Aston Martin Archives

The one-off Bertone Jet 2+2 concept car that was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March could enter limited production. Initially the concept was only planned as a one-off project for one of Bertone's customers, but now it's being reported that a limited production run is being considered.

Aston Martin has unveiled the new V12 Vantage S, which replaces the old V12 Vantage. The V12 Vantage S is now the fastest road-going Aston Martin, well with the exception of the One-77. With its 565 horsepower 6.0L V12 engine, the Vantage S will reach 0-60 mph in under four seconds and is capable of reaching a top speed of 205 mph.

Aston Martin has taken the covers off its newest concept, the CC100 Speedster concept, which celebrates Aston Martin's 100th birthday. The one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 - Aston Martin's greatest sporting triumph on the track - and to the future with its teasing glimpses of a potential future design direction.

Aston Martin has released this teaser of its new concept that will be unveiled on May 19th. The new concept coincides with the celebration of Aston Martin's 100th anniversary. According to Aston Martin, the concept "encompasses the past, present and future in one exceptional design."

Aston Martin and Alset Global have unveiled a new hydrogen-powered version of the Rapide S that is going to hit the track next month at the 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring. the hydrogen Rapide S will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event as well as the first zero CO2 emissions sports car to complete a race pace lap at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

Italian design house, Bertone has created this , which is a one-off Jet 2+2, which is basically an Aston Martin Rapide Shooting Brake. The Jet 2+2 takes the design of the four-door Rapide, but gives it a shooting brake style that is similar in shape to the Porsche Panamera Sports Turismo concept and Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake. The Bertone 2+2 is going to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Aston Martin is releasing a special edition V8 Vantage S in Europe that takes its inspiration from the brand's numerous successes on the race track. Inspired by Aston Martin's motorsport activities in the GT4 racing series, the Vantage SP10 is a road model that has been engineered in the style of Aston Martin's GT4 racers.

Aston Martin has updated its four-door, the Rapide with a new name, more power and more features. The Aston Martin S replaces the Rapide and is now more refined than before and is powered by a 550 horsepower V12 engine.

Aston Martin is marking the start of its 100-year birthday celebrations with the unveiling of a bespoke new Centenary Edition Vanquish. The Aston Martin Centenary Edition Vanquish showcases a painstakingly created Centenary Edition specification that will be available worldwide on just 100 examples of each of Aston Martin's model lines: V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and Vanquish.

2013 marks the 100th anniversary of Aston Martin and to celebrate its centenary, Aston Martin has set up a year-long calendar of events. Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin as "Bamford & Martin LTD." In 1914 the Aston Martin name was born following one Robert Bamford's successful runs at the Aston Hill Climb in Buckinghamshire, England. Within a year the first Aston Martin was built...

It's being reported that Aston Martin's controlling shareholder, Investment Dar Co. has approached potential buyers who may be interested in buying the brand. The Kuwaiti company owns 64 percent of Aston Martin has reportedly approached potential suitors like Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Toyota.

It's being reported that Aston Martin has been studying the idea of putting the automaker's 6.0L V12 engine under the hood of the Aston Martin Cygnet city car. The Cygnet is based on the Toyota iQ and even though the car is tiny, sources claim that the Cygnet can actually fit the larger engine.

If you can't quite afford the new Aston Martin Vanquish, there's always the Aston Martin DB9... Even better, Aston Martin has just announced the updates to the 2013 DB9, which gets styling and performance updates for the new model year.

This weekend the 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish is having its Canadian debut during the grand opening of the third annual Luxury & Supercar Weekend, held at the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver.

Aston Martin has just taken the wraps off the 2013 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster, which is now the most powerful open-top Vantage available with its 6.0L V12 engine. The limited-edition V12 Vantage Roadster packs 509 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque, which is good enough to accelerate it from 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph.

The V12 Vantage Roadster shares most of its specs with the V12 Vantage coupe, but there are a few changes. The V12 Vantage Roadster features a redesigned trunk lid and lower front air intake to maintain a level of dynamic performance that's fully in keeping with the V12 Coupe, while there are also a number of unique chassis revisions. These include a modified rear damper set-up, front and rear damper valve tuning and a new rear spring design.

The first official photos of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster have leaked onto the internet, just days ahead of its official debut. The V12 Vantage Roadster is powered by a 5.9L V12 engine with 510 horsepower.

