This isn’t a case where a few bits and bobs were added for show. The Aston Martin Callum Vanquish 25 by R-Reforged features over 350 engineering, material, and design changes from the original Aston Martin Vantage, all overseen by legendary auto design Ian Callum.

Callum, a Scottish car designer who has histories with Ford, Aston Martin, TWR, and Jaguar Land Rover “retired” in 2019 to pursue work at his own, new firm, Callum. The design and engineering business, which focuses on bespoke creations, has this new model as the first public offering result of the new company – just nine months after the project was announced.

Since it was first announced in concept form in 2019, the company has revised its interior, added trim options, and a given the model a definitive chassis and powertrain setup. The result is a model that transforms “the much-loved car into a more practical and relevant GT”.

In development, the model covered over 20,000 miles of testing on a wide variety of U.K. roads, of varying quality, in addition to time at Michelin’s Ladoux proving ground. The result is a crisper setup that delivers a classic GT driving experience. This is achieved by giving the car highly tuned rebound and compression of the Bilstein dampers, stiffer antiroll bars, a 10 mm lower ride height, up to a 60 mm wider track, and specific Michelin Pilot Sport tire compounds.

The result, says Callum (the firm), is “a rock-solid track feel that contemporary GTs often lean towards”. Handling is guided by the driver with a new, more slender wheel in hand, seated in a lower position. Adding suspension improvements, Callum said in a release, created a “more versatile GT eminently suitable for everyday use.”

“After a year of piling on the miles in our development prototype, I’m confident we’ve hit the targets we set ourselves of a very responsive but supple car,” says head of engineering at R-Reforged, Adam Donfrancesco. “There was a perception that much of what we planned was aesthetic but the way the car drives, feels, goes, stops and sounds is actually where a lot of our efforts have been focused.

We’ve defined a set up that finesses the composed, big Aston Martin GT feel but sharpens and hones it in line the progress that new tires, suspension and knowledge brings. It’s got to be a car you want to use and be adaptable; laid back and comfortable enough to soak up a 300-mile trip across Europe but equally engaging and rewarding on a 20-minute run to meet friends at an informal cars and coffee meet. That versatility and accessible performance is something many contemporary GTs lack. We have all missed the chance to just go for a drive for pleasure in the past few months. This is now the car to make the most of those precious times.”

Clients can worth directly with designer Ian Callum, either remotely or at the Warwick, England facility where the model is assembled to specify their purchase. The company offers an unlimited number of paint colors, eight trim options, three transmission variants (manual, automatic, and semi-automatic), and three bespoke 20-inch wheel choices.

The car’s interior highlights British brands. The leather trim is provided by Bridge of Weir Leather Company, while Bremont’s removable pocket watch, an industry-first, remains prominent in the interior that now includes brushed or polished dark chrome details, and a walnut veneer option instead of carbon. Mulberry has developed the luggage to fit snugly in the rear of the cabin.

The under-bonnet revisions are courtesy of R-Reforged. The region features carbon and leather dressing, a bespoke carbon intake system, and tuned equal length stainless steel primary collectors. Oh, and the 580-horsepower V12 engine.

The first batch of cars will be built in September with initial designs destined for Europe and Latin America.

“Too often design studies are revealed only for them to disappear, or for deliveries to end up being years later, leaving customers disillusioned about the viability of coachbuilding such cars,” adds Callum. “With partner R-Reforged, we have delivered on our promise with the first cars in build in September. It’s been an unpredictable time for the entire world but it’s now an exciting moment as the refreshed cars come to life in our workshops.”