VANQUISH AT HERITAGE MOTOR CENTRE

Aston Martin Lagonda Limited has donated the new Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (similar to the new James Bond car) to the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon.

Ian Minards, general manager of sales and former chief programme manager of Aston Martin Vanquish, handed over the keys to Stephen Laing, curator of the Heritage motor museum.

Stephen said: "I am delighted to accept this superb car on behalf of the museum, it will take pride of place within our large collection of British cars and I am sure it will be a very popular exhibit with visitors to the museum, giving an unusual opportunity for the public to view a dream car at very close quarters."

The V12 Vanquish is a superb example of contemporary British craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art composites and material. It is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 190 mph (306 km/h) with a 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in less than five seconds. The six-speed, Formula-One style transmission is operated by an electro-hydraulic gearshift that operates with a flick of the paddle shifter on the steering column - the system changes gear in approximately 250 milliseconds, in other words at the blink of an eye.

The Vanquish will go on public display from 30th April alongside the 1934 Aston Martin Ulster racing car also on show in the Heritage Motor Centre museum.