Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS

With nearly 600 horsepower, the concept car Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS is the fastest accelerating Aston Martin ever built.

with 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and above 200mph max speed, Aston makes it a valuable competitor of the Ferrari F599 GTB Fiorano.

Aston Martin sold - Dr Ulrich Bez to remain CEO

Aston Martin annouced new shareholders - Official press release

Gaydon March 12, 2007 - Aston Martin is pleased to announce the start of a new chapter in its illustrious history following the announcement today that the prestigious sports car manufacturer has been sold to a consortium led by David Richards, John Sinders, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment, ending almost twenty years as part of Ford Motor Company.

After 20 years of ownership, Ford divested itself of the brand, its facilities and its products, in a deal valuing Aston at £479m.

Most important part of the deal is that Dr. Ulrich Bez will remain CEO over the coming years. He has been the key in defining the modern Aston Martin shape.

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The current model line-up of the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9, DB9 Volante, Vanquish S and V8 Vantage Roadster will soon be enhanced by the eagerly awaited high performance DBS model. Voted the UK’s coolest brand in 2006, Aston Martin has a fast-expanding dealership network of 126 dealers representing in 27 countries.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

Source: Aston Martin site News - here.

Los Angeles - Nov 2006 - The new Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster - ww most wanted convertible has been unveiled at the LA Auto Show on November 29th 2006.

Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The V8 Vantage Roadster is a pure sports car, a car that heightens the senses and provides a dynamically thrilling driving experience.

“The Vantage Roadster adds to the unbeatable thrill of open air motoring and by combining engineering excellence, technological innovation and physical perfection, will ensure every journey is one to remember.”

Perfectly proportioned, with a low purposeful stance, the Vantage Roadster is uncompromisingly modern yet also incorporates classic Aston Martin design cues. The elegant lines are fused with traditional craftsmanship and striking 21st century style, with an interior hand-trimmed and finished in the finest quality genuine materials.

The Vantage Roadster will be built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon, near Warwickshire in the UK, joining the current Aston Martin line-up. This now comprises the flagship Vanquish S, the elegant DB9 and the agile V8 Vantage Coupe.

some tech specs

- Weight:1710kg
- Max power: 283kW (380 bhp) @ 7000 rpm
- Max torque: 410 Nm (302 lb.ft) @ 5000 rpm
- Acceleration: 0-60mph – 4.9 seconds 0-100km/h – 5.0 seconds
- Max speed: 175mph (280 km/h)

more info here

Aston Martin for sale by Ford

Ford Motor Company puts Aston Martin up for sale. Some potential buyers have already come forward. The luxury goods firms LVMH and rival Swiss Richemont could be interested (source: CAR) although LVMH already denied suggestions and Richemont said "No Comment". The value of the company is estimated to be around $1 billion. The deal would include the Aston Martin name, the company’s facilities at Gaydon and Newport Pagnell, the full R&D department and the management including CEO Ulrich Bez.

FORD TO EXPLORE STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR ASTON MARTIN

Source: Ford

DEARBORN, Mich., August 31, 2006 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today it has begun the process of exploring strategic options for Aston Martin, with particular emphasis on a potential sale of all or a portion of the unit.

"As part of our ongoing strategic review, we have determined that Aston Martin may be an attractive opportunity to raise capital and generate value," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford. "Aston Martin Lagonda has flourished under Ford ownership, which is why we believe it is prudent to consider a sale of all or part of this prized brand. Since Aston Martin's dealer network, product architecture and size are distinctly different from other Ford brands, it is the most logical and capital-smart divestiture choice. The objective of any sale would be to position Aston Martin within a structure and resource base sufficient to allow it to reach its full potential, while enabling Ford to efficiently raise capital for its other brands.

"Mr. Ford added, "Regarding our other Premier Automotive Group brands, we've made no decisions, as our review of strategic alternatives continues. However, we continue to be encouraged by Jaguar's progress and by the strength and consumer appeal of the Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo product lineups."

The company said there can be no assurance that the decision to explore strategic options for Aston Martin will result in any transaction, which would be subject to Board approval. Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company.

Aston Martin DBRS 9 spied

Source: leftlanenews.com - DBRS9

The "RS" variant will have a wider track, lower ground clearance, and bold scoops and air intakes up front. According to rumours, the V12 engine's performance was boosted from 450 hp to more than 500 hp for the DBRS 9.

