New Aston Martin Vanquish spy shots

When winter testing in the UK actually gets snowy!

Aston Martin would probably be let off forgetting about the Vanquish right now, what with launching the V8 Vantage road and race cars, plus introducing the V8 DB11, occupying its time at the moment. However, as these spy shots show, it would appear that development of the third generation Vanquish is well under way.

What's new? As expected there's some strong influence from both Vantage and DB11, the front end being particularly recognisable. Even at this stage it looks a more aggressive design than those two cars, however, the Vanquish's flagship status asserted with some prominent intakes, bonnet vents, broad rear haunches and an aggressive rear diffuser. It looks a more compact car than the outgoing Vanquish as well - though that could of course be a trick of the disguise - with shorter overhangs and a more confident stance. Wheels look great, too.

We would expect the next Vanquish to borrow heavily from the DB11, both in terms of the new aluminium platform and the 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12. In the DB that makes 600hp - identical to the current Vanquish S - so that power output looks likely to climb for the next car. When you bear in mind that the Aston will face rivals like the 635hp Bentley Continental GT and the 610hp Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T, the prospect of a 650hp Vanquish is not an unrealistic one. Jolly good...

Our sources are suggesting that the Vanquish will be launched in 2019, which gives a year for the V8 Vantage to become established and also time to welcome the DB11 Volante into the fold as well. A grand Geneva unveiling would surely do it justice. Let's hope there's more soon what looks like a very exciting new Aston!