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Twilight Cars Let's take a good look at Edward Cullen's Car, the Aston Martin Vanquish. Twilight has brought several exotic cars to our attention along with introducing us to Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and the rest of the Vampires in the Cullen Clan.
A vampire can’t always be expected to keep a low profile. Although maintenance of the illusion that he fits in with the humans in his small Washington state community is one of the keys to Edward Cullen’s continued peaceful survival, there are just times when he has to cut loose and show the world at least a small part of who he really is. That means trading in the Volvo C30 that he normally drives for one of the most exquisite automobiles ever built – the Aston Martin Vanquish.
A two door luxury grand tourer, the Aston Martin Vanquish was sold between 2001 and 2007, and it represented the very peak of the British car company’s offerings. Just one look at the Vanquish and it was clear that this car meant serious business. The car possesses a graceful yet powerful body shape that is ripped through with the sinews one usually associates with a tiger or other jungle predator. The vehicle also features the same grace that these fierce cats put on display as they stalk their prey, a design that many fans of the brand have referred to as barely domesticated fury.
Of course, with such an aggressive image Aston Martin made sure that the Vanquish was more than just another pretender when it came to performance. The standard Vanquish is powered by a 5.9 liter, 12-cylinder engine that pumps out 460 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed sequential transmission handles gear shifts without the use of a clutch, providing a more direct, performance-oriented shifting experience. For those who can never have enough power, the Vanquish S features a re-tuned edition of the same motor that provides an obscene 520 ponies and 426 lb-ft of torque. The base version of the Vanquish can hit 60 miles per hour from a standing start in just 4.4 seconds, while the Vanquish S knocks that number down to 4.0. The top speed of the Vanquish S is a stunning 210 miles per hour – too fast for most ordinary people, but perfect for a vampire with super-quick reflexes. The S is also lower and features huge 6-piston brakes in the front to add a greater amount of authority to the brake pedal’s already considerable stopping power.
The Vanquish is stocked to the brim with the kind of luxury that only the British can provide. As longtime suppliers of cars to movie super spy James Bond, Aston Martin are well versed in the need to marry elegance and comfort with superior performance. The materials used throughout the Vanquish’s cabin are of the highest quality, and road noise is kept to a minimum thanks to the excellent build quality of the vehicle. While the Vanquish does offer a vestigial back seat, its small dimensions leave it best suited to carry small packages or maybe a grocery bag or two. The Vanquish is best enjoyed from behind the wheel, and that’s where Edward Cullen himself prefers to be, both in life and on the road.