Categories
Aston Martin

VIDEO: Aston Martin Vantage GT3 teaser

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 teaser

The current Aston Martin Vantage (VH platform) has been with us for 10 years now. It’s still one of the best looking cars around. But there’s still life in the old dog yet!

Later this year, at the Geneva Motor Show to be precise (5–15 March), Aston will launch the road-going Vantage GT3. Cool and fast. Very fast!

Firm details are scarce at this stage but expect the road-going model to be based on the racecar version of the Vantage GT3. That means you can start drooling over a 600hp V12 engine, a stripped out interior and a rather extreme body kit.

To help you with that drooling Aston has released a short video teaser (see below).

Categories
Aston Martin

Aston Martin gives “unique” DB10 leading role

Aston Martin DB10

The 24th Bond film will be called Spectre and it will star this Aston Martin DB10. For now the DB10 will be limited to 10 models for filming purposes only.

Sam Mendes, director of Skyfall and Spectre, was consulted during the design process which was led by Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer.

From the single image we have to go on the DB10 has a clear lineage with the DB9 and that’s a good thing. We’d love to learn more about the Bond DB10 but all we can tell you for now is that it “gives a glimpse to the future direction for the next generation of Aston Martins.”

“In the same year that we celebrate our 50-year relationship with 007, it seems doubly fitting that today we unveiled this wonderful new sports car created especially for James Bond,” said Dr Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin.

“To be partnering once again with EON Productions is great news for this company and for everyone around the world that loves to see Bond at the wheel of an Aston Martin.

“I’m incredibly proud of everyone in the team at Gaydon who have brought this special project from concept to reality.”

Spectre is due for worldwide release on 6 November 2015.

Categories
Aston Martin

Buy your own “Skyfall” Aston Martin DB5

Aston Martin DB5, Skyfall replica

The Aston Martin DB5 is sub zero cool in its own right, but its association with the James Bond franchise makes it one of the coolest cars money can buy.

And the good news is you can buy your very own Bond DB5 for just £28,000. Yes, that’s just a shade over AUD50,000. Even better it’s an exact replica of the classic DB5 featured in the most recent Bond flick, Skyfall. Of course this is the same as the car from Goldfinger, the film in which the DB5 made its first Bond appearance.

The catch? It’s a 1/3 scale model.

All of sudden 50 large is not looking so affordable any more. On the plus side the doors open and you can play with famous gadgets like the revolving number plates, pop-up rear shield and, yes, you can even play with the machine guns. Machine guns!

There’s only 100 of these replica models to be made, so get in quick!

Categories
Aston Martin

Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake Zagato revealed

2014 Aston Martin Virage Shooting Brake Zagato

Normally, if you put the words Aston Martin, shooting brake and Zagato into the same sentence we’d be drooling with excitement. And, now that somebody has put all those words into the same sentence, we’re left a little bit disappointed.

It’s nice and all, the detailing on the C-pillar is beautiful, but overall it’s just not as appealing as one might have thought it would be. In two-dimensional form at least.

Maybe we’re just being picky. One thing is clear, with their long association, we hope this is not the last time Aston Martin and Zagato get into bed together.

Categories
Aston Martin

A pictorial history of the Aston Martin logo

Aston Martin logo 1949

According to the Aston Martin website there’s been 10 different iterations of the company’s logo. Starting with a circular roundel AM style logo in the early twenties, right up to the more familiar wings design seen on its cars today.

Beginning in the late 1940s, under his ownership, the name David Brown appeared on the badge as well and remained until 1972 when Brown sold due to financial troubles.

Although, Brown did achieve a lasting legacy with Aston Martin as his “DB” initials are still used in model names to this day.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Categories
Aston Martin Mercedes-Benz Porsche Video

Can anything stop the GT3 winning this test?

Drive 911 GT3 v V12 Vantage S v C63 AMG Black

The Porsche 911 GT3, it’s the it car of every moment. It’s a Porsche, so you know it’ll be well built with the driver in mind more than anything else. It’s a 911, so you know it’s got a heritage other cars only dream of. And it’s a GT3, so you know it’s going to be one of the best 911s of its generation.

Can anything touch it? Chris Harris took an Aston Martin V12 Vantage S and a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series—both highly desirable cars in their own right—for a drive in the countryside to find out.

Categories
Aston Martin

Fake plastic spree forces Aston Martin recall

Aston Martin Virage

Counterfeit materials used by a “third tier” Chinese parts supplier have given Aston Martin cause to recall more than 17,500 of its cars. The only model to escape the callback is the Vanquish, while all other left-hand drive models built since November 2007 and right-hand drive models built since May 2012 are affected.

The part concerned is a pedal arm for the accelerator which does not meet specification and could break causing a stuck throttle, for example. Despite internal investigations discovering the only recorded example of the pedal arm breaking occurred while a US dealer was performing a retrofit for an existing recall campaign Aston Martin has taken decisive action to remedy the potential problem.

A letter to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (320kb PDF) details the problem and states:

Aston Martin’s engineering specification requires pedals arms to be made of PA6 material supplied by DuPont. Initial tests on the failed pedal arm have shown that the Tier Three Supplier (defined below) used counterfeit material, which was received in bags labelled as DuPont PA6 material.

