Aston Martin’s latest is new-era old school - a V12, a shape influenced by the 1960s - built in carbon fibre.

IF having former New Zealand Grand Prix winner Lance Stroll is the price Formula One fans have to pay for his dad having bought the Aston Martin Formula One team, the new Vanquish is undoubtedly the pay-off from papa having also invested his considerable wealth in reviving the British marque’s road cars.

That impression surely enforces with this latest delivery. Lawrence Stroll’s money has brought back the Vanquish name with the arrival of a new V12-powered grand tourer. 

A limited-production model, with fewer than 1000 examples produced annually, it’s obviously a tour de force car but won’t stand kindly to being called a showboat.

Performance is the ultimate measure of where a car of this calibre stands and the brand attests the 5.2-litre, twin-turbocharged V12 is not just about making nice noises.

This is the most potent 12-cylinder engine Aston has produced relative to its size. A massive 622kW and a staggering 1000Nm of torque heads to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

Such power has been made possible by numerous mechanical upgrades to the engine, including new camshafts, a strengthened cylinder block and redesigned cylinder heads, as well as new turbochargers.

There’s a ‘Boost Reserve’ function that increases the turbo boost pressure so there’s more boost available when it’s needed, such as for overtaking. 

The ZF gearbox pairing with an electronic rear limited-slip differential is a first for the make; by locking and opening in 135 milliseconds, the differential can ensure greater agility in low- and medium-speed corners and greater control when the car oversteers.

The special dampers and suspension tuning is to allow greater “bandwidth” and body control, while there are three driving modes for controlling the characteristics. 

GT mode is standard and is designed for a balance of comfort and handling, but there’s a Sport mode and a Sport Plus setting to bring out your inner Alonso.

Aston Martin has fitted the Vanquish with a set of carbon-ceramic brakes, bigger anti-roll bars and a stiffer body structure, as well as a recalibrated steering system designed for greater feedback and precision. The Pirelli rubber is bespoke, too.

Of intrigue is Corner Braking 2.0. That means the car can control rear braking to improve turn-in in corners and allow the driver to brake later without sacrificing stability.

The initial draw will be the styling. The glorious grand tourer design with the long nose and the cut-off tail is supposed to be reminiscent of Aston Martin’s Le Mans racers from the 1960s.

Modern aero influences are apparent. Flush door handles clean up the flanks both visually and aerodynamically, while there’s a wide front grille to cool the monster mill behind. Bumper vents channel cooling air to the brakes, too, and the bodywork is made from carbon fibre.

Aston has given the Vanquish its latest-generation infotainment system, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, but keeps physical switchgear, rendered in metal, on the dash. 

Luxurious sports seats are standard, and customers can choose more performance-orientated seats if they so wish. Aston Martin says the seating position has been designed for long-distance driving with a low centre console and scalloped door handles to provide room for the driver.