Pictures by Hans G. Lehmann here

Bond's AM Vanquish auctioned off - Aug06

James Bond's Aston Martin Vanquish from the 2002 film Die Another Day was auctioned away at Bonham's begining August. The winning bid was £144,500

Looking at the engine, this is no real Vanquish - The Vanquish bodyshells were fitted with 300 bhp Ford Boss 302 V8's mounted as far back in the chassis as possible. This allowed sufficient room for the fitting of a front differential and drive shafts from the Ford Explorer, plus space for weaponry behind the grille. The 120 mph Aston/Ford performance 4WD hybrids were also fitted with roll cages for safety reasons.

Nürburgring Vantage to go on sale

On July 18th, Aston Martin announced BIM London Show that it would made it's Nürburgring Vantage available to customers in limited numbers. See article below for car description.

This car should be priced around £82,800.

The Full Official press release is also to be found on the Official Aston Martin site - here.

Aston Martin celebrates its 30,000th production car & launches Project 30,000

To commemorate the milestone of 30,000 cars produced, Aston Martin staffers were invited to spend a day in Germany, where day and night, the car would be driven on the Autobahn and local roads with the goal of accumulating 30,000 miles in 30 days. Providing support to the effort was Aston's new German dealership, Moll Sportwagen.

Aston Martin production V8 Vantage fourth in class at 24-hour Nürburgring

The Official press release is also to be found on the Official Aston Martin site - here.

June 18, 2006: A factory prepared Aston Martin V8 Vantage has taken its place in the company’s history books after finishing a credible fourth in class and 24th overall at the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race, among a field of largely motorsport-homologated cars.

Negotiating a field of 220 cars, the four drivers: Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Chris Porritt, Aston Martin’s Vehicle Engineering Manager; Horst von Saurma, editor-in-chief of Sport Auto magazine, and development driver Wolfgang Schuhbauer, all raced flawlessly through more than 130 laps on one of the most demanding circuits in the world.Built at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters the V8 Vantage was almost entirely production standard, including the engine and transmission. The only modifications made were for safety and pit-lane efficiency, with the full mandatory safety cage, special fuel tank and fire system, racing seat, and built-in air jacks. Conditions tested the drivers to the extreme with track temperatures reaching 43°C and from the initial 220 cars on the starting grid, only 141 finished. Despite these conditions, the V8 Vantage kept a steady pace avoiding traffic, resulting in a smooth race from start to finish.

Dr. Bez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin said: “We delivered exactly what we set out to do by finishing the 24 hours without any technical problems or team issues. It is a real achievement to complete the race in the top 25 with a standard production V8 Vantage and shows the true capabilities of both the car and the team.”

Chris Porritt added: “This has been a real test of endurance for the car and the whole team. It’s been a thrilling 24 hours and a real challenge for us all.”

Dave King, Aston Martin’s Team manager concluded: “We are all delighted with the team’s progress throughout the event, it is a testament to all the members to finish with this result considering it is our first 24 hour race.”

Aston Martin reveals James Bond’s DBS for “CASINO ROYALE”

The Full Official press release is also to be found on the Official Aston Martin site - here.

Aston Martin has unveiled the new DBS which will be driven by James Bond, the legendary British secret agent, in the next 007 film, “CASINO ROYALE”, to be produced by Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for EON Productions.

It looks incredibly gorgeous!!

Aston Martin’s Design Director, Marek Reichman, has said that the DBS hints at the brand’s future design direction. He describes the styling as “encapsulating a link between our elegant DB9 road car and the powerful DBR9 race car.

New Aston Martin V8 Volante - baby Aston

Auto Express Magazine confirmed that the new Aston Martin V8 Volante (Baby Aston Volante) will be launched in 2007. Featuring a 4.3 liter V8 (380 bhp), the soft-top version of the "911 killer" will weight only 30 kg more than the coupé and should cost at least $152,000 (£85,000 or €126,000) .

Aston Martin Rapide Official press release

The Full Official press release is also to be found on the Official Aston Martin site - here.

The Aston Martin Rapide concept is a four-door, high performance coupé of remarkable grace and poise. Based on Aston Martin's unique VH (Vertical/Horizontal) architecture, the Rapide combines the company's commitment to power, beauty and soul with space and practicality for every eventuality. It stands for stylistic excellence, market innovation and flexible manufacturing. The Rapide is the epitome of Aston Martin’s low-volume, high-technology approach, the synergy of modern methods and materials with traditional skills to create a new form of craftsmanship for the 21st century.

While the Rapide retains Aston Martin's inherent design characteristics the additional length and extra doors build upon the DB9’s taut, poised stance, generating a natural, even flow and a dynamic sensation that's conveyed even when the Rapide is standing still. “In terms of elegance the Rapide is adding value to the DB9’s undisputed elegance and subtle understatement,” says Dr Ulrich Bez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin. “Our cars must look beautiful from all angles, and the four-door is very well balanced.”

