The Aston Martin Vanquish used to reign on top of the Aston Martin food chain. It is an eloquent grand tourer capable of sprinting across continents at an adrenaline-pumping pace. Here we look at an unheralded variant of the mighty British grand tourer, the Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition. It was birthed into the second generation of the Vanquish, styled with blacked-out elements all around and inside. While being mechanically and dynamically identical to the regular Vantage of its time, the Carbon Edition brandishes a more sinister demeanor. Produced for the 2015 and 2016 model years, it came powered by the same sonorous 568-hp naturally aspirated V12 motor as its regular counterpart. Exotic Car Trader has crafted this elaborate Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition Review, meticulously dissecting and disserting every minute aspect of this mighty supercar.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition belongs to the second generation of the Vanquish and was marketed for the 2015 and 2016 model years. The revered first-generation Vanquish, designed by Ian Callum, was initially revealed at the 1998 Detroit Auto Show as a front-engined super-GT concept called “Project Vantage”. It was soon put into production, slapped on with Aston Martin’s maiden V12 motor, and christened with the Vanquish appellation. The first-gen Aston Martin V12 Vanquish arrived for the 2001 model year, invigorated by a 460-hp naturally aspirated V12 engine. Fast-forward to 2005, Aston Martin introduced the Vanquish S, a thoroughly upgraded version of the car which now churned out 520 horses from the same motor. Production of the first-gen Vanquish ended in 2007 coinciding with the shutting down of Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell factory after 49 years of operation. The second generation, Gaydon-built Aston Martin Vanquish was incepted in 2012, styled by Marek Reichman, who also designed the legendary Aston Martin One-77. It is called Gaydon-built as it was manufactured in Aston Martin’s current headquarters and main production facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England. The second-gen Aston Martin Vanquish was also powered by a modified iteration of the same naturally aspirated V12 motor, which was further upgraded with the 2014 facelift of the car. The Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition, being produced for the 2015 and 2016 model years, received one of the most evolved versions of this Aston Martin V12.
Under its long hood, the Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition gets the standard AM29 specification mid-mounted 5.9-liter naturally aspirated V12 motor as the regular Vanquish of the period. It comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission dubbed Touchtronic III. The motor not only churns out 568 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque but also emits all kinds of eargasmic noises. Power is channeled exclusively to the rear wheels and according to Car And Driver, this rapid grand tourer slingshots to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. The Vanquish is on the portlier side, with a curb weight of 3,945 lbs, but also is fleet-footed with a claimed top speed of 201 mph. The suspension setup consists of a 3-stage Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Normal, Sport, and Track modes. In terms of driving dynamics, performance, and comfort, the Vanquish is a chameleon, that can quickly shift between a gentle zephyr and a raging tempest. It is all the supercar you need as it effortlessly plays the role of a flamboyant party-goer’s ride, a daily driver, an interstate cruiser, and even a competent racecar.
While on the engine side, the Carbon Edition is identical to its regular sibling, on the inside things are singularly tailored. As its name suggests, the Carbon Edition flaunts a black-themed cabin, brimming with Obsidian Black full-grain Luxmill leather and Alcantara. The seats, headlining, seat accents, and inner panels also come finished in the same sumptuous materials, whereas the center console and inside door handles are bedecked in carbon fiber. The center console and dashboard have an old-school charm which makes the cockpit an endearing place to be seated in. Everything is analog, featuring clicky buttons and sensory dials with a black anodized finish. Even the Piano Black side air vents that resemble butterfly wings contribute to the richness of the cabin. Aston Martin offered the option to equip the car with an optional black One-77 leather-wrapped steering wheel with, you guessed it right, black Alcantara inserts. The paddle shifters came forged out of carbon fiber as standard, while red, yellow, and silver were available options. Overall, the Vanquish Carbon Edition has a sumptuous cabin shrouded in various hues of black.
The second-gen Vanquish is a perennial beauty that has a strong resemblance to the iconic Aston Martin One-77 hypercar. Its voluptuous curves and flowing lines have resulted in a silhouette that looks scintillating from every angle. Unique touches on the outside include black window surrounds, black headlamp eyebrows, and a graphite finish on the tailpipes. To complement the black accents, components including the mirror caps, splitter, and diffuser have been crafted out of exposed carbon fiber. The standard 20-inch 10-spoke forged Gloss Black alloys were offered in both regular and Diamond Turned specifications, wrapped around in Pirelli P Zero high-performance rubber. The brake calipers were offered to be specced in Black, Grey, Red or Yellow. Surprisingly, exterior paint options weren’t limited to black, as Aston Martin offered five hues to choose from. Carbon Black II, Stratus White, Ceramic Grey, Onyx Black, and Morning Frost White were the available options in the U.S. market.
Don’t expect Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity because the Vanquish Carbon Edition doesn’t have a touchscreen. However, what it does sport is an exceptional 1000-watt Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 13-speaker audio system. The infotainment system comprises a 6.5-inch LCD screen with USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Satellite navigation is included as standard, while a 6-CD auto-changer was on the options list. No, it's not loaded with screens like most modern cars, but it is packed with the essentials. You will surely be able to find more tech-savvy listings on Exotic Car Trader, but the Vanquish Carbon Edition has its distinctive sui generis attributes that give it immense éclat.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition was sold for the 2015 and 2016 model years in both 2+0 seater coupe variants and 2+2 seater Volante (convertible) variants. When brand new, the cars were retailed for a starting MSRP of $302,695. The exact production numbers of the Carbon Edition are unknown, but this blacked-out Vanquish is surely a rare item. Based on three successfully executed auctions on Bring A Trailer, the Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition has a current average used market value of 142,500. This is almost $25,000 higher than that of the second-gen Vanquish, which according to Classic.com has a current average market value of $117,606. In conclusion, you’ll have to spend more to get your hands on one of these gems. If you own one of these magnificent machines, or another coveted collectible, finding the right buyer for it might seem like a tiring process. Believe it when we say it isn’t anymore. Selling exotics including luxury cars, sports cars, supercars, hypercars, and custom-made machines is simply a walk in the park now. Exotic Car Trader has uncluttered and optimized the exotic selling process to deliver an unmatchable level of ease and convenience.
Cars like the Aston Martin Vanquish are now part of a bygone era. Sure, there are faster, more powerful, more comfortable grand tourers around. But they aren’t as delectable as their progenitors in terms of delivering an all-encompassing driving experience. It is undeniable that the addition of twin turbos has somewhat muted even the best of modern V12 motors. That is where decade-old cars like the Aston Martin Vanquish loom large. Under its hood resides a melodious naturally aspirated V12 with 568 restive horses at its disposal. The Vanquish is a master of its domain, which is precisely grand touring. In simpler words, the Vanquish can cross countries effortlessly while keeping its occupants cocooned in otherworldly luxury and maintaining a more-than-high average pace. But it doesn’t stop there. The Vanquish isn’t just a long-distance travel companion, as it can thrive in both calm and chaos. Get it out on the winding twisties or the racetrack, and this Aston Martin magnum opus becomes a powerful crescendo. Push it to the limits, and you will find that you are the one being pushed to the limits. Even compared to all the prestigious Aston Martin listings on Exotic Car Trader, the Vanquish Carbon Edition still stands out due to its uniqueness. Also, acquiring rare collectibles might seem like a Herculean task. Fret not because Exotic Car Trader has got your back. Get in touch with us now to get your hands on the automotive dream child of your fantasies. The Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition is a rather special variant of this phenomenal GT car, differentiated by its blacked-out aesthetics. It’s got all the remarkable goodies from the regular Vantage, presented in a meaner, more menacing aesthetic package.
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