For those of you wishing to take your DBS experience to the next level, Aston Martin offers the Volante, a car we got to preview with Mareck Reichman. So wait for a sunny day, drop the roof, close your eyes and imagine that you too are 007, all for the small price of $286,500.
The DBS Volante is powered by Aston’s 6.0 Liter V12 that is also found in the DBS coupe pumping out 510 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque. This assists the Volante to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in under 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 191 MPH and is available with either a six speed manual or the optional ‘Touchtronic’ gearbox. The drop top DBS is also equipped with high end performance features like carbon ceramic brakes as well as a few weight saving pieces like the carbon composite hood, trunk and front fenders.
Meanwhile the DBS Volante’s cockpit is made up of genuine aluminum dials and nobs, Bang & Olufsen sound system with tweeters that pop up out of the dash and a key made of crystal as well as seven cowhides to finish the luxurious leather interior. Members of the more money then what they know what to do with club can also pick up a $40,000 Jaeger-LeCoultre wristwatch that will open the doors and turn on the lights. If we were a little more juvenile, this would be the part where we make a reference about James Bond, seduction and toplessness. But we’re better than this, after all that’s what the comment box is for.
Full breakdown in the press release after the jump.
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Black is the color that will always be in fashion. And when you combine Carbon Black with Aston Martin models you get the perfect sports car. To celebrate the enormous success of the DBS and V12 Vantage, the British company has revealed the DBS and V12 Vantage Carbon Black Special Editions, that according to the company will be price approximately 5% over current base prices.
Both models come painted in Carbon Black metallic paint especially formulated with a subtle metallic twist to create a deep rich patina. The exterior look is completed by a bright finished grille and front parking sensors (normally an option). The interior is finished in Obsidian Black leather highlighted with a contrast silver coarse stitch.
There are also lightweight seats formed from Carbon Fibre and Kevlar that help saving 17 kg from the total weight. The Aston Martin 700w Premium Audio System is delivered as standard in the V12 Vantage while the DBS boasts the Bang & Olufsen Beosound DBS audio system as standard.
Press release after the jump.
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The English coach builder Aston Martin announced back in June that they would sell a rebadged Toyota iQ in Europe as the new Cygnet city car in the near future. Well today the British super car maker is following up on their promise by releasing the first official images of the compact concept.
According to Aston Martin the "Cygnet concept represents a creative, environmentally conscious solution, being small, yet with presence – and highly fuel efficient, now combined with the prestige of Aston Martin’s luxury brand ownership." We know that Aston is banking on owners looking for a premium alternative to public transportation, but the question that remains to be answered is just how much of the upcoming Cygnet will be Japanese engineering and how much will be classic English craftsmanship, and whether or not the people from Prodrive have any tricks up their sleeve to go under the bonnet? We will just have to wait a little longer until the production version is unveiled in 2010 to find out.
Press release after the jump.
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The 2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage will appear in dealer’s showrooms starting in January of 2010 and the English super car maker has just released a few official images of the 2010 car in both coupe and convertible forms. The new Vantage will come complete with a few modifications inspired by the Nurburgring special N400 Vantage.
The 2010 model will get new optional 10 spoke forged 19 inch alloy wheels with a diamond turned and silver finish. The rear of the new Aston receives a set of cleared out tail lamps while up front the 2010 Vantage benefits from a Magnum silver bonnet. On the inside the hand built super car maker is offering a pair of lightweight carbon kevlar racing buckets that shed over 35 pounds from the sports car as well as the optional 1000 Watt Bang & Olufsen in car entertainment system.
Aston Martin will retain the same 420 HP 4.7 Liter V8 engine, with a few mechanical changes being confirmed for the electronically controlled transmission that will lower the hand built sports car’s CO2 emissions from 328 to 315 g/km, and all the way down to 300 g/km for the Speedshift version allowing Aston’s super car owners to sleep a little easier at night knowing that their new cars are a bit greener than before. Stay tuned to Top Speed for more information about the 2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
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After more than 3 years of speculation, the English coach builder Aston Martin has finally unveiled the Rapide - their first four door sedan in the super car maker’s lineup. Watch out Porsche Panamera owners, because deliveries of the all new super sedan from Gaydon will begin in early 2010.
The Rapide’s engine is the venerable 6.0 Liter V12 lifted directly from the Aston Martin DB9, and will make the exact same 470 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque as the coupe. The fat four door will be able to go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 5.1 seconds and reach a top speed to be estimated at 188 MPH.
The Rapide’s power plant is mated to a six speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission, which offers the ease of a traditional automatic via the push buttons mounted on the dash or a much sportier manual transmission mode with the wheel mounted paddle shifters.
According to the automaker: "There is a real sense of proportion with this car, akin to a tailored suit; the new double grill gives more presence on the road while the iconic signature side strake has been lengthened through to the rear doors to enhance its lateral proportions in a subtle, yet elegant way. The car’s purity makes it look right from every angle."
