Vanquish 25 by Callum: an Aston Martin with the kinks ironed out
Ian Callum, the designer of the original Aston Martin Vanquish, wasn’t entirely happy with it. His second go – the Vanquish 25 by Callum – is a marvel, says Nicole Garcia Merida.










The original Aston Martin Vanquish and its designer, Ian Callum, have always had “something of an on-off relationship”, says Steve Cropley on Autocar. There were features to be proud of, but also those that Callum was disappointed with, which is why he revealed last year that he was leaving Jaguar after 20 years to launch 25 revised and redesigned Vanquishes, backed by the Swiss R-Reforged group.
Callum’s work hasn’t been in vain. When you approach the 2020 Vanquish, “its quality hits you immediately”: the “lustre of the paint, the richness of the black chrome window surrounds, the new stance on more prominent wheels”. The 5.9-litre V12 engine has been tweaked to produce an extra 60bhp, taking it to 580bhp.
It would be easier to list the ways in which the car hasn’t been improved, says Jake Groves on Car magazine. The bodywork “has been cleaned up from nose to tail” and the bespoke exhaust system now has it “singing tenor rather than baritone”. The car starts with a “V12 harrumph” like any other recent Aston, but “when you do stretch the legs of that V12… What a noise”. And the more you drive it, “the more you realise that the ceiling for the car’s talent is high… this 1,800kg grand tourer can hustle just as athletically on a twisty road as plenty of brand-new sports cars”.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
All of the issues that most dated the original Vanquish have been addressed, says Jason Barlow on Top Gear. The dashboard is made from carbon fibre, the console features an eight-inch display that runs Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and Callum worked with leather specialist Bridge of Weir to develop a signature tartan. Mulberry has created bespoke luggage that fits and matches the car.
Such painstaking work doesn’t come cheap, says Cropley. The batch of revised Vanquishes is only 25 strong and that’s already half sold. Buyers will pay around £450,000 if they bring their own car, preferably a Vanquish S (worth around £100,000). Alternatively, the team can find a suitable car on the market. What you get is a “whole new level of craftsmanship, albeit for a massive price”.
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Nic studied for a BA in journalism at Cardiff University, and has an MA in magazine journalism from City University. She has previously worked for MoneyWeek.
-
Pierre-Édouard Stérin wants to make France great again
Conservative billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin is seeking to lead a political and spiritual renaissance across the Channel. The planning looks meticulous
-
Investors have overlooked emerging markets' top innovators
Opinion Carlos Hardenberg, portfolio manager, Mobius Investment Trust, highlights three emerging market stocks where he’d put his money
-
Pinewood Technologies: a drive for growth
Pinewood Technologies’ platform is one of the best in the business. Investors should buy in
-
'EV maker Faraday Future will crash'
Faraday Future Intelligent Electric is failing dismally to live up to its name, says Matthew Partridge
-
8 of the best houses for sale with follies
The best houses for sale with follies in the grounds – from a five-storey Victorian Gothic tower in Tonbridge, Kent, to a former mill in Oxfordshire with gardens that include a folly on an island in a lake
-
Sotheby’s fishes for art collectors – will it succeed?
Sotheby’s is seeking to restore confidence in the market after landing Leonard Lauder's art collection, including Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer
-
Review: The Lakes by Yoo – luxury living in the Cotswolds
Travel The Lakes by Yoo combines a luxury hotel stay with the convenience of a holiday rental in a gorgeous lakeside setting
-
8 of the best houses for sale with separate accommodation
The best houses for sale with separate accommodation – from a converted 17th-century threshing barn in Monmouthshire, to a Grade II-listed Queen Anne house in North Yorkshire with four apartments in the stable block
-
Review: Bequia Beach Hotel – nostalgic fun in the Caribbean
Travel Bequia Beach Hotel on the island of Bequia in St Vincent and the Grenadines is a resort with personality that is as luxurious as it is playful
-
8 of the best properties for sale with orangeries
From a converted Victorian Catholic school with a chapel in Kingston Upon Thames to a 12-acre country estate with mature gardens and a lake in Nantwich, Cheshire, we look at some of the best properties for sale with orangeries