There’s something undeniably cinematic about slipping behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. The name alone evokes tuxedos, winding alpine roads, and that distinct low growl of performance paired with elegance. With the release of the 2025 Vanquish, Aston Martin isn’t just appealing to nostalgia—it’s coming for the throne. Not quietly, either. The brand has its sights set on rivals like McLaren and, most provocatively, Ferrari. The question isn’t whether the new Vanquish is beautiful—it’s whether it finally delivers a supercar experience that competes head-on with Maranello’s finest.
From the moment you lay eyes on the 2025 Vanquish, you sense this is a different kind of Aston. Gone is the subtly reserved styling that once played it safe in luxury grand tourer territory. This new iteration is unapologetically aggressive. The wide stance, carbon-intensive bodywork, and sharp angles speak a new language—one fluent in aerodynamic efficiency and high-performance engineering. Every crease is functional, every intake has purpose. It looks ready to fight. And that’s exactly the point.
But looks are just the beginning in the world of six-figure supercars, where words like “horsepower,” “torque,” and “0–60” mean more than design flourishes. The Vanquish’s new mid-engine layout—a first for a series-production Aston—signals a philosophical shift. It’s no longer about simply making a fast GT. It’s about building a thoroughbred performance machine that can tackle circuits as confidently as it handles sweeping mountain roads. This move positions the Vanquish squarely within the orbit of the Ferrari 296 GTB and the McLaren Artura, both formidable, hybridized beasts in their own right.
The heart of the 2025 Vanquish is a bespoke 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, derived from the AMG unit but heavily re-engineered by Aston’s team in Gaydon. Tuned to produce north of 700 horsepower, it's not just powerful—it’s characterful. It sings differently from its German cousin, louder and more emotionally. When you open it up on an empty stretch of road, the car doesn’t just accelerate—it launches with the ferocity of a much more track-focused machine. Yet even as it surges forward, the cabin remains composed. Not clinical. Not too plush. Just right.
Drivers who’ve tested the Vanquish report that the car’s dual-clutch transmission is perhaps its most transformative asset. In earlier Aston models, gear changes were often a weak link—slow, clunky, indecisive. That’s not the case here. Whether you’re dropping two gears for an overtake or smoothly navigating traffic, the Vanquish shifts with the poise of a dancer. On a weekend drive through the California canyons, one early tester described how the transmission felt “telepathic,” never once interrupting the flow or rhythm of the drive. It’s the kind of mechanical intuition you typically expect from Ferrari’s best.
On winding roads, the chassis truly comes alive. The new aluminum structure is lightweight yet impressively rigid, and the adaptive suspension keeps the car flat and composed even under hard cornering. Steering is sharp and communicative, delivering precise feedback without feeling jittery. There’s a level of confidence here that feels earned, not artificial. It encourages you to push harder, explore more, trust the car. And trust, in a supercar, is everything.
Inside, the Vanquish continues Aston’s tradition of blending luxury and performance, but with a modern edge. The cabin feels like a place designed for drivers first, passengers second. There’s genuine craftsmanship in the stitching, the hand-finished carbon fiber accents, and the sculpted seats that strike that delicate balance between support and comfort. The infotainment system—long a pain point in previous models—has finally been modernized, offering seamless smartphone integration, real-time performance data, and a user interface that doesn’t make you feel like you’re fighting with your own car. It’s not flashy for the sake of it. It just works.
But what sets the Vanquish apart isn’t just numbers or looks. It’s how it makes you feel. One driver, who also owns a Ferrari F8 Tributo, shared that he found himself taking the Aston out more frequently—not because it was faster or objectively “better,” but because it was more emotionally involving. “It’s like having dinner with someone who listens to you,” he said. “It doesn’t just show off—it responds.” That kind of praise doesn’t come easily in the supercar world, where bragging rights are often measured in lap times and spec sheets.
Still, the comparisons to Ferrari are inevitable—and welcomed by Aston Martin executives. They know exactly what they’re challenging. While the 296 GTB offers a potent hybrid V6 and otherworldly performance, the Vanquish counters with analog charm, raw V8 power, and a more visceral driving experience. The Ferrari might be more technically advanced, but the Aston feels more human. That emotional resonance matters, especially for a buyer segment that values soul as much as sophistication.
The Vanquish is also part of Aston Martin’s broader strategy to redefine its performance identity. No longer content with being the “pretty but polite” brand, it’s doubling down on engineering, investing in motorsport, and embracing performance tech usually reserved for race teams. The result isn’t just a car that turns heads—it’s a car that deserves to be on the same track, in the same sentence, as the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the world.
One Sunday morning, a retired aerospace engineer named David took his new Vanquish to a local cars-and-coffee meet in the hills of Malibu. He’d owned everything from Porsches to Teslas but said nothing made him smile quite like the Vanquish. “It’s not just about going fast,” he said, running his hand along the fender like it was a sculpture. “It’s about feeling alive while doing it.” Around him, younger enthusiasts crowded, asking questions, peeking inside, snapping photos. One of them finally asked, “Is it better than a Ferrari?” David paused for a moment and grinned. “It’s better for me.”
That may be the real genius of the 2025 Vanquish. It doesn’t just aim to beat Ferrari at its own game—it plays a different one altogether. Less obsessed with perfection, more devoted to connection. Less about cold, hard numbers, more about the warm, human joy of driving something extraordinary. And in a world of increasingly automated, insulated vehicles, that kind of soul might just be the biggest luxury of all 🏁