Ian Callum Revisits Original Aston Martin Vanquish To Make It Way Better

Following the launch of his own business, ex-Jaguar designer Ian Callum announced its first project, the Aston Martin Vanquish 25.

Callum Designs and R-Reforged are planning a re-designed and re-engineered version of the original Aston Martin Vanquish V12, with the project limited to just 25 examples -and fully backed by Aston Martin themselves.

The project has been in development for 18 months and the goal was to refine the design and upgrade the hardware of the iconic British supercar that was originally penned by Callum himself.

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“It’s rare that a designer has the chance to retell the story of one of their own cars. I’ve wanted to do that for some time and with R-Reforged we could do something special,” said Ian Callum. “Materials and technologies have advanced, allowing us to introduce these along with new ideas that weren’t feasible when the car was launched.”

Although the car retains its strong visual character, Callum made over 100 design changes and refinements; the exterior now features new carbon-fiber bumpers front and rear that also improve aerodynamics, as well as new high-intensity LED headlights and taillights for a refreshed aesthetic and better lighting performance.

On the sides we find new strakes made out of carbon, new door mirrors, one-piece carbon window surrounds, re-formed sills and an aluminum/carbon fuel filler. At the rear we find a bespoke diffuser with the new exhaust pipes neatly integrated.

The supercar sits 10mm lower than before and rides on custom forged 22-inch wheels. The tracks front and rear are also wider, while there are new dampers and custom springs fitted. Suspension changes also include a set of larger anti-roll bars front and back to improve steering feel and precision. Callum also added larger, stiffer bearings to both axles, while the factory brakes were replaced with a set of the latest Aston Martin carbon ceramic discs.

The 5.9-liter V12 engine also gets its own set of upgrades, including a new ECU tune, camshaft and the aforementioned exhaust system. Callum claims that the changes add around 60 HP to the engine’s 520 HP output. The company will also offer a modern, six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission for those who want to ditch the archaic single-clutch automated gearbox.

Perhaps the most dramatic changes are to be found inside; Callum replaced the center part of the dashboard with a new one made out of carbon that now comes with an integrated eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument cluster is also new, designed by luxury watch maker Bremont who also provided a removable mechanical pocket watch that nests between the center air vents.

The seats are also new, with the driver’s one offering a lower, more cosseting seating position. Callum also removed the rear seats, freeing up space for both the driver and passenger and making the interior more practical than before.

Customers will be able to provide a Vanquish or have an example sourced by Callum Designs. Pricing for a finished car starts from £550,000 ($660k), plus local taxes, including the donor car. First deliveries are set for late 2020.