With the new 310 Vanquish, Aston borrows some styling cues - and the carbon fiber body construction - from its One-77 supercar.
The fact that Aston Martin had something big coming wasn’t exactly the most well-kept secret, especially not as a few blurry shots started appearing from the spy photographers always hiding in the hills surrounding Germany’s vaunted Nurburgring.
But now, the British marque has made it official, revealing that an all-new version of its top-line Vanquish model is heading to market, this one official dubbed the Aston Martin 310 Vanquish. And if the new super-coupe looks familiar it shouldn’t be much of a surprise, either. AM officials unabashedly admit they’ve lifted some of the new car’s most striking design cues from the Aston One-77 supercar.
Referring to it as the brand’s “new hero,” Aston Martin’s never-subtle CEO Ulrich Bez suggests the “AM 310 Vanquish is the ultimate expression of Aston Martin design ethos, engineering innovation and technical ability. It offers luxurious, continent-crossing capability and pure driving excitement without compromise.”
The new Aston Martin 310 Vanquish will turn 0 to 60 times of 4.1 seconds and top out at 183 mph.
Among the more significant technical innovations is the shift to a 100% carbon fiber body for the new Vanquish, which Aston also claims has a 25% stiffer chassis than the old flagship model.
There’s a clear familial resemblance, especially in the nose of the new 310 Vanquish, which picks up on cues introduced with the DB9 and DBS models. A flowing character line that flairs off the front headlamps flows, wave-like into broad and muscular haunches. The new waist, side strakes and LED rear light “blades” are directly derived from the One-77, Aston confirms.
A closer look below the taillamps reveals a new Aero Duct system that uses passive aerodynamics to counteract lift at high speeds.
“This is the latest of everything we know, informed and developed from One-77,” added Bez.
The new 310 Vanquish will offer 60% more cabin and trunk space than its predecessor.
The “Super Grand Tourer” is powered by a significantly updated, naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V-12 paired with a Touchtronic 2 6-speed automatic. The powertrain is rated at 565 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque and Aston promises 0 to 60 times of 4.1 seconds. For an “ultimate” supercar, however, it doesn’t come close to the top speed of some of its key rivals, topping out at “only” 183 mph.
Aston claims to have made a number of measurable improvements in terms of creature comfort, meanwhile, the new AM 310 Vanquish featuring a 60% larger cabin and trunk than its predecessor.
The new model will be offered in either 2+2 or 2+0 configuration and will be hand-assembled at the British maker’s Gaydon plant.
Brits will be able to get their hands on one for about 190,000 pounds sterling. When it reaches U.S. showrooms in early 2013 – just in time for the 100th anniversary of the AM brand — expect a price tag of $279,995 for the Aston Martin 310 Vanquish, the maker says.