Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Delivers Holiday Cheer
REVIEW: We Take a Vanquish Volante for a Spin to a California Supercar Show and Toys for Tots Charity Drive
Winter in Los Angeles is one of my favorite times of the year because the weather gets cooler, traffic eases up thanks to increased out-of-town traveling, and there are a ton of holiday car shows and toy drives to attend. Oh yeah, and there’s also Christmas, which came early this year when I was handed the key to a 2016 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante.
With the British automaker’s ultimate grand-tourer in my charge for the weekend, the first order of business was to attend Lamborghini Newport Beach’s December supercar show and Toys for Tots charity drive.
Photo courtesy Daniel Gonzalez/Lamborghini Newport Beach.
Exotic car owners and spectators turned out in large numbers to enjoy the impressive display of vehicles as well as to support the U.S. Marine Corps, the driving force behind the Toys for Tots program. [Event photo gallery]
As I watched all kinds of enthusiasts browse through the gathering of Lamborghinis, McLarens, and Ferraris, I noticed that people would consistently study the Vanquish Volante a bit more closely. They would first do a lap of the vehicle, exploring its subtle features and flowing lines, and then spend the rest of their time leaned over the door, breathing in the intricate interior details.
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Is a Gift Unto Itself
Premium leather, hour-glass contrast stitching, white piping, and carbon fiber trim come together to form one of the most unique and luxurious cockpits that Aston Martin has ever produced. Little did the admirers at the supercar show know that this was only one of many possible interior configurations. Aston Martin allows customers to choose from over 25 colors of leather and 40 shades of contrast stitching.
Those that pored over the exterior were greeted with exposed carbon fiber on the front splitter, rear diffuser, side skirts and wing mirrors. But these beautifully weaved pieces aren’t just visual accents — every single body panel of the Vanquish is constructed from aerospace-grade carbon fiber. What they’re seeing is unpainted elements that hint at the strength and engineering that lie beneath a coat of Ultramarine Black paint.
Aside from weight-savings, the full carbon fiber body provides the required structural rigidity to handle the 568-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 that’s nestled under the hood. Aston Martin’s engineers made zero compromises when it came time to create an outer shell capable of enduring the engine’s 465 lb-ft of frame-twisting torque.
The end-result is a balanced overall package that is agile and extremely rewarding to drive, and it’s an experience that can be further refined with the vehicle’s three-stage adaptive damping system. Normal, Sport, and Track modes deliver precise cornering performance while also absorbing surface inconsistencies for a confident and smooth ride. The Vanquish is easily a triple-threat, excelling as a daily-driver, long-distance grand-tourer, and track monster. It’s no wonder everyone was so drawn to it.
After touring through a few beach cities to take full advantage of the Vanquish’s topless form-factor, my final stop for the weekend was Winterdrive 2016, a fast-growing annual toy drive and car show organized by Purist Group and AutoCon Events.
Sean Lee, founder of Purist Group.
Originating as a casual gathering of friends who shared a passion for the Toyota AE86, the Purist Group has blossomed into a global community with a mission of giving back and helping those in need. This year, the Purist Group has collected over 15,000 toys (and counting) with the help of various organizations, police/sheriff departments, and community leaders. 6SpeedOnline is proud to be a member of Purist Group, and hopes our contribution of plush toys brings about just a few more smiles this holiday season.
With the event drawing to a close and golden hour rapidly fading, I grabbed my Meguiar’s Mirror Bright detailer and prepped for a quick photo shoot. The setting sun really brought out the green and blue undertones of the Vanquish’s Ultramarine Black paint.
Over the span of two days, I’d taken the Vanquish Volante to multiple events spread across the greater Los Angeles area — logging close to eight hours of driving — and enjoyed every single moment. The experience of carving through twisting coastal roads with the wind in my hair and the sound of a naturally-aspirated V12 echoing behind me is what dreams are made of. I can’t wait to see what Aston Martin’s engineers have in store for us with the recently-announced Vanquish S.
Having spent lots of quality time with one of my favorite cars, it’s safe to say that my Christmas wishes have been more than fulfilled. But there are still many children in need of some holiday cheer, so please take a moment and donate toys to your local charity or send them to Purist Group, Attn: Sean Lee, at 17000 Gale Ave., City of Industry, CA 91745 — ’tis the season for giving, after all.
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Photos by Andrew Chen.
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