Practicality and power are the Rapide's signature qualities, but above all it is recognisably an Aston Martin, a testament to the strength of the marque's design language. The Rapide's four-door body provides greater access to the extended architecture, making it a performance car for every occasion. “The proportions must be perfect,” says Dr Bez, “if we couldn’t achieve this then we wouldn’t have made the car.”

The new Aston Martin Rapide unveiled in Detroit

Aston Martin is unveiling a 4-door concept car at the 2006 Detroit Motorshow on Monday, January 9th. The Aston Martin Rapide, a four seat high performance coupe, illustrates the flexibility of Aston Martin’s unique VH (Verticle/Horizontal) architecture - a glued and riveted extruded aluminium tub with a backbone of carbon fibre. The full official press release will be available on Monday Jan 9th.

According to TOP GEAR Michael Harvey, the four-door version of the DB9 will be 5 meters long (size of a Quattroporte) - 300mm or 0.984 feet longer than the DB9. Because of the car's extra weight, the engine (DB9's V12) has been upgraded from 450 to 480 bhp and the brakes are now carbon ceramic. The price? Around $250,000.

Aston Martin in Belgium

If you look for more information about Aston Martin in Belgium, this is the right place to go:
Aston Martin Belgium!

Aston Martin DBRS9 Racing

source: Aston Martin Press Release - Visit Aston martin racing

Aston Martin Racing has unveiled the DBRS9, a competition car for club and national racing series, and a bridge for teams and drivers looking towards international GT racing.

The DBRS9 is based on the DB9 road car, but shares many design features from the full GT1 specification DBR9. It uses the road car’s aluminium bonded chassis with a DBR9-based roll cage. Aston Martin Racing’s engineers have tuned the standard 12 cylinder, six litre engine to produce approximately 550bhp (an increase of 20%) and reduced the overall weight by 480kg, to increase the power to weight ratio to nearly 430 bhp/tonne. Much of this is down to the extensive use of carbon composite materials for all the body panels (except the roof) and on the interior trim, as well as polycarbonate side and rear windows.

The DBRS9 has a six-speed H-pattern gearbox with new, shorter ratios for competition use, which can be upgraded to a full sequential racing box. The car’s ride has been lowered and the double wishbone suspension has been rose jointed and fitted with two-way adjustable Koni dampers and stiffened competition springs.

While Aston Martin Racing’s focus has been to optimise the DBRS9’s performance, it has also been designed with practicality in mind. Both the seat and steering wheel are easily adjustable, and there is the option of a passenger seat, for demonstration drives. Removable body panels, a modular chassis and a package of spares simplify service and maintenance.

"There are many people who want to race Aston Martins competitively in everything from the occasional track day to weekend club or national series races," said David Richards of Aston Martin Racing. "The DBRS9 opens GT racing up to more enthusiasts and with its levels of performance will offer aspiring racing drivers the experience of a GT racing car without the complexity associated with running a full GT1 car.

"The DBRS9 will start at £175,000 plus options and taxes. The cars will be built to order at Aston Martin Racing’s headquarters in Banbury, UK with first deliveries expected later in 2005.

Dr Ulrich Bez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, said: "Positioned between the road going DB9 and the 2005 Tourist Trophy winning DBR9, this car will make a racing experience more accessible to Aston Martin race enthusiasts. It reinforces the DB9’s performance potential and inherent racing qualities."

Aston Martin DBR9 Racing

source: Aston Martin Press Release - Visit Aston martin racing

Aston Martin Racing has unveiled the DBR9, which will spearhead the British marque’s return to international motor racing in 2005.

The car was shown to a selected audience for the first time on 4th November 2004 at Aston Martin’s headquarters at Gaydon in the UK. An intensive testing programme now follows for Aston Martin Racing prior to the DBR9’s debut race scheduled for the 12 hours of Sebring, Florida, in March 2005.

Aston Martin Racing will run two cars at Sebring and then move to Europe to prepare for the Le Mans 24 hours in June 2005. This will mark Aston Martin’s return to the race which was won outright in 1959 with Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby. In recognition of this, the DBR9 will follow the Le Mans-winning DBR1 and Works DB3S and carry the same green and yellow livery as the cars which dominated sports car racing in the late 1950s.

Aston Martin Racing will build 12 Works cars, which will be run by three Works teams in the major international GT series. A limited run of only 20 racing cars, prepared to the same specification, will also be built and made available to selected customers to race or keep in private collections.

