Aston Martin may be making headlines with their new Virage powered by the company’s 490hp V12 engine, but back at the headquarters, execs are talking about the return of a specific engine used back in their heyday. The future generation of Aston Martin sports cars may come packing the classic ’straight six’ engine configuration that dominated Aston Martin during the time of the DB7.
Aston Martin’s chief exec, Dr Ulrich Bez, said that the company is already preparing an inline engine of "around 2.5 liter capacity with direct injection and turbocharging." If this kind of engine is used, the models featuring it will be built on the same VH platform that underpins all its current models: "And of course a straight six will fit, because we can already get the V12s in."
The DB7 was actually the last Aston Martin to carry the straight six configuration, so we’re wondering if this particular badge will make a comeback in the next five years. There’s not really much to go on to make an accurate prediction, but considering the Aston Martin DB7 was the highest production Aston Martin model ever, we think bringing it back may not be such a bad idea.
Ever wonder what your pizza man does with that big tip you give him? I doubt too many buy a Aston Martin DB7 Vantage. Then again, this is more likely your stock broker’s new career.
So next time your pizza man shows up in a designer suit, take a peek at what he’s driving.
Aston Martin DB7Z Zagato was born during a meeting between Elio’s son Andrea Zagato, and Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd., in Pebble Beach Concours of Elegance 2001. The idea was to relaunch the collaboration between the two companies.
Four months later (January 2002), Zagato presented to Ulrich Bez and Henrich Fisker his first sketches of the car and obtained the approval during the Geneva Motorshow (March 2002).
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The Aston Martin DB7 was a grand tourer made by Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2003. The grand tourer was available either as a coupé or a convertible, and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 1993. The six-cylinder DB7 replaced the lower Aston Martin V8 models, placing below the hand-built V8 Virage introduced a few years earlier. The DB7 was the most successful Aston Martin model ever, with more than 7,000 built before it was replaced by the DB9. The DB7 was styled by Ian Callum, and it is widely considered one of the most beautiful and timeless of automotive designs.
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