MOTORING
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handling guru Matt Becker, mean it’ s both sportier yet better-riding. There’ s more control, more finesse, more accuracy and delicacy. It’ s cultured, tactile, remains unruffled no matter what the road surface below. The differences aren’ t night and day, but to the Aston Martin loyalists who’ ll be buying this car, they’ ll be stark.
If it’ s firmer, how can it also ride better? Here’ s the contradiction with the Vanquish S: stiffer suspension yet better ride. That’ s because the springs and dampers have been meticulously tuned by Becker and his team, to precisely hone every aspect with race car precision. Better control, less roll, less heave and pitch – an altogether more premium ride, despite the fact it’ s also sharper. Wizardry and black magic, that comes as standard with the Vanquish S.
Does it earn its‘ S’ badge? The Vanquish S is a marvellous car to drive. The steering is beautifully weighted and the build-up in forces as you turn into a corner is impeccable( there’ s no hesitancy or‘ grey area’ to steer through, either). Suspension is controlled yet supple, seemingly at ease on the very worst of British roads. It feels lighter on its feet, quick-witted, smaller and wieldier than you’ d expect from its GT-car dimensions. Sportier and sharper, certainly. But I’ d say it’ s also S for superior. And sublime.
How does it feel different to a DB11? The DB11 is an easier car to drive, simply because it’ s turbocharged. It feels more modern. The interior is fantastic; it’ s a‘ new’ Aston, and this is not. What the Vanquish S is, however, is a meticulously honed one, an Aston Martin that feels like it’ s been to finishing school. And it’ s the feeling of such depth of engineering that will draw people to it. It feels more bespoke, more individual. It feels like you’ d hope a £ 200k car would feel.
Verdict In not changing too much and instead honing the fundamentals already there, Aston Martin has perfected its rangetopper – while also keeping the price hike relatively sensible( it’ s around £ 7,000). It’ s now a car brand loyalists will savour, and one that existing Vanquish owners will salivate over. More importantly, it asserts the Vanquish’ s range-topping status in the face of such stiff internal competition from the brilliant DB11.
Sure, its aged interior is a sore point, and the new tech of the DB11 will still see that car take the bulk of sales. But the Vanquish S is now a car distinct enough to confidently sit at the top of the Aston Martin range. It now feels sufficiently special to earn its S stripes. Q
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