Less than a year ago we found out what Ian Callum was up to since he left his two-decades old job at Jaguar. He returned to a prior love, the original Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. A few months and one global health and economic crisis later we hear the news that Callum’s joint project with Swiss-based R-Reforged is very much alive and has now been presented in production condition.
Any fan of British luxury and supercars knows a thing or two about Ian Callum. He is the revered designer of the Aston Martin DB7, V12 Vanquish and DB7 Vantage, along with a wide range of cars from Jaguar (including the C-X75 concept and the all-electric I-Pace).
He is once again working independently – a feat not uncommon for him after leaving Ford in 1990 to form TWR Design alongside Peter Stevens and Tom Walkinshaw. And, fortunately, we did not have to wait long for his next project – the Aston Martin Callum Vanquish 25 by R-Reforged needed just nine months to get born into a production model since its first presentation.
The Swiss-based R-Reforged will take care of production starting this September at is U.K. subsidiary in Warwick. The facility will be tasked with implementing no less than 350 modifications to the V12 Vanquish youngtimer – both at the design and engineering level. The company also promises it has already covered over 20,000 miles in prototype testing.
It also spent time honing the dynamic abilities at Michelin’s Ladoux proving grounds. Among others, the Vanquish 25 arrives with a 10mm lowered stance, up to 60 mm wider tracks and a completely remastered suspension that includes new Bilstein dampers. While the design changes have been set in stone by none other than Ian Callum, the personalization choices lie entirely at the will of the customer.
The custom build will include from the start a base choice of eight trim colors but the body shades amount to infinite possibilities. Future owners will be able to further select three unique 20-inch alloy wheels as well as three transmissions – a classic manual, a comfortable automatic or a modern semi-automatic.
The stylish exterior is doubled by a royal atmosphere in the cabin thanks to the latest modifications – new brushed or polished dark chrome trim along with a walnut veneer option can be selected instead of the initial carbon fiber cockpit. Meanwhile, the leather appointments still come courtesy of the Bridge of Weir Leather Company.
Callum also did not forget to include the stylish Bremont removable pocket watch that featured prominently in the 2019 concept. We also know the exact power specifications – the reworked V12 will not bridge the 600 hp threshold and instead settles for exactly 580 horsepower.
On the other hand, the mill itself is a work of art – featuring carbon and leather trimming along with custom “equal length stainless steel primary collectors that create a sonorous V12 howl.” The first production batch is scheduled for September and the units will reach customers from Europe and Latin America.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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