Chassis dynamics
When developing Vanquish the brief was to create a flagship with crushing capability; a car that felt effortlessly relaxing and secure on long drives, with the ability to deliver its best on all road types in GT mode. Only when the driver wished to further elevate and intensify the performance and character would they feel the need to move into the more aggressive Sports and Sport+ damper modes.
Consequently, Vanquish’s balance of ride and handling has been subjected to exceptional scrutiny to deliver this blend of supple poise and ultimate performance. Increases in body stiffness have been exploited to achieve greater feedback and dynamism, while gains on lateral stiffness have delivered a better load transfer across the front axle, helping to improve responsiveness in the front-end.
The latest Bilstein DTX damper technology – first seen on the DB12 – has been introduced to this V12 flagship model, allowing a significant divergence between the drive modes. This broader range of damper force allows the damper a greater range of refinement and control across the drive mode settings. Ultra-fast damper response times ensure that GT mode retains a compliant ride quality while delivering improved levels of agility and response. Defining a new dynamic character, the Sport and Sport+ modes provide progressively more response and tighter body control.
To enhance dynamic behaviour and response, chassis roll stiffness has been increased with larger diameter anti-roll bars (ARB). With body stiffness enhancements ensuring a solid platform for the chassis, suspension bush stiffness has been optimised to maintain a balance of refinement and control. This minimises unwanted road surface feedback while maintaining optimum suspension control and steering feel.
As the primary link between driver and car, the Vanquish steering system focuses on precision, response and feedback. The fitment of a non-isolated steering column gives an enhanced dynamic feel by providing an uncorrupted connection between driver, steering wheel and body structure.
The Electric Power Assisted Steering system (EPAS) has been recalibrated, focusing on delivering refined on-centre steering feel which is relaxed yet confidence inspiring. By offering optimum steering precision and detailed surface feedback Vanquish expresses its sporting credentials clearly but without dominating the driving experience.
With variable, speed sensitive assistance and 2.27 turns lock-to-lock for easy manoeuvring, the steering is part of the drive mode programmes and so delivers a varied level of assistance dependent upon which mode is selected; GT offering balanced weighting under normal driving conditions with a tighter, weightier and more dynamic feel in the more aggressive modes.
Affording near-limitless configurability and fully integrated within the Vanquish’s global dynamic control systems, the e-diff enables each drive mode to deliver a distinct character. It is one of the keys to Vanquish’s exceptional dynamic bandwidth and creating a car that can instantly mould itself to the driver’s mood or prevailing conditions.
The benefits of the e-diff compared with a traditional mechanical limited-slip differential are transformative. In pure performance terms it significantly enhances both low speed agility and high-speed stability by maintaining a neutral balance, also working to improve handling balance on corner exit while maximising traction. It is also more effective when managing variable grip surfaces, for example a road with patches of wet or snow/ice.
Most significant is the ability to fully integrate the e-diff with the new state-of-the-art Electronic Stability Control system. First launched on DB12 and Vantage, and now featuring the latest control functionality, this new ESP system is designed to offer the driver enhanced dynamic support and maximum safety, with tuning and application unique to the Vanquish. Seamlessly integrated with progressive dynamic control, the system avoids abrupt interventions, predicting optimum grip levels through cutting edge algorithms, while also reacting to momentary vehicle instabilities.
This predictive technology uses a suite of intelligent controllers and software models that continually assess the inputs from a six-dimensional accelerometer, wheel speed sensors, steering angle and pedal angle sensors. This enables the system to build a digital live scenario in the master control unit and utilise all active systems to their full potential.
The use of intelligent model-based controllers enables the system to predict vehicle behaviour and make smaller adjustments, unperceived by the driver, for a natural performance feel while providing a precise estimation to improve individual module performance. The system offers four pre-defined ESP modes (On, Track, Off, Wet), selectable via the ESP button on the centre console. Wet mode is linked to the drive mode, which enhances stability on low grip surfaces.