Press release after the jump.
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Revealed in 2007 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance , the Aston Martin DBS is by far one of the most beautiful cars out there. With an unique design and pure performance, the supercar was designed to fill the gap between road and track.
According to Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, said: “The DBS is the ultimate expression of Aston Martin’s engineering and technical ability. It offers pure performance without compromise.
Featuring flowing curves, complex surfaces and an unrivaled sculptural beauty, the DBS is a classic Aston Martin in its every inch, but in the same time its aerodynamic excellence and impressive performances are the characteristics of a modern sports car.
When creating the DBS, Aston Martin focused on achieving the right balance between strength and mass, reason why, like DB9 and the DBR9 and DBRS9 race cars it is built on the VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture. Thanks to this structure, the weight is being kept to a minimum, and with the front-mid mounted engine and rear-mid mounted transaxle the company obtained a near perfect weight distribution: 85%.
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The high performance English coachbuilder Aston Martin has announced that after competing in the 37th Nürburgring 24 hour race this past May, the V12 Vantage muscle car is also slated to compete in the upcoming Shelsley Walsh National Hill Climb Festival that will take place soon on August 15-16.
This beautiful blue Aston Martin not only receives the 6.0 Liter V12 from the larger Aston Martin DBS, but also a pair of really cool rally inspired driving lamps in the grill and an interesting wheel and tire combination, that judging from the photo varies from front to rear. This Nür spec Vantage almost certainly has a few more than the standard versions 510 HP resting underneath that wonderfully vented hood and should also be able to better the production version’s 4.2 second 0 to 60 MPH time, but where they might have gotten close to the roadgoing car’s 190 MPH top speed on the back straight at the Nordshleif, it’s doubtful that they will get anywhere close on the hill.
U.K. motoring journalist Richard Meaden is scheduled to drive the V12 Vantage up the hill. This accredited racer formed part of the driver lineup that piloted the car to victory at the Nürburgring only three months ago. Meaden will be joined by fellow writer Matt Prior from Autocar Magazine when they face the narrow stretches at Shelsley.
Press release after the jump.
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If Aston Martin is going to install its largest engine in its smallest car, then of course it will the car racing. The Aston Martin V12 Vantage got a few minor tweaks to get ready for the Nürburgring 24 hour race on May 23 and 24.
Aston says the V12 Vantage race car will be close to production model, with only essential safety modifications, reduced weight and re-tuned suspension. The car has not had any additional aerodynamic enhancements.
It will be powered by the same 6.0-liter V12 engine that can be found in the road-going V12 Vantage and the DBS. It produces 510 hp and 420 lb.ft of torque, which is a 100 hp improvement over the V8 N24.
Press release after the jump.
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There are certain car companies that absolutely understand what it means to be a driver. Aston Martin is one of them. When Aston decided that it needed to branch out into SUVs for customers who live where the roads are not paved, it reintroduced the Lagonda brand rather than pollute the Aston name.
Aston Martin only builds sports cars, and it builds them by hand.
The V8 Vantage Roadster that arrived on our doorstep came with a $154,035 price tag (base for a is $134K). For that price we instantly become a member of an exclusive club that mixes rich racing history with modern graceful styling.
Like any good group of enthusiasts, we all had trouble containing our excitement for this car. But one we got the fleet rotation down, it was time to figure out how the smallest Aston stacked up against the competition.
Photography by Thomas Carter
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Aston Martin revealed today its concept that will bring back the Lagonda brand. The concept’s styling seems to blends elements of a traditional sedan, SUV and others cars from Lagonda’s history.
Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez sees the Lagonda brand as a way for Aston Martin to branch out into other markets. “Aston Martins are pure sports cars… they are limited in their usability mainly because of the low ground clearance.” Bez says the rebirth of Lagonda must be suitable for or countries that do not necessarily include traditional urban areas. That also means the Lagonda will be geared less for all-out performance, and more about multiple terrains. “We do not intend to claim a lap record around the Nurburgring because there is no point in doing so.”
We shouldn’t be too shocked by the direction Aston Martin is taking on the Lagonda. Back in September when the car was first announced, Bez said, “The revival of the Lagonda brand would allow us to develop cars which can have a different character than a sportscar.” This may be most evident in the chassis considering that it is based on the Mercedes GL. The Lagonda will also be a place for Aston Martin to use powertrains it has not explored before such as flexfuel, diesel and hybrid systems.
There are currently plenty of emerging and established countries with well-heeled individuals who do not have access to proper roads. By making the Lagonda into an SUV/crossover vehicle, this enables Aston Martin to compete in more markets around the globe (there are 100 countries where Aston doesn’t currently operate) without having to tarnish its pure sports car image.
Press release after the jump
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