The Aston Martin Vanquish is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The model became an icon of the automotive world soon after being introduced, and has endured across three generations and into the present day. This stylish Super GT has become a symbol of Aston Martin’s commitment to innovation, with each generation introducing new elements of cutting-edge technology and design.
Let’s take a look back at the quarter-century-long history of this stylish grand tourer, from its origins as a concept to the high-tech model of the present day. But before we get into that, we have to find out which Vanquish generation is best and if it’s worth investing in.
The Ultimate Used Aston Martin Vanquish: The Second-Generation (2015–2018)
The Aston Martin Vanquish is the quintessential British grand tourer — jaw-droppingly beautiful, fiercely powerful, and dripping with pedigree. However, if you’re scanning the used market, navigating the different eras can be tricky. While the original first-generation Vanquish (2001–2007) is an iconic modern classic, its notorious automated-manual transmission can turn ownership into a mechanical headache.
The clear winner for the best used Vanquish to buy is the second-generation facelift model, produced from 2015 to 2018.
While this second generation actually launched in 2012, the real “sweet spot” arrived for the 2015 model year. This was when Aston Martin replaced the sluggish 6-speed automatic gearbox with the brilliant ZF 8-speed Touchtronic III automatic and upgraded the engine to the AM29 specification. This single mechanical overhaul completely transformed the car’s personality, performance, and day-to-day reliability.
Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated 5.9-liter V12 engine producing 568 horsepower (boosted to 595 hp in the later Vanquish S). It offers a crisp throttle response and a mechanical, spine-tingling exhaust howl that modern twin-turbocharged engines simply cannot replicate.
Thanks to depreciation, this hand-built supercar is currently accessible for a fraction of its original $300,000+ retail price, though values have stabilized as it enters future-classic status.
The average market price, according to Classic.com is roughly $114,000 for a 2015 model with low mileage.
The Vanquish’s Origins: The First Generation
2002 – 2006 Aston Martin Vanquish – front 3/4 angleAston Martin
The story of the Vanquish began in 1998, when Aston Martin presented the “Project Vantage Concept” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Despite its name, the Project Vantage Concept closely resembled the production Vanquish that arrived on the market three years later in 2001.
The Vanquish was equipped with technology at the forefront of innovation for the time, such as drive-by-wire throttle control. It had an aluminum composite monocoque chassis with a carbon fiber backbone, developed thanks to a joint effort with Lotus. The body’s sections, made out of extruded aluminum, were bonded around the central transmission tunnel (made from carbon fiber).
The windshield pillars were also built from carbon fiber and bonded to the central structure: The result was an extremely strong safety cell to keep occupants safe in the event of a high-speed crash.
Power came from a 5.9-liter V12 engine, which produced 460 horsepower and 400 pound feet of torque. The engine was paired with a six-speed automated-manual transmission. This transmission also incorporated cutting-edge technology: finger-tip controlled gearshift paddles, which traced their origins to the world of Formula 1.
2002 – 2006 Aston Martin Vanquish – rear 3/4 angleAston Martin
Computer-controlled manufacturing processes — highly advanced for the time — were used to create every part of the Vanquish. California’s Silicon Valley and the UK’s University of Nottingham collaborated to help the Vanquish come to life through technology.
At the 2004 Paris Motor Show, just three years after the Vanquish had made its debut, Aston Martin unveiled an even more powerful version of the model. This car was called the Vanquish S and featured an engine with the same displacement but increased power and torque output (going up to 520 hp and 426 lb-ft). Some cosmetic changes were also made, including new wheels, the addition of a front splitter, and a redesigned trunk lid.
The first generation of the Vanquish remained in production until 2007.
The Vanquish Evolves: The Second Generation
2015 aston martin vanquish frontaston martin
After a five-year hiatus, the Vanquish returned in 2012 with the arrival of the model’s second generation. The stylish lines that had made the first generation so striking were updated and modernized, keeping the Vanquish fresh and once again capturing the attention of the automotive press and the public alike. Some elements of the design were influenced by a limited-run hypercar built by Aston Martin between 2009 and 2012: the One-77.
Related
Aston Martin’s Ultimate Grand Tourer Is Faster Than A New Ferrari F80, But You Forgot All About It
While the new Ferrari is headline-catching, this more relaxing Aston Martin supercar is even quicker – and possibly cooler too.
The new Vanquish featured exterior panels made out of aerospace standard carbon fiber, which resulted in a considerable reduction in weight. For comparison, the DBS, which had only just gone out of production when the second-gen Vanquish was introduced, was 25% heavier.
Power came from a 5.9-liter V12 engine, which had undergone several revisions compared to the ones that preceded it. These included new fuel pumps and air boxes, larger throttle bodies, and Aston Martin’s first dual-variable valve timing system. Power output was 565 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque.
