Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

Originally intended solely as a concept car, the V12 Vanquish entered small-series production thanks to persistent interest from prospective buyers, dealers and motoring journalists. Ian Callum led its design. The car was officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2001. In 2002, Aston Martin supplied a car to agent 007 for a promotional appearance in the James Bond film Die Another Day.

Buyers could visit the factory during production to select the body colour and the colour of the Connolly leather upholstery. They could also choose between a two-seat coupé and a 2+2 layout. The name Vanquish means to defeat or overcome; the original description also associates it with overcoming a stronger opponent and rising up.

Features of the rear-wheel-drive Aston Martin V12 Vanquish included a completely flat underside and a shift from fine wood to leather and aluminium for the interior trim. Its 48-valve V12 displaced 5,935 cc and produced 460 PS at 6,500 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h took 4.5 seconds, while top speed was 306 km/h.