The Aston Martin Vanquish: James Bond’s Company Car

In 2001 the Aston Martin Vanquish was the anchor of the fleet. These beautifully hand constructed automobiles were considered the premiere touring car. This car was the last one produced at Newport Pagnell after forty nine years of manufacturing. The Aston Martins will no longer be built by hand. The Vanquishs luxurious interior and aluminium body was assembled in approximately forty eight days.

Aston Martin was initially questioned about the engine. Some thought it was the product of Ford. It was felt that the company had combined two Ford Duratec three litre engines. This proved to be incorrect, although there were some parts of that engine that were used. The 5.9 litre V12 engine, 460bhp that made up the Vanquish was definitely created differently from the Duratec.

Other Aston Martins have also had to undergo some scrutiny for their handling capabilities and manual gearbox. Critics who have driven the car find less fluidity in the Aston Martin than in other vehicles, such as Ferrari. Suggestions were made that driving the Vanquish, made prior to 2001, could result in a gearbox failure as a result of insufficient support.

The 2001 model still did not see the necessary changes for the gearbox issues. It was the 2007 Ultimate Edition which provided an improvement critics felt was appropriate. The modifications to the gear box of the last forty cars were a success. The company now supplies the new style gears as a refit for earlier models.

Though the Vanquish has had some issues it is still considered a superb vehicle. It has a charisma that cannot be ignored. The grille, xenon lights, and hood of the vehicle are extremely noticeable, setting it apart from any other automobile on the road. The wheels, strakes, and position of the frame allow for a combative look.

More power was given to the 2005 version, the Vanquish S model. With a 520 bhp engine this vehicle could achieve 204 mph and it could go from 0 to 60 in a mere 4.7 seconds. By changing the power of the engine Aston hoped that the handling problems that faced the first Vanquish would be alleviated.

There were other changes in the Vanquish S model. What had once been a rather expensive option now came as a standard package. The Sports Dynamic Pack gave the automobile better stability in three areas; that of handling, steering and braking.

In 2007 the Aston Martin Vanquish was discontinued and it was replaced with the new DBS model that was based around the more modern and highly acclaimed DB9. In 2010, Aston is rumoured to be releasing a proper Vanquish replacement, however as production has now moved to Gayden in Warwickshire it is unlikely to recreate the hand built construction of the stunning but flawed Vanquish.

The Vanquish is a amazing and stylish machine that really stands out. If you want to give your car lights the Aston Martin treatment you will need to upgrade your Car Xenon Xenon Bulbs. Phoenix Autobulbs specialise in automotive lighting and their extensive range includes modern Xenon Xenon Bulbs that produce a brighter light.

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