As the marques flagship sports car, Vanquish features a Carbon Ceramic Brake system a standard. Comprising 410mm discs on the front axle and 360mm on the rear, the CCB system offers increased braking performance, reduced brake fade at temperatures up to 800°C and a significant reduction in unsprung weight (-27kg compared to cast iron brakes), which also benefits ride quality and dynamic handling behaviour.
Brake cooling is achieved via dedicated cooling ducts, which are fed air from an intake in the front bumper and send this mass airflow directly to the brakes without interruption.
The new model-based ABS system employs four new controllers to manage Integrated Brake Slip Control (IBC), Integrated Traction Control (ITC), Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) and Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Estimation (IVE). Together they form a single integrated vehicle dynamics control system to provide significantly improved stopping distances vs. traditional systems, introducing a new dimension of dynamic performance and control.
For example, Integrated Brake Slip Control helps improve stopping distances by maximising available friction at each corner. Combined with slip learning throughout brake control situations and benefitting from integration with the e-diff to keep the car balanced, the system allows controlled braking deeper into a corner for an unmatched feeling of power, poise and control.
Using the latest technology from our engineering partners, and the technical expertise of our in-house dynamics experts, Vanquish is the first of the Next Generation Sports Cars to benefit from Corner Braking 2.0. By forging a stronger link between the Integrated Brake Slip Control and the Integrated Vehicle Control modules, the Corner braking 2.0 system is a predictive optimiser, allowing the car to maintain stability while trail braking into a corner.
This enables Vanquish to hold a tighter line into a corner, utilising more of the rear-end braking potential without sacrificing stability. With higher rear braking potential being used, the driver can brake later, with slip torque vectoring increasing the feel of a smooth and linear driving experience, with better pedal feel and improved slide recovery if required.
While Vanquish was not built for the racetrack, features like this demonstrate the dynamic capability found across our whole range. It is this depth of capability and precise tuning that elevates the Vanquish driving experience, especially for those who wish to fully explore the limits of its performance.
Putting maximum rubber on the road, Vanquish features 21” forged alloy wheels and bespoke Pirelli P ZERO™ tyres as standard. Working closely with its strategic wheel suppliers, Aston Martin engineers have optimised the structure of these lightweight wheels to minimise weight, maximise durability and dynamic performance without compromising the design character. Using cutting edge simulation to ensure all excess weight has been removed, these wheels are lighter than previous 21” wheels.
To balance Vanquish’s unique blend of supercar performance and ultra-luxury driving experience, Aston Martin have worked closely with Pirelli to develop a bespoke summer and winter tyre compound for the marque. For the summer tyres, Pirelli incorporate the tread design of the P ZERO™ (PZ4) into a customised construction. This new P ZERO™ meets Aston Martin's demanding performance targets thanks to advanced technological features and state-of-the-art materials. For cold climates the P ZERO™ Winter 2 offers outstanding safety with excellent braking performance on snow and an 'A-class’ rating for wet conditions on the EU label.
To meet Aston Martin’s driving comfort requirements for both summer and winter equipment, the Vanquish P ZERO™ (PZ4) is equipped with the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS), a technology that can reduce noise inside the car by half thanks to a sound-absorbing device on the inside of the tyre.
Aston Martin’s Director of Vehicle Performance, Simon Newton, said: “Vanquish brings another dimension to the revitalised Aston Martin range. The new V12 engine is a larger-than-life character, with immense torque from just above idle combined with a truly ferocious top-end. It really is an extraordinary engine. This sense of boundless propulsion had to be matched by an equal level of control and finesse; something we have achieved by further exploring the tremendous scope of the new Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers, e-diff and latest generation electronics. We’ve also worked closely with Pirelli, developing a bespoke tyre tailored specifically to Vanquish. The resulting blend of dynamic precision, epic performance and luxurious refinement is uniquely special, with a bandwidth that sets a new standard for the marques halo model and is worthy of the Vanquish name”.