Aston Martin Vanquish S

– Los Angeles, California

Among his many words of wisdom, automotive journalism legend David E. Davis, Jr., had a firm belief that everyone should drive (or own) a V12 car at least once in their life. And while the newer crop of turbo and biturbo 12-cylinders are, in their own rights, damn good, I have a feeling David E.’s words are better suited to engines of the naturally aspirated type. Engines like the 6.0-liter V12 under the hood of the Aston Martin Vanquish S.

The free-breathing V12 is a dying breed. When the Vanquish goes out of production, so too will its engine, as Aston Martin looks to turbocharging (and electrification) for its future. So it’s in the spirit of David E. that I drive the pants off Aston’s incredibly gorgeous, super analog, 12-cylinder GT car one last time.

Pros

A total powerhouse. Dig into the throttle and unleash a wave of power: 595 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, delivered with total linearity. Without the peaks and valleys of power that plague some turbo engines, you quickly learn exactly where to keep the tachometer needle pegged to stay in the Vanquish’s meaty powerband. Give it hell from a standstill and you’ll hit 60 miles per hour in three and a half seconds. Keep the engine on boil in third and fourth gears and you’ll always have enough thrust to blast out of a corner, a deep, 12-cylinder roar accompanying your every move. The full experience of this engine’s power delivery – the feeling, the sound – is intoxicating.

The joy of a...