2003 Aston-Martin DB7

The Aston Martin DB7, known internally as the NPX project, was designed to replace the twenty-year-old Aston Martin V8. It was made mostly with the resources from Jaguar and had the financial backing of the Ford Motor Company, owner of Aston Martin since 1988. The DB7’s platform is an evolution of the Jaguar XJS’s, though with many changes.

With production of the Virage (soon rechristened V8 Vantage) continuing at Newport Pagnell, a new factory was acquired at Bloxham, Oxfordshire, where every DB7 would be built throughout its production run.

The convertible Volante version was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 1996. Both versions have a supercharged straight-6 engine that produced 335 bhp (246 kW). In the United States, the Coupé sold for $140,000, and the Volante for $150,000. Works Service provided a special Driving Dynamics package, which greatly enhanced performance and handling for drivers who wanted more than the standard configuration.