Ferrari is the sharper, lighter car on paper.
The Vanquish is Aston Martin's V12 flagship, built as a strict two-seater. It sits above the DB12 in the range and uses a development of the same bonded aluminium platform, stretched by an extra 80 mm between the A-pillar and the front axle so the V12 can sit well back behind the front wheels.
Aston Martin lists the engine as a 5.2-litre, all-alloy, 48-valve twin-turbo V12 making 835 PS (824 bhp) at 6,500 rpm. Peak torque is 1,000 Nm (738 lb ft), and it's available from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm. Power goes to the rear wheels through a ZF eight-speed automatic with shift-by-wire and an electronic rear differential.
You'll see both 835 hp and 824 bhp quoted in reviews, and neither is a mistake. One is the metric horsepower figure and the other is the British one. It's the same engine output.
Aston Martin quotes 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph (345 km/h). Those are big numbers for a car that carries a lot of metal. The EU-certified unladen weight is 1,910 kg, which works out to roughly 431 bhp per tonne. Motoring Research reports a lighter dry weight of 1,774 kg, so the 1,910 kg figure includes fluids and the usual allowances.
The weight matters more than the straight-line figures suggest. Motor Sport's review notes that the Vanquish's weight balance sits further forward than the DB12's, so it changes direction a little less eagerly than its V8 sibling. Weight distribution is quoted at 51:49 front to rear, and the car makes up to 120 kg of downforce at top speed.
Up front there are double wishbones, with a multi-link setup at the rear. Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers manage body control, and carbon-ceramic brakes are standard. The wheels are 21-inch forgings wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires.
Five drive modes (GT, Sport, Sport Plus, Wet and Individual) change the character of the car more than you'd expect. In GT mode, Motor Sport found the ride a little less polished than the Ferrari 12Cilindri's, though still good enough for long trips. Motoring Research calls it firm for a luxury grand tourer.
Practicality is limited. There are no rear seats, just a carbon fiber strut brace behind the driver and passenger, and the boot holds 248 litres. This is a two-person touring car.
Every review we read names the 12Cilindri as the Vanquish's closest competitor, and the two take opposite routes to a similar result. Ferrari's engine is a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 rated at 830 cv at 9,250 rpm, with 678 Nm at 7,250 rpm and a 9,500 rpm limit. It drives through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
On paper the numbers split cleanly. The Aston has far more torque (1,000 Nm against 678 Nm) and delivers it low in the rev range, thanks to the turbos. The Ferrari has a higher output per litre, a much higher rev ceiling and a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 2.9 seconds against the Aston's 3.3. Ferrari's dry weight for the coupe is roughly 1,560 kg, though Ferrari's own sheets vary by version, and dry weight isn't directly comparable to the Aston's certified 1,910 kg.
Motor Sport's reviewer called the Vanquish the best Aston flagship he'd driven by a wide margin, and praised its handling at the limit. He also flagged two weaknesses: a slight lack of low-rev torque in the first few hundred revs before the turbos spool, and a rear axle that needs respect under heavy throttle.
Aston Martin doesn't publish a price on its model page and points buyers to the configurator. Motor Sport's review lists the UK price at £330,000, roughly £145,000 more than a DB12. That's a big step, and it's the main reason some buyers stay with the V8 car.
Used values will take time to settle. It's a low-volume car, and Motoring Research notes a waiting list tied to limited production. If you're comparing a Vanquish with a 12Cilindri, option choices and build slots will move the real price more than the headline figure.
In August 2025 Aston Martin recalled 178 US-market 2025 Vanquish cars (NHTSA campaign 25V532000). Under specific conditions the vacuum pump may not generate enough vacuum, which reduces brake assist. The brakes still work, but the pedal gets very firm and stopping distances grow. Drivers may see an error message as the fault develops. The company reported no accidents or injuries, and the fix is a free software update at a dealer.
Other markets issued their own recalls with different vehicle counts, so check your VIN with the national recall database or your dealer rather than assuming. It's also a good reminder that a modern GT like this depends on software as much as hardware, and a specialist who can read and update that software is worth having alongside the dealer.
No. It's a strict two-seater, unlike the DB12 coupe, with a carbon fiber strut brace where rear seats would be.
Not by the factory numbers. Aston Martin quotes 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds, while Ferrari's spec sheets give 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds. The Aston has more torque, but the Ferrari is lighter.
They describe the same output in different units. Aston Martin states 835 PS, which is 824 bhp.
Yes. A 2025 US recall covered 178 cars for a brake vacuum pump fault, fixed with a free software update. Other markets had separate recalls, so check your VIN.
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