Aston Martins are behind many exotic brands when it comes to technology and engines, but what they are good at more than makes up for that. For instance, in my opinion, the design of the new Vanquish is their best effort since they first drew up the modern DB9 (still a reference point in terms of clean GT/coupe looks). In addition, it’s hugely customizable because it’s hand-made, and the reworked V12 engine now sounds better than ever.

Matt Farah recently had a chance to drive it and share his thoughts on the car. Already an Aston owner, Farah says this car is very evolutionary in its approach to all aspects – it’s a bit better to look at and drive, while its performance numbers are just where you’d expect them to be.

He makes it clear that Astons are not real supercars, and while they can hustle on a mountain road if need be, they are the kind of cars you’d like to keep under 4,000 rpm and just listen to the burble and crackle of the (reworked) exhaust system. Some bad points to note have to do with the car being made by hand.

There are visible flaws in the leather stitching, as with all cars that are put together by hand. However, the ambiance of the interior is still typically Aston-ish, and Farah is also keen to point out that the center stack controls are very nicely laid out and are very usable and practical. He also appreciated the disappearance of the Volvo-sourced sat-nav system, which according to Jeremy Clarkson, only tells you “where you’ve been” – good if you’re suspecting your partner of adultery…

By Andrei Nedelea

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