The Aston Martin Vanish, sorry Vanquish, featured in ‘Die Another Day’.
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is a grand tourer that was introduced in 2001 as a successor to the ageing Virage range.
Featuring a maximum speed in excess of 190 mph and a 6.0 litre V12 engine developing more than 450 horsepower, the vehicle was unveiled at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show and was produced from 2001 to 2005. The V12 Vanquish was replaced by the DBS in 2007, with the Vanquish name being revived in 2012 for the successor to the DBS.
The V12 Vanquish rose to fame after being featured as the official James Bond car in Die Another Day, the twentieth James Bond film. In the film, the Vanquish has the usual Bond film embellishments, including adaptive camouflage which rendered the vehicle
Overview
Engine
The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9 L (5935 cc) 48-valve 60° V12 engine, which produces 343 kW (460 hp) and 542 N·m (400 ft·lbf) of torque. It is controlled by a fly-by-wire throttle and a 6 speed ‘paddle shift’ or semi-automatic transmission and will accelerate to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds and 100 mph in under 10 seconds.
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Design
The V12 Vanquish was available as either a 2+2 or 2 seat coupe. The distinctive radiator grille and lower air intake are flanked by distinctive driving lamps and turn indicators. Both the front wings and hood panels incorporate a series of finely detailed compound curves which sweep back to intersect dramatically with the main cabin form. The rear fenders also flare out from the bodyside, extending back to a wide rear deck that supports the upper cabin, reminiscent of the DB5.
The main body structure of the new V12 Vanquish including the floor and the front and rear bulkheads is formed from extruded aluminium sections bonded and riveted around the central transmission tunnel which is constructed entirely from carbon fibre. Single piece composite inner body side sections with carbon fibre windscreen pillars are also bonded to the central structure to create a high strength safety cell.
Criticisms
The Vanquish has drawn criticism for a number of weaknesses in its design. In particular, some interior materials have been cited as unfit for a car of this price and prestige. Much of the aluminum trim is actually plastic and several of the instruments are visibly related to items from less exotic Ford Motor Companyproducts. Additional concerns of owners and testers included the weight and apparent cooling system deficiencies of the car. Weighing well over two tons with driver and fuel, the car’s sporting aspirations were drawn into question by its excess weight and a cooling system that reportedly failed to support sustained track activity in warm weather.
James Bond’s Vanquish
Die Another Day
In the film Die Another Day, after having his licence to kill reinstated by M, Bond is equipped with his new car – the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (playfully nicknamed the “Vanish”). The car was equipped with all the usual Bond refinements including its most notorious feature: a cloaking device, which allowed it to become practically invisible at the push of a button. The car would go on to be heavily featured in the movie, especially during the Iceland segments, where the car is involved in an elaborate chase sequence with a Jaguar XKR driven by the villain’s henchman Zao.
Whilst the standard car came with rear wheel drive and a massive 5.9-litre V12, the Vanquish used for filming was equipped with four wheel drive and a Ford-sourced 300bhp V8 in order to increase traction on the ice.
007: NightFire
Following the release of Die Another Day the V12 Vanquish would appear in the 2002 video-game 007: NightFire. In NightFire, players got a chance to race through the streets of Paris, through Austrian villages and plunge into the depths of the South Pacific. The vehicle was equipped with a range of new features including a rocket booster, EMP projectiles, smokescreen generator and a sub-aquatic mode reminiscent of the Lotus Esprit S1.
