Aston Martin Vanquish S

It’s the quintessential Aston. The Vanquish S was purposeful yet beautiful, brutally fast yet sumptuously comfortable, and designed to be the ultimate grand tourer. 

The standard Vanquish was launched in 2001, and heralded the modern rebirth of Aston Martin. It was the stunning flagship the maker needed, and with its looks, pace and power, it became one of the world’s most desirable cars. 

The following year, 007 took delivery of his in the film Die Another Day (below), where it boasted machine guns and a device that made it invisible!

The S took things to the next level when it made its debut at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, with a host of performance upgrades.

The mighty all-alloy V12 engine was enhanced with new cylinder heads, revised engine mapping and updated fuel injectors, raising power from 460bhp to 520bhp. The sports suspension, steering and braking package that was optional on the conventional car was also fitted as standard. It included stiffer springs and dampers, as well as shorter steering arms for quicker responses. The paddleshift box remained. It attracted criticism for its slow changes and was disliked by purists – but there is a solution. Aston Martin Works Service offers a retro-fit six-speed manual for owners who prefer a more traditional transmission. 

Despite weighing more than 1,800kg, the Vanquish sprints from 0-62mph in less than five seconds, and the crescendo of noise as the revs top 3,000rpm oozes character. With slightly wayward body control, it’s not as agile as modern Astons, but then it was never meant to be a focused sports car. Instead, it’s a luxury flagship that offers style, comfort and pace. It also holds the honour of being the last model to be built at the famous Newport Pagnell factory, so its place in history is assured. 
 
* Value: £60,000-£100,000

* Engine: 6.0-litre V12, 520bhp 

* Transmission: Six-speed automated manual 

* 0-62/top spd: 4.8 secs/200mph 

* Cars built: 1,088 Vanquish S (1,051 Vanquish)