Aston Martin’s Vanquish S is more powerful and more focused than its predecessor

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The Aston Martin Vanquish S has a bit more power, revised styling, and, Aston claims, an overall sportier feel than the standard Vanquish. It also represents one of the last vestiges of the old guard at Aston as the company looks to update its lineup with new turbocharged engines and increasing input from patron Daimler-Benz.

Under the hood sits the same 5.9-liter V12 used in the standard Vanquish, but it now produces 580 horsepower instead of the standard car’s 568hp, thanks to a less-restrictive air intake. That propels the Vanquish S form 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 201 mph. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission that’s been recalibrated to deliver faster shifts. Aston says it also tweaked suspension tuning to make the Vanquish S more responsive in the corners.

The current Vanquish is still a handsome car, and Aston tried to build on that with a new body kit. It includes a carbon-fiber front splitter and rear diffuser that Aston claims have a meaningful aerodynamic purpose, reducing front-end lift without creating too much drag. The Vanquish S also sports quad exhaust tips, and buyers can add more jewelry like carbon-fiber hood louvers and special wheels.

The interior features carbon-fiber dashboard trim in a satin finish, and elaborate quilted stitching on the seats, which are covered in Bridge of Weir Caithness leather that Aston claims is even softer than the stuff it uses in its normal cars. The Vanquish S name is stitched into the headrests, perhaps to emphasize the car’s uniqueness to any friends the owner is trying to impress.

The Aston Martin Vanquish S will be available as a coupe or a Volante convertible. Deliveries will start in April 2017, and pricing starts from $294,950.