Aston Martin Vanquish: The V12 as the Backbone of the Self

For a long time, a V12 has symbolized the essence of a sports car’s identity, a kind of automotive self-awareness and an extension of its driver’s ego. Everyone knows what it means. The relationship with society, with the "world" at large, is clear and unequivocal. However, in recent years, this has changed somewhat. The car finds itself in an identity crisis. The discourse around internal combustion engines in the era of electric powertrains is stripping the car of its identity. In the true spirit of an auto aficionado, one could even dramatize it as a war against mysticism and magic. Feeling emotional already? Relax. There is hope.

Aston Martin is now unveiling the new Vanquish. It marks the return of the Vanquish name and represents the technical pinnacle of the V12. With "All will be vanquished," Aston Martin dramatically teased this release through a social media campaign. The V12 twin-turbo delivers 835 horsepower (five more than the new Ferrari 12Cilindri) and 1,000 Newton meters of torque. This engine is familiar from the DB12, where it—showing a bit of British restraint—produces "only" 725 horsepower and 900 Newton meters. Top speed is quoted at 345 km/h, making it the fastest production Aston Martin ever. Deliveries are set to begin this year, with production capped at 1,000 units annually. Desire through limitation—another tried-and-true concept for sports cars.

The truth is, only a sports car has the ability to influence and shape human consciousness and identity through its form and technology. A sports car is designed to provide complex yet simple dreams and myths. The sight of a sports car unleashes a flood of narratives, stories, myths, and images in the mind. This sets it apart from other cars. However, it also requires clear and distinctive content. A V12 provides just that. It conjures up images and transports them into full-blown cinematic scenes. What specific images those might be is something each individual must discover for themselves. In the case of the Aston Martin Vanquish, the creators of James Bond delivered their version for eternity on the silver screen with *Die Another Day*. Aston Martin’s boss, Lawrence Stroll, calls it the "truest of all Aston Martins." A car with a mission. It aims to set new benchmarks in performance, style, and luxury for "a new generation of enthusiasts."

And for that, the Vanquish sports car, with its V12, must not only provide fleeting moments of satisfaction for its driver but also continually serve as a bridge to happiness. This is no easy task. After all, it's about making marketing promises come true. The Vanquish attempts to elevate capitalism, which often focuses solely on stoking desires without fully satisfying them. Of course, even the new Vanquish won’t entirely succeed in this. But it will come remarkably close, if only for brief, exhilarating moments.