The DBR9 GT racing car is based on the latest Aston Martin production sports car - the DB9 - but is significantly modified for competition use. The DB9’s bonded-aluminium body architecture is shared with the DBR9 and provides both with a lightweight rigid chassis. The race engine uses the same aluminium cylinder block and head as the DB9’s 450bhp 6-litre V12 unit, but with racing modification it is expected to produce in the region of 600bhp.

The DB9’s double wishbone suspension configuration is retained on the DBR9, but features up-rated components and a revised geometry for racing purposes. Formula One style carbon brakes are fitted front and rear and a competition, six-speed sequential gearbox is mounted at the rear axle.

The DBR9 was styled by Aston Martin Racing’s own design team who made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimise the aerodynamics before producing the final body surface. The panels are hand made from carbon-fibre composite, helping the car to meet its 1,100kg minimum weight and giving it a power to weight ratio of 550bhp per tonne - more than double that of the road car.

Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, said: “We need to create heightened awareness for Aston Martin around the world and motor sport will allow us to do this."

“We took four years to find the ideal partner in David Richards and Prodrive and together have created Aston Martin Racing. The DBR9 is the first step in our return to motor sport and I know that our customers and enthusiasts alike are looking forward to seeing Aston Martin racing again at an international level in 2005.”

Aston Martin DB5 - The James Bond's car to be sold at auction

source: CNN.com

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - James Bond's car -- really, the James Bond car --will be going up for auction in January. Cars custom-built for Al Capone and Hank Williams, Jr. will also be for sale at the same event.

The 1964 Aston Martin DB5 driven by the character James Bond in the movies Goldfinger and Thunderball will be sold to the highest biddder at RM Auctions' Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona to be held in Phoenix, Ariz., on Jan. 20, 2006.

The car is one of four created for the films and for promotional use. It is not clear if this particular car was actually used in filming the movies, a spokeswoman for RM Auctions said. The car has a variety of optional equipment for both offensive and defensive purposes. This includes a pair of .30 caliber Browning machine guns that deploy from behind the headights (these are non-firing props), and a wheel-mounted tire slasher. An oil-slick ejector squirts out from the left-rear light cluster and a smoke-screen system is located next to the car's exhaust.

The license plate revolves to display any of three different plates and the car still has its hydraulic ramming bumpers. In the interest of safety, the ejector seat has been replaced with a standard, non-ejecting passenger seat. RM Auctions would not comment on the car's estimated value.

Aston Martin DB9

Aston Martin DB9

DB9 is a thoroughbred sports car with GT levels of comfort and refinement. Its design philosophy is uncompromising and brings together everything that makes a sports car great with that unique Aston Martin character, borne out of craftsmanship and use of the finest quality materials.

More info to be found here.

Engine

• All alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5935cc 60° V12
• Mid-front mounted, rear wheel drive
• Engine management system with Neural Net misfire detection system
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active by-pass valves
• Compression ratio 10.3:1Maximum power 335 kW (450 bhp) at 6000 rpm
• Maximum torque 570 Nm (420 lb ft) at 5000 rpm
• Acceleration (Coupe manual) 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds
• Acceleration (Coupe automatic) 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds
• Maximum speed 186 mph (300 km/h)

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S

The Ultimate Aston Martin

‘The fastest road car in the history of Aston Martin. A car that fuses hand-crafted tradition with the highest calibre of automotive technology. Appropriately it is our flagship car - the V12 Vanquish S - the ultimate Aston Martin.’

Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, Aston Martin

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Brochure

Download the official AM V8 Vantage brochure : Click here!

Aston Martin V8 Vantage pictures

More AMV8 pictures + performances

Projected Performance figures:

- Maximum power: 283kW (380 bhp / 385 PS) @ 7300 rpm

- Maximum torque: 410Nm (302 lb.ft) @ 5000 rpm

- Maximum speed: 280 km/h (175 mph)

- 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds

- 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.0 seconds

The new AM V8 Vantage

The new Aston Martin V8 Vantage is coming!!

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Vantage concept is the basis for a third Aston Martin model destined to sit alongside the DB9 and flagship Vanquish launched in 2005.The concept, like the final production version, is a compact two-seater with a potent V8 engine.The V8 Vantage is a hand crafted sports car that offers electrifying performance and outstanding agility.The result is: the world's most desirable sports car.

Body
Two doors 2+0
Aluminium body
Engine
V 8 engine
32 valve
Rear wheel drive
Power: 380 BHP @ 7300 r/min
Torque: 410 Nm @ 5000 r/min
Interior
Full leather interior
Aluminium
Airbags (side)
Trip computer
AlarmImmobiliser

Welcome on the Unofficial Aston Martin Blog!

http://aston-martin.blogspot.com/