Photo: Aston Martin
In development alongside the Valhalla, the Vanquish is coming back in 2022 as a mid-engine supercar. As opposed to segment rivals such as the Ferrari F8 Tributo and Lamborghini Huracan Evo, the Aston Martin will be available with a stick shift as a means to stand out from the crowd.
"I've already made a commitment that I want to be the last manufacturer in the world to offer manual sports cars and I want to honor that commitment," said Andy Palmer. When asked by Car Sales if the Valhalla will share this philosophy, the head honcho of the Aston Martin Lagonda made it clear that a dual-clutch transmission will have to suffice.
The big question is, would the manual-equipped Vanquish come as a series-production model or limited-run special edition? A precedent has been set with the V8 Vantage AMR, which costs $200,000 before options. Instead of an eight-speed automatic with a torque converter, the seven-speed manual features a dog-leg pattern and Graziano know-how.
Only 200 examples of the breed will ever be manufactured, which defeats the purpose of offering a manual altogether when you think about it. As it stands, the V8 Vantage in AMR flavor is nothing more than a “look how cool we are” moment for Aston Martin Lagonda. If you run the numbers, you’ll also figure out that the Brits will make a princely profit.
On the upside, it’s worth remembering that Mercedes-AMG couldn’t make a case for a stick shift in the automaker’s V8 models, not even as a limited run. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 numbers three distinct versions (the M178, M177, and M178), and thus far, the engine in the GT 63 S 4Matic+ is the most potent (639 PS or 630 horsepower).
As opposed to the DBS Superleggera and V8 Vantage, the Vanquish will utilize a twin-turbo V6 with hybrid assistance to impress both in a straight line and in the twisties. While the Valhalla is estimated to feature 1,000 horsepower and e-AWD, the lesser sibling in the mid-engine range would need closer to 800 ponies to justify its place in the segment.
The big question is, would the manual-equipped Vanquish come as a series-production model or limited-run special edition? A precedent has been set with the V8 Vantage AMR, which costs $200,000 before options. Instead of an eight-speed automatic with a torque converter, the seven-speed manual features a dog-leg pattern and Graziano know-how.
Only 200 examples of the breed will ever be manufactured, which defeats the purpose of offering a manual altogether when you think about it. As it stands, the V8 Vantage in AMR flavor is nothing more than a “look how cool we are” moment for Aston Martin Lagonda. If you run the numbers, you’ll also figure out that the Brits will make a princely profit.
On the upside, it’s worth remembering that Mercedes-AMG couldn’t make a case for a stick shift in the automaker’s V8 models, not even as a limited run. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 numbers three distinct versions (the M178, M177, and M178), and thus far, the engine in the GT 63 S 4Matic+ is the most potent (639 PS or 630 horsepower).
As opposed to the DBS Superleggera and V8 Vantage, the Vanquish will utilize a twin-turbo V6 with hybrid assistance to impress both in a straight line and in the twisties. While the Valhalla is estimated to feature 1,000 horsepower and e-AWD, the lesser sibling in the mid-engine range would need closer to 800 ponies to justify its place in the segment.
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