The Basics First: What Is It?
If you've ever wondered what might happen if someone in a finely tailored Savile Row suit got into a bar fight and won gracefully, then the 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish is probably your answer. It's a grand tourer, but not the sort that merely shuffles about on golf courses or leisurely drives to vineyards. No, this one looks like it means business. And judging by the numbers, it very much does.
This is the successor to the DBS Superleggera, which was already a bit of a monster. But Aston Martin has decided that what we all need is more. More power. More style. And most certainly, more noise. On March 22, that symphony of combustion arrives in India.
What's Under the Bonnet?
Ah, the heart of the matter. A proper 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12. And not just a polite V12 that quietly goes about its day like it's running on chamomile tea. No. This one kicks out 835bhp and a positively silly 1,000Nm of torque. That is not a typo.
It's rear-wheel drive, naturally, because dignity matters. And it's coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Aston says it'll get to 100kph in 3.2 seconds, which is, quite frankly, outrageous for something that looks this elegant. Top speed? 345 km, which is helpful if you're trying to get from Mumbai to Jaipur before lunch.
How Does It Look?
Like it's carved from anger and affection in equal measure, you've got Aston's signature vaned grille at the front, flanked by Matrix LED headlights and two positively enormous air vents on the bonnet—presumably there to cool all that righteous fury underneath. There's a black front splitter too because it is a sports car and therefore must have one.
The sides are clean and muscular, with 21-inch forged wheels wearing Pirelli P Zero tyres, which sound like they should be wrapped in velvet but are pretty grippy. Around the back, vertically stacked LED tail-lights and a black panel with the Aston emblem tie it all together in that subtle yet threatening way Aston Martin tends to do.
And the Inside?
As you'd hope, the interior is not some stripped-out racing tub. It's a proper place to sit and rather a nice one. You get a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 1,170-watt Bowers & Wilkins 15-speaker sound system, a wireless phone charger, and, to help avoid any surprises, a full ADAS suite.
It's the sort of cabin where you could do the Mumbai–Bengaluru run in one go and not emerge looking like you've been through a cheese grater. Assuming you obey speed limits, of course.
How Much Will It Cost?
Well, this is the flagship Aston Martin, and if you have to ask, you probably shouldn't be looking. But for the record, it's expected to start above Rs 8 crore, ex-showroom, before options. And let's be clear—there will be options. Fancy stitching, carbon this, Alcantara that. It's all very tasteful. All very expensive.
Rivals?
Yes, the Vanquish does have a rather red Italian problem in the shape of the Ferrari 12Cilindri, and of course, there's always something German lurking about with buttons that do too much. But the Vanquish is less about spec-sheet wars and more about feel. It's the analogue watch in a digital showroom. And it will stand out.
Final Thoughts: Why Should You Care?
This is more than just another V12 GT.; it is a car built for a world that's slowly being overrun by crossovers with electric motors and automatic everything; the Vanquish is, quite delightfully, the opposite of that. It's the defiant shrug of a brand that still believes in speed, noise, craftsmanship, and drama.
So, if you happen to be looking for something to drive through Lutyens' Delhi at dawn or perhaps something to listen to echoing off the walls of the Western Ghats, you may want to mark March 22 on your calendar.
Just remember to spec the louder exhaust for the culture.
