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V12 Vanquish S            




 
V12 Vanquish S V12 Power & Performance
 

Designed to Stir the Soul

Aston Martin’s hand-built 6.0-litre V12 is renowned as one of the finest engines in the world: enormously powerful, smooth and beautiful. It can also lay claim to being the world’s best-sounding high performance car engine. In the Vanquish S, it reaches its zenith. Maximum power is 520 bhp (388 kW) at 7000 rpm, with maximum torque of 425 lb ft (577 Nm) at 5800 rpm.

Such power delivers sterling performance. Indeed, this is the fastest-ever road going Aston Martin. Top speed is more than 200 mph (321 km/h), the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) dash is accomplished in only 4.8 seconds while 0-100 mph (160 km/h) takes just 9.8 seconds. But it is the mid-range acceleration that is truly sensational; 50-70 mph (80-112 km/h) takes only 6.5 seconds in sixth gear. Overtaking is effortless.

A key factor in the engine’s efficiency is its high-speed multiplex communications system, called PTEC (Power Train Electronic Control), which is capable of transmitting information in four one-thousandths of a second. There are two PTECs, one for each bank of cylinders, linked by a high-speed system that controls the fuel injection and spark timing.

Engine changes in the Vanquish S include new cylinder head castings with revised inlet ports and combustion chambers with revised profiles to improve airflow. A remapped engine management system, together with new fuel injectors and spark plugs takes advantage of this improved airflow. Finally, new hot forged connecting rods have been designed to handle the increased cylinder pressure.

As you would expect, the Vanquish S engine meets all emissions requirements worldwide, including California’s strict LEV (Low Emissions Vehicle) standards.

There is no mechanical link between the Vanquish S throttle pedal and engine. Instead the movement of the throttle is electronically measured to gauge how fast the driver wishes to go. This information is then fed to the engine management system which makes the engine respond accordingly.

The PTEC system links constantly to the six-speed manual transmission, which is operated by an electro-hydraulic gearshift. Unlike some systems, the Vanquish S allows the driver to ‘skip’ down changes from say, sixth to fourth or fifth to second with a pull on the paddle for each gear change. A failsafe system ensures the engine will not over-rev and will automatically opt for the next highest ratio.

The driver has a number of gear change modes to choose from. In Select Shift Manual (SSM) mode, the driver shifts gears up and down using the steering column-mounted shift paddles (right to upshift, left to downshift). The only time the system intervenes for the driver is at the red line, when the computer automatically upshifts. Additionally, there is Auto Shift Manual (ASM) mode, in which the computer takes care of all gear selections according to engine and road speed without driver intervention. But even in ASM mode, subtle use of the throttle can induce gear changes to enhance the driving experience.

There is an optional ‘Sport’ mode in both settings. In SSM Sport, the system allows the driver to ‘bounce’ against the rev limiter without shifting automatically. ASM Sport allows the gearbox to rev higher to use more of the engine’s power, and shifts more quickly.