Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate revealed as swan-song model

Aston Martin is bowing the current Vanquish and its atmospheric V12 engine out of production with the launch of a special swan-song model.

The S Ultimate is based on the regular S so uses the same 595bhp 6.0-litre motor and eight-speed Touchtronic automatic gearbox, enabling it to hit 62mph in 3.5sec and reach a 201mph top speed. It also sits on three-stage adaptive damping and comes with carbon ceramic brakes and carbonfibre exterior trim.

What sets the Ultimate apart from its sibling is an exclusive choice of three bespoke design themes. The first, Contrasting Carbon, mixes Ultimate Black paintwork with Copper Bronze accents outside and Obsidian Black leather with Kestral Tan accents inside. The second theme, Sport Line, paints the car Zenon Grey and adds Cobalt Blue graphics, with yellow and blue accents contrasting Phantom Grey leather inside. The final theme, Modern Lux, uses White Gold paintwork with bronze graphics outside, with Chesnut Tan leather and black accents inside.

All Ultimate models get quilting and headrest embroidery, carbon sills and individual number plaques. Just 175 units of the Ultimate will be made, with prices for coupés starting at £211,995 and the Volante £223,995 - with both models costing £12,045 more than the regular S equivalents.

Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman said of the designs: “With the Ultimate Edition, we have accentuated the Vanquish S’s unique blend of tradition, technology and craftsmanship with a selection of three bold exterior paint schemes and hugely appealing interior packages that make creative use of exciting materials."

Deliveries for the Ultimate will be made in spring 2018, soon after which the Vanquish will be replaced with a harder, more sporting successor. That car will be based on Aston Martin’s new structure and use the brand’s turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine to produce around 650bhp.

The company's decision to shift the Vanquish into supercar territory is part of a line-up blitz, where Aston Martin will also launch a mid-engined rival to the Ferrari 488 GTB and McLaren 720S in 2021. Also planned is the DBX SUV in 2019, to be built at Aston Martin’s new factory in St Athan, Wales, and two Lagonda models: likely a saloon in 2020 followed by an SUV in 2022. The new cars will sit beneath the brand's halo model, the Valkyrie hypercar.