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2013 Aston Martin DBS Ultimate Edition
 
For the 2013 model year, Aston Martin is producing an all new DBS, which means the current lineup is, of course, on its way out the door. Recently, an insider sat down with Car and Driver, and discussed what the British automaker’s plans are with the current DBS. According to the source, the final 100 models of the DBS will be dubbed the DBS Ultimate Edition and will feature a nice array of extra goodies. The source didn’t offer too much about what the Ultimate Edition will include, but said to look to the differences between the 2010 DBS and the 2010 DBS Carbon Black for a good idea of what’s to come with this model. This would first off mean that there are likely not going to be any mechanical modifications. Then again, 12-cylinder monster pumping out 510 ponies, there is really no need for any mechanical changes. For the most part, the changes will be extra features and a few mild visual changes. The vast majority of the additions to the 2010 DBS Carbon Black Special Edition was making everything black on the inside and outside, except for a few splashes of silver on the inside. The rims were a polished alloy with its inserts painted, you guessed it, black! You also had the option of alloy or carbon black doorsill plates – woo hoo a choice other than black. The 2010 Carbon Black Special edition also added in an upgraded 1,000-watt stereo system. To wrap this all up, we can anticipate a new paint job for the Ultimate Edition, something not already a part of the DBS line. A set of upgraded rims to mimic the paintjob should be expected. Plus, we should anticipate an upgraded stereo system from the already impressive 1,000 watt system on the existing DBS. This is all we know at this point, we will keep you up to date as more info comes out. UPDATE 05/08/12: Itching to see what the Aston Martin DBS Ultimate Edition looks like? Fret no longer because the British automaker recently dropped the covers off of their final DBS models with some catalog photos online! Check it out in all its sleek and spankin’ sexiness. UPDATE 05/14/12:Aston Martin has announced prices for the new special edition DBS Ultimate: $287,576 for the coupe and $302,576 for the roadster version. 1966 Aston Martin ’Short-Chassis’ Volante
In 1965, the Aston Martin DB5 was on its way out of showrooms and the new DB6 was being shown off at the London Motor Show. Between these two events lies the shortest-lasting production model convertible ever produced by Aston: the 1966 Aston Martin Volante. The Volante was based off of the 37 remaining unused 1965 DB5s, but donned the more luxurious amenities of the DB6. When this model debuted, it was nicknamed the “Short Chassis” in an effort to help distinguish it from the longer DB6. As a result of the name, many people mistook that as meaning it was actually a shortened version of the DB5, which it is not. Despite its awesome performance for the era, sharp looks, and popularity, the Volante was only an interim car. It was used just to bridge the gap between the time that the DB5 left and the DB6 hit showrooms. This means that production ceased as soon as the 37 unused DB5 chassis were converted. Coming across a rare Aston Martin like this happens just about as often as you have a chance of seeing a Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster. Okay, maybe it’s a little more likely than seeing those, but you get our point. Well, get your wallet and passport ready, as RM Auctions is just about to auction off one of the 37 1966 Aston Martin ’Short Chassis’ Volante units on May 12th, 2012 in Monaco. So how does this classic Brit motorcar look, feel, and drive? Click past the jump to read our review and find out. Full story
Aston Martin developing new sports car to celebrate 100th anniversary