As a result of these upgrades, the second-gen Vanquish could get from 0 to 60 in just 4.1 seconds, reaching a top speed of 183 mph. It was equally proficient at getting back down to 0, thanks to Carbon Ceramic Matrix braking technology that improved heat dissipation and mitigated brake fade.
2015 aston martin vanquishaston martin
The model was offered in two seating configurations: 2+0 or 2+2. It also had enough storage space in the trunk (around 13 cubic feet) to comfortably handle a weekend trip’s worth of luggage, in true grand tourer fashion.
A convertible version, the Vanquish Volante, was introduced a year after the model’s debut in 2013. Three years later, a more powerful version of the model dubbed the Vanquish S joined the lineup. This variant produced 595 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, and could get to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 201 mph.
The Current Vanquish…
2025 Aston Martin Vanquish heroJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
2026 Aston Martin Vanquish
Engine
5.2-liter V12
Power
835 hp
Torque
1000 Nm
Transmission
8-speed automatic
0-60 mph
3.3 seconds
Top Speed
214 mph
Production of the second-gen Vanquish came to an end in 2018, after which the model went on a six-year hiatus. In 2024, however, Aston Martin revealed the third generation of the Vanquish, a futuristic, completely reengineered model that sits at the top of the brand’s lineup. Fewer than 1,000 examples of this model are built annually.
Related
Driven: 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish Is A Supercar Disguised As A Grand Tourer
The Vanquish costs a lot more than the DB12, but you get a lot in exchange for that price tag.
This Vanquish also has an engine with 12 cylinders on board, but that’s where the similarities end. The new engine is 5.2 liters in size and twin-turbocharged, and has been completely reworked for improved performance. Its output is 835 hp and 1000 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to the rear wheels. It achieves 0-60 in just 3.3 seconds, while the top speed is 214 mph. The latter made the third-gen Vanquish the fastest Aston Martin series production model at the time of its launch.
2025 Aston Martin Vanquish CoupeJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
Like the Vanquish models that came before it, this generation is also packed with state-of-the-art engineering and technology, not just limited to the engine but also extending to other areas like the carbon fiber bodywork, the luxurious interior, and the suspension.
The model was equipped with a double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard, offering reduced brake fade (at temperatures of up to 800°C), a considerable weight reduction, and an overall improvement in braking performance.
Here is what Aston Martin historian Steve Waddingham has to say about the Vanquish’s history leading up to the present, and the model’s striking nameplate: “Any Aston Martin is, of course, a rare and special thing. But for a car to grow and develop as Vanquish has, through three distinct and exceptional generations, is, to my mind, an extra-special achievement, and it is therefore only right that we now celebrate 25 years of this flagship model.”
“Look up the word ‘vanquish’ and you will find it has, in my opinion, one of the best dictionary definitions in the English language. Terms such as ‘conquer’ and ‘overwhelm’ pop up as synonyms and that, broadly speaking, is what the first Aston Martin to bear the now legendary name set out to do; both in terms of its competitors, and in the hearts and minds of buyers. […]
“The second and, now, third generations of our exceptional flagship Super GT have continued to live up to that aspiration and all those associated with Vanquish over the last 25 years can be rightly proud of the cars they have created.” – Steve Waddingham, Aston Martin Historian
…And Its Platform Siblings: The DB12 And Vantage
The third-generation Vanquish shares its platform with two equally iconic Aston models: the DB12 and the second-generation Vantage. The former was released around the same time as the third-gen Vanquish, in 2024, while the latter is a few years older having arrived on the market in 2018.
DB12
2025 Aston Martin DB12 front 3/4Aston Martin
The DB12 is a grand tourer introduced in 2024 as a replacement for the DB11. It is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which produces 671 hp. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. While the DB11 had also offered a V12 engine, this is no longer available in the DB12.
A few months after the DB12’s reveal, Aston Martin added a convertible version called the DB12 Volante to the lineup. The Volante has a powered fabric soft top that can open and close at up to 31 mph. Two years later, the DB12 lineup grew with yet another version of the model, focused on performance: the DB12 S, which produces 690 hp and has a revised transmission for improved acceleration.
Related
Aston Martin’s Hottest DB12 Is Finally Here
The 2026 DB12 S has more power, faster acceleration, standard carbon-ceramic brakes, and a screaming new exhaust system.
Vantage
2025 Aston Martin Vantage Orange Front Angled View Driving On Mountain RoadAston Martin
Aston Martin had previously used the Vantage nameplate for high-performance versions of other models. In 2005, however, the name was used for a standalone model, which remained in production until 2018 when it was succeeded by a second generation. This model shared its platform with the third-gen Vanquish.
The second-gen Vantage was powered by two engines. The 4.0-liter V8, with a power output of 503 hp, was the first one to be made available. A few years later, in 2022, Aston added a V12-powered version to the lineup. This variant sports a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12, which produces 690 hp. The transmission lineup includes a seven-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic, sending power to the rear wheels.
Sources: Aston Martin
