It's funny how we got to this point. There was the first-generation Vanquish that was directly succeeded by the first-generation DBS, followed by the second-generation Vanquish that eventually gave way to the DBS Superleggera. Now, the latter is making way for a Vanquish again, this time the all-new 2025 model year car.
It’s a nice mess, and while it may seem confusing, it’s worked well for Aston Martin, which has established itself as an authority on performance-oriented luxury grand tours, alongside Ferrari. Sure, you can throw Bentley in there, but the Continental GT isn’t as supercar-like as some might like.
I think the DB9-based DBS kind of spawned what we now recognize as the modern Aston Martin grand tourer. The car was first seen in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, Daniel Craig's first appearance as 007. It also returned for a fantastic pre-credits car chase in Quantum of Solace, a stealthy choice for one of the top 5 movie chases ever.
The British automaker took everything it learned from the DBS and brought it to the second-generation Vanquish, which suddenly had to fight a big bad wolf in Ferrari’s amazing F12berlinetta. When that gave way to the 812 Superfast in 2017, the DBS Superleggera took over as the second-generation Vanquish.
Although based on the V12-powered DB11, the DBS Superleggera is certainly an animal in its own right. The styling is excellent, and the 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 roars to a whopping 715 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. In the limited-production DBS 770 Ultimate, you get even more muscle: 759 horsepower.
Today, we welcome its replacement in the all-new 2025 Vanquish, and you immediately wonder: does it improve upon the DBS Superleggera/770 Ultimate enough, or should you just get the new Ferrari 12Cylinder? Or maybe stick with your DBS? Because it’s also an exceptionally good car.
Let's start with the obvious: the look of these two Aston Martin Gran Turismos.
Exterior style
Photo: Aston Martin
I think both of these cars are so stupidly beautiful that Victoria's Secret might as well strap some swimsuits on them and take some catalog photos. They're both 10/10 in the style department, but the design language isn't the same.
The DBS Superleggera has a striking blend of aggression and elegance. There is a massive grille dominating the front, flanked by slim LED headlights. This is a very modern looking Aston Martin, which is important to note, because even when its predecessors were brand new, you could still identify several classic (if not retro) design elements that made them look and feel timeless.
The modern DBS boasts a modern design through and through. It's literally what Daniel Craig's Bond should drive, while the all-new 2025 Vanquish harks back to a time when 007 was a little classier and less brutal.
This was obviously done on purpose and is a trend that several supercar manufacturers are promoting. Just look at the 12Cilindri and how much “cleaner” it looks compared to the more aggressive 812 Superfast. Or the Lamborghini Temerario with its simpler and more timeless design, compared to the outgoing Huracan. Aston Martin followed a similar recipe and we can clearly see that the new Vanquish does not look as aggressive as the DBS Superleggera.
I'm not a big fan of how much they've stretched the front of the car, especially the distance between the A-pillar and the front axle, which has been extended by over 80mm (about 3.15 inches) to make the bonnet look as long as possible, within reason. The problem I have is that it's now, perhaps, too long.
As for the rest of the bodywork, it’s more sculpted than what you get with the DBS. There’s a lot less drama (for better or worse), so it’s up to you, the buyer, to decide whether you want your luxury GT to look more timeless or “sportier.” You can certainly have it both ways, but I’m not sure the all-new Vanquish is interested in appealing to everyone.
Interior design
Photo: Aston Martin
Aside from the fact that I like the DBS steering wheel better than the new Vanquish's, it would be impossible to prefer the interior of the former to that of the latter. What's great about the Vanquish's interior is that Aston Martin has avoided overusing touchscreens. All the key driver controls are centrally mounted and within easy reach via physical buttons: gear selection, drive selection, heating, ventilation.
Meanwhile, the 10.25″ TFT digital driver display and the 10.25″ Pure Black infotainment screen are both superior to those of the previous model. Superior in terms of quality and connectivity.
According to Aston Martin themselves, they took everything they learned from their current models to design the dashboard of the 2025 Vanquish and it shows. Perhaps the only negative is that the layout looks a bit too “German”, while some buyers might have expected a more exotic/emotional design.
Performance
Photo: Aston Martin
To make this comparison as “fair” as possible, we should pit the DBS 770 Ultimate against the new Vanquish, since it has the greater power. We’re talking 759 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque courtesy of a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 engine (44 hp more than the Superleggera).
In a straight line, it will take you from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, before maxing out at 211 mph. The “regular” Superleggera is just 0.1 second slower to 60 mph and has the same top speed as the 770 Ultimate.
So how does the 2025 Vanquish compare? Pretty favorably, though there’s not really that much in between. The new Vanquish, also powered by a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12, makes 824 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. It can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, while its top speed is a whopping 214 mph.
Price
Here’s where the problem comes in. The all-new Vanquish is expected to retail for around $430,000, which is Ferrari 12Cylinder money. Meanwhile, holding on to your DBS Superleggera or 770 Ultimate won’t cost you a dime, and if you’re looking to buy one of the latter two at auction, well, that’s a little tricky.
We just saw a low-mileage 770 Ultimate sell for $353,555 a few days ago. That’s still a lot of money. However, if you’re good at buying a used Superleggera, it’ll only set you back about $200,000 unless it has delivery miles or something, in which case, maybe $250,000 or so. Which side are you leaning toward?