 Aston Martin is undoubtedly one of the most iconic sports car manufacturers in the world, and with the British marque set to celebrate its 100th birthday next year, Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez recently confirmed that the brand will debut a brand new model next year to celebrate. In an exclusive interview with AutoExpress, Bez stated "This will be an entirely new model. We have to do something remarkable to mark our centenary. It won’t be a DB9 with a Centenary Edition badge and it won’t be a limited edition like the One-77 supercar. This will be a mainstream Aston." It’s currently unclear which model Aston Martin plans to bring into the market, but expect something out-of-this-world and vastly different from the DBS and One-77 which currently top the Aston Martin lineup. It’s vital to point out that whatever the new car is, it won’t be a limited edition so just as Bez stated, so don’t expect a direct competitor to the One-77. This leaves us with a few options. It could be a brand new Aston Martin SUV which revives the historic Lagonda nameplate, or more likely will be a derivative of the V12 powered DBS which has been spotted testing in recent weeks. If Aston Martin does in fact base this new model upon the DBS, then expect marginally different styling as Bez also confirmed that “You need evolution in design, not constant change” If that statement rings true in the upcoming model, then redesigned bumpers, skirts, headlights and taillights could be the go, and for all we know, Aston Martin have something very special planned in the performance department to increase horsepower over the DBS. We’ll just have to wait and see! 1991 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Sanction II
The working relationship between Aston Martin and Zagato started 50 years ago when they introduced the DB4GT Zagato in October 1960. Over that span of time, this dynamic duo created some of the sleekest sports cars, leading up to the 2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato. One of those exquisite vehicles was the DB4GT Sanction II Zagato in 1991, which will be up for auction at Bonhams’ May 19th Aston Martin sale. The DB4 GT Zagato Sanction II is powered by a 3.6 liter straight-six engine that delivers a total of 352 HP and a peak torque of 330 lbs-ft. The model can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 153 mph. The original DB4GT Zagato was built in a limited run of 20 units, but the Sanction II Zagato was even more rare, limited to only 4 units. The reason behind this is that there were four unused chassis numbers from the original 1961 DB4GT Zagato, and in 1991, Aston Martin approved the build of these four vehicles. They were then uprated to GT specifications and sent to Zagato to get bodied like the originals. As previously mentioned, one of these four units will be available for auction at Bonhams’ Aston Martin sale, but some lucky auction-goer will have to hand over a large check in order to take this rarity home. The DB4 GT Zagato Sanction II has been estimated at £1.2 - £1.5 million (between $1.95 - $2.4 million at the current exchange rates).
Future Aston Martin DBS will deliver 550 HP
We know already that Aston Martin is working on a new generation DBS and today, AutoCar is offering a few more details on the upcoming sports car that has been announced to be "a huge revamp of today’s DBS." The new version will get more aggressive styling, a higher-quality interior, and more power in order to make it a stronger competitor for the recently announced Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. The new Aston Martin DBS will feature an exterior design inspired by the One-77 supercar with thin plastic panels, a more pronounced rear wheel arch, and more side detailing. At the front, the new DBS will feature a wider grille and a distinctive airdam chin spoiler. Under the hood, Aston Martin will place a 6.0-liter V12 engine that will deliver a total of 550 HP - an increase of over 40 HP over the current generation. The engine will be mated to a new eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. The new generation Aston Martin DBS will be revealed at Pebble Beach in August 2012. Aston Martin One-77 Sold Out
Aston Martin delivered its first One-77 supercar back in January 2011 and now, after more than a year, the company has officially sold out of all its 77 units, despite the car’s huge price of $1,825,000. The company has sold out a total of 4200 vehicles in the past 12-months, including all of the 77 One-77 units. Compared to the previous year, the company ’s profit has been increased by 7% to a total of $817.3-million. During a recent interview at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, Aston Martin’s CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez said: "The Aston Martin brand is stronger than ever. This is demonstrated by intense interest in the new V12 Zagato, recently shown at the Geneva Motor Show, and our $1.93-million One-77 supercar – all 77 of which are now sold." The One-77 is powered by a 7.3-liter V12 engine that delivers 750 hp. The supercar sprints from 0 to 60 time of 3.5 seconds and can hit a top speed beyond 200 mph.
