700-HP Aston Martin Vanquish Mid-Engine Supercar Is Dead

According to several reports, the long-awaited return of the Vanquish nameplate is in doubt, as Aston Martin has confirmed that the mid-engine supercar it was developing has been put on ice indefinitely.

The Vanquish was in line for a revival for the past few years, but in 2020, Aston Martin said that it would switch from its traditional front-engine layout for the nameplate, creating a third mid-engine Aston alongside the Valhalla and the insane V12-powered Valkyrie. At the time, we were led to believe that a new in-house-developed V6 would power the Vanquish, offering over 700 horsepower.

Speaking with Car and Driver, an Aston Martin spokesperson confirmed that the Vanquish had been canceled, while Motor1 got a response saying that the brand is «moving away» from the Vanquish and its «mid-engine V6 design.»

The wording in the latter response is particularly intriguing, suggesting that the project may simply take a new focus.

Aston Martin has not explicitly said that the Vanquish name is gone forever, and the choice of wording in its latter statement above could indicate nothing more than a change in direction, which we already knew of.

At the launch of the DBX707, then-CEO Tobias Moers told CarBuzz that the aforementioned in-house-developed V6 had not even begun development, and over a year ago, Aston Martin teased a new production version of the Valhalla that was expected to arrive with an AMG-developed twin-turbo V8 generating 740 hp — and that was before accounting for a hybrid system that would ultimately boost total output to 937 hp.

This power plant could surely still be repurposed for another mid-engine sports car, and even without the hybrid element, it would be an exciting proposition. Aston Martin went to the trouble of creating a concept, and it was well-received, so what gives?

We already know that mid-engine Astons will be limited editions going forward. Already in June, executive chairman Lawrence Stroll confirmed that plans for a mass-produced mid-engine supercar (the Vanquish) had come to an end and that any future mid-engine cars would be made in small volumes.

Vanquish is too important a name to leave on ice forever, and although it may not