Tests reveal that the failed pedal arm was made from material consistent with PA6.6 material, rather than DuPoint PA6 material as specified in our drawing specification…

All counterfeit material and all pedal arms made of this suspect material have been quarantined.

Representatives from Aston Martin and DuPont will travel to Shenzen Kexiang Mould Tool in China to supervise the production of the new pedal arms using materials supplied directly by DuPont.

Aston Martin says it will contact all owners about the recall and it plans to shift production of the pedal arms from China to the UK “as soon as possible in 2014”.

Swift, decisive and assertive. That, Volkswagen, is how you carry out a recall.

[Source: Reuters & NPR]

Categories
Aston Martin Video

Aston Martin reflects on its 100th birthday

Aston Martins at the Nurburgring

As you know Aston Martin celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013. The CC100 Speedster concept was a fitting tribute to the brand’s style and racing heritage. But there was so much more to Aston’s party celebrations. After the break you’ll find a brief highlights video showing some of the fun they enjoyed throughout the year.

Of course, Aston Martin also suffered an unthinkable low last year, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans when popular GT racer Allan Simonsen was killed at the wheel of a V8 Vantage. We think it would have been appropriate to acknowledge that in some way in this video. Alas, they chose otherwise.

Categories
Aston Martin Drive Thru

Drive Thru: Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin Rapide

Back when I tested the BMW M5 another car joined us on the test. As you’ve clearly guessed by now that car was an Aston Martin Rapide. And while I didn’t get a lot of time behind the wheel it would be rude not to share the experience with you.

Prior to hitting the road we met for a bite to eat and while walking back to the cars the Aston had to drive past us to join our small convoy. Right away it was clear that Aston Martins enjoy much public adoration. People stopped to look as the V12 Rapide drove by, one person clearly heard saying, “Wow, did you see the Aston Martin!”

And with good reason, too, because the Rapide is a beautiful looking car. Long, lithe and beautfully proportioned.

Even during our test, where the road is shared with weekend warriors of all persuasions—cars, motorbikes and cyclists—we enjoyed a chat with a few like minded souls. Nobody seemed to care about the M5, they just smiled at the Aston and wanted to ask all about it.

Inside the Rapide it’s just as beautiful as out. The materials are first class and its assembly was difficult to fault. It has a few ideosynchrasies, like the gear selector buttons beneath the central air conditioning vents, but you really could spend all day snuggled inside this cabin where all your senses are spoilt.

Although, not so much if you had to ride in the back seat. Curiously, for a car designed as a dedicated four-seater the back seats are a very snug fit. Indeed, if anyone in the front row is tall then the rear seat is not much good for anyone other than a small adult or child.

Okay, so we know the Aston is special enough to make the experience an event even before the 6.0 litre V12 is fired up, what happens when you press the start button?

Categories
Aston Martin

Thank christ for that!

Aston Martin Cygnet Concept

We have no idea who The Supercar Kids are but if their source for this latest rumour is bang on we don’t really care. They claim that production of that Aston Martin Cynical abomination has quietly come to an end.

The Toyota iQ based city car sucked in the great Stirling Moss, of all people, and probably a few others along the way. It was horrible as a concept car and we think the world very nearly ended when confirmation of its production was announced.

Unsurprisingly, we’re warned, there’s still quite a few unsold ugly ducklings in Aston Martin dealerships around the world. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

[Source: The Supercar Kids]

Categories
Aston Martin

VIDEO: Aston Martin Rally to London

Aston Martin Rally to London

Last month Aston Martin held its Rally to London drive across Europe as part of its centenary celebrations. They’ve published a short clip to YouTube to show us what we’ve missed out on. And while it looks like it was more a social event than a pure driving event we’d very much like to have joined the ride:

Beginning on the shores of Lake Como the rally took in St Moritz, the Black Forest, Aston Martin’s Nurburgring test centre and Château de Cocove before crossing the Channel to join a celebration of Power, Beauty, Soul.

One of the participants has documented the experience via his personal blog. All those Astons, all those classic European sights and roads. It would have been fun!

Categories
Aston Martin Mercedes-Benz

Aston Martin seeking technical partnership with AMG

Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

Aston Martin has announced it signed a letter of intent with Mercedes-AMG GmbH to enter into a technical partnership with the German firm.

The deal is expected to see AMG secure a 5% stake in Aston Martin in exchange for access and development of bespoke V8 engines, along with electric/electronic (e/e) components from Mercedes-Benz Cars.

A formal agreement is yet to be signed but both companies are working towards finalising the deal, which may be subject to regulatory approvals, before the end of the year.

“We have selected AMG specifically as the basis for this powertrain development process,” said Ian Minards, Aston Martin Product Development Director.

“Aston Martin sources cutting edge technology from key suppliers around the globe and the opportunity to include content from Mercedes-AMG GmbH in our next generation sports cars is, clearly, good news.”

Ola Källenius, Head of Mercedes-AMG GmbH added, “We are proud to work with Aston Martin and provide them with powertrain and e/e components for their forthcoming sports cars. This is proof of AMG’s technological and performance expertise and a real win-win situation for both sides.”

No further detail will be provided from either manufacturer until the partnership has been signed off.