2012 Aston Martin Dragon 88 Limited Edition
The Beijing Auto Show has become one of the biggest auto shows in the world, largely because of China’s growing stature as the biggest auto market in the world. So with the ever-increasing spotlight shining brighter and brighter on this event, automakers have taken notice and have put their best feet forward with the cars they bring. One automaker in particular is Aston Martin, which is coming to Beijing with a special "Limited Edition 88" model. The special edition Aston will be available in a number of models, including the V8 Vantage S, the Virage, and the DBS. A big allure of the Limited Edition 88 model is the fact that it’s being built to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon with the number 88 playing a prominent part, largely because of the number’s symbolism for good fortune and prosperity. The Limited Edition 88 can be had in a number of different color tones, including Amethyst Red, Volcano Red, and Champagne Gold. Each exterior color comes with a unique interior finish that includes Spicy Red, Deep Purple, and Red Chancellor. Other elements on the Limited Edition 99 are metal and burl Piano Black finishes with a contrasting Sahara Tan stitching, a special badging that comes with the model number, and dragon logo. True to its special edition nature, the plate is made out of filaments of Metallic Gold, Truffle Cream, Winter Wheat, and Kestrel Tan. Then there’s the Aston Martin logo, which can be found on the tailgate and is coated with 24-karat gold. Lastly, the Limited Edition 88 has been fitted with a new set of alloy wheels in a ten-spoke design and silver finish and black brake calipers. The British automaker will only produce 88 models and each will be reserved exclusively for the Chinese market. 2013 Aston Martin Vantage
The history of the Aston Martin Vantage began back in 2005 with the unveiling of the V8 version. Then in 2009, the model expanded with the addition of a V12 version. After a series of technological updates received in 2008, the model has now been revised once again. The updated Vantage will be displayed this year at the Geneva Motor Show next to the recently announced Zagato version. Most changes have been made to the V8 version, while the V12 model continues unchanged. For the V8 model Aston Martin has replaced the optional six-speed Sportshift automated manual transmission with a new seven-speed Sportshift one. Also, a series of updates have been made to the car’s chassis and a new braking system has also been added. As for the exterior and the interior updates, most changes have been inspired by the Vantage S and N400 limited edition and make the car looking more aerodynamic and sportier. UPDATE 04/11/2012: Aston Martin has announced the US prices for the new V8 Vantage model. The coupe version will be priced at $118,370 while the roadster version goes up to $132,870. We are still waiting to see how much we will have to pay for the V12 version. Hit the jump to read more about the new Aston Martin Vantage. Full story Aston Martin vs. Inline Skates
There are some “versus” videos that we come across that once we read the titles we simply just keep moving. Things like “Dodge Viper vs. Tomahawk Superbike” come to mind. C’mon, same engine but the bike weighs over 1,000 pounds less. Yeah, no need to watch that one. Other times titles are so intriguing we cannot pass them up, regardless of how obvious they seem. In a day’s work, we came across this gem titled “Aston Martin vs. Inline Skater” and thought “what the…” Thinking it was going to be some sort of goofy prank, we almost skimmed right past it, but figured watching it wouldn’t hurt. To our surprise this is a legit video of a German man racing an Aston Martin Vantage, from what we can tell. You may be wondering how the man on the skates plans to keep up with the Aston Martin, which has about 400+ horsepower. Well, he specially fitted three miniature jet engines, which produce 300 horsepower, onto a suit and used them to propel him down a 1/4-mile straight. According to the driver of the car, the skater claims that he has reached upwards of 120 mph and had no objections after finding out the Aston Martin could clear a 1/4-mile in 13 seconds. You might still think there’s no chance for the inline skater, but you may be shocked to see just how fast those inline skates will go. Plus you can get a good laugh at the driver of the Aston Martin as he is more impressed with the speed of the skater than trying to win the race. Sit back and enjoy the video above. Oops, we almost forgot, don’t try this at home. Aston Martin and John Lobb create line of special edition driving shoes
Over the past few days, we’ve seen a lot of crossover products from partnerships between automakers and various other companies. Not one to be left out in the cold, Aston Martin wants to keep our feet warm and stylish, thanks to its new collaboration with John Lobb to create the ultimate lightweight driver’s shoe. Did we expect anything less from two of Britain’s finest? The special Winner Sport shoe, which was co-designed by Aston Martin’s Director of Design Marek Reichman and John Lobb’s Creative Director Andrés Hernández, is as sleek and aerodynamic as it’s being billed to be. It’s made from full-grain calfskin and lined with supple sheepskin. Soft padding was added at the ankle to ensure maximum comfort while metallic eyelets that have been punched with a wheel of fine holes reflect the style and language of the British automaker. Lastly, the Winner Sport shoe also comes with a specially-engineered bonded rubber sole that wraps beneath the shoe, ensuring a style of sleekness and a sporting feel that few other shoes can match. More than just the technology and expertise used in building the shoe, Winner Sport also comes in a wide palette of color combinations, including Graphite Grey, Winter Wheat, Frost White, and Saddle Tan, all of which are made with the Sporty Stratos White rubber sole. Likewise, Storm Black, Bitter Chocolate, Westminster Green, and Aurora Blue color schemes are made with Racy Fire Red rubber soles. Each color also comes with red and white laces. The Winner Sport shoe is set to drop at selected John Lobb and Aston Martin stores on May 12, 2012. Leading up to that, the shoe will be previewed at the opening of the new Aston Martin W-One Store in London’s Park Lane and at John Lobb Jermyn Street this March.
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