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Very special, this Aston Martin key. It's made from glass.
A work of art, which goes in here. Push it, and listen.
That's what a supercar is all about: that instant special feel.
This Vanquish does the job perfectly fine.
I have to admit I really like Aston Martin as a make.
Even though they're a bit conservative in terms of design.
Take this Vanquish, which was introduced only last year.
Compared to the ten year old DB9, it looks very similar.
And a lot of technical components are shared as well.
But if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It's still a real beauty.
The shape may look alike - beneath that, a lot has evolved.
The 4th gen VH platform is now even lighter and stiffer.
The Vanquish has a carbon body and is lower and wider.
All in all it's definitely a few paces ahead of the DBS.
The only thing that's a bit outdated, is the 5.9L V12.
It was once made from two Ford V6 engines.
This is basically the same unit, though with many upgrades.
And there's little to complain with 573 PS.
Compared to a Ferrari F12, the power band is a bit narrow.
Little happens past 6800 rpm. Throttle response lacks a bit.
Relatively speaking though, with an engine like this.
When you shift down and punch it at the right rpm... Listen!
The speed of this car! The sound of the V12! Amazing!
There's a conventional automatic gearbox, nothing fancy.
There are pedal shifters, but it works very smooth and relax.
So it's a bit conservative in that respect.
Stop cruising and punch it, and it shows a different side.
The steering is brilliant. Few cars offer this level of feeling.
The power steering is hydraulic and it steers very lineair.
You can feel every inch of movement and be very precise.
I prefer Front MR supercars like this over Rear MR.
On turn-in, you get pressure on the front wheels sooner.
So you can instantly feel it 'bite' and steer.
A wrongly set-up chassis may cause understeer as a result.
This chassis is so well-balanced, so you never really get this.
At high speeds and in long corners, it just sucks to the road.
This may be the best chassis you can find in this segment.
It's phenomenal.
It doesn't like narrow, windy roads with slow corners.
It's too much of a GT for that and a bit too heavy as well.
Despite all the carbon it puts over 1700 kg on the scale.
You feel that when steering and braking for a hairpin.
The weight makes the front wheels slide.
But punch it halfway into the corner with ESP off and smile.
Many manufacturers claim to build everyday supercars.
I don't always agree, save for this Aston Martin Vanquish.
You can drive it to work, on holiday, to cruise and to enjoy.
And I'm sure it still looks very pretty in ten years time.
This is no car for a fling, but one to marry.
I think I'm in love.