The roadster also gets slight styling tweaks, like a revised decklid and spoiler, carbon fiber trim pieces and new alloy wheels. The V12 Vantage Roadster also gets a revised suspension.

The Aston Martin DB9 1M that you see here is apparently how Aston Martin's Facebook fans would design it. Unveiled last week at Aston martin's Gaydon headquarters, the DB9 1M marks the end of the commemorative campaign to celebrate reaching one million fans on Facebook.

The campaign involved Aston Martin giving its facebook fans, the chance to specify their dream Aston Martin. Fans decided on all aspects of the car including the model itself to the interior trim and then finally choosing the exterior 'Aero' wrap, black brake calipers and 20-inch diamond-turned alloy wheels. No changes were made to the DB9's 6.0L V12 engine, which puts out 470 horsepower and 443 lb-ft.of torque.

Here it is! Aston Martin has officially unveiled the new top model in its lineup, the 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish, which will be available by the end of this year. The Vanquish draws cues from the One-77 supercar and other Aston Martin models, but according to Aston Martin, the new Vanquish "represents the zenith of current Aston Martin design and engineering."

The new Vanquish is based on the next-generation VH architecture and gets an upgraded 6.0L V12 engine. The new naturally aspirated 6.0L V12 generates 565 horsepower, making it the most powerful production Aston Martin yet, well if you don't count the limited-edition One-77. It also has 457 lb-ft. of torque at 5,500 rpm, reaches 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 183 mph.

The first photos of the new Aston Martin Vanquish have leaked online ahead of the car's official debut on tomorrow! The new Vanquish was originally previewed by the AM 310 concept and is the replacement for the DBS.

The new Vanquish will be powered by a revised version of Aston Martin's 6.0L V12 engine that will be mated to a six-speed "Touchtronic 2" automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The V12 engine will pack 565 horsepower and 457 lb-ft. of torque. According to Aston Martin, the new Vanquish will reach 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds and will a top speed of 183 mph.

Aston Martin has announced the pricing for the revised 2012 V8 Vantage, which starts at $118,370 for the coupe and $132,870 for the roadster.

The 2012 V8 Vantage has been revised with styling updates that are similar to the Vantage S and V12 Vantage. in the front, the bumper has an aerodynamic splitter and a larger air intake. The rear gets a diffuser and race-derived side sills give the V8 Vantage a more muscular look.

The V8 Vantage is powered by a 4.7L V8 with 420 horsepower and 346 lb-ft. of torque. It can be mated to either a six-speed manual or new seven-speed Sportshift II transmission. Other updates include quicker steering, larger brakes and wider tires to make the V8 Vantage more responsive.

Aston Martin is giving the V8 Vantage a facelift for the 2012 model year. The updated 2012 Aston Martin V8 Vantage will officially debut next month at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show with more power and updates borrowed from the Vantage S.

The V8 Vantage gets some updates that were first seen on the Vantage S, like quicker steering, bigger brakes and wider tires. A new steering column installation, re-valved power steering and a quicker steering ratio of 15:1 compared to 17:1 gives more feedback and agility. The braking system has also been upgraded with new 380 mm two-piece ventilated cast-iron front discs and six piston calipers. A Hill Start Assist system has also been added.

The 4.7L V8 still comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but now there's an optional seven-speed Sportshift II automated manual transmission. The base V8 Vantage packs 420 horsepower, while the Vantage S features 430 horsepower.

On the outside the 2012 V8 Vantage gets styling updates from the Vantage S and the limited-edition N400, which includes a revised front bumper with a splitter and a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser.

For buyers that want even more power, the 510-horsepower Aston Martin V12 Vantage is unchanged for 2012.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato had its official world premiere Kuwait Concours d'Elegance this week.

The awesome V12 Zagato is powered by a 6.0L V12 that packs 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque. It reaches 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph. Aston Martin is only going to produce 150 units with pricing starting at £330,000.

Check it out in motion after the jump.

Aston Martin has released the first official photos and specs for the production version of the V12 Zagato. The V12 Zagato is the result of a renewed partnership between Aston Martin and Zagato.

Aston Martin 's CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez stated, "Our relationship with Zagato stretches back more than 50 years. Together in that time we have created a series of very special cars. The first - the DB4GT Zagato - is a true icon: fast, beautiful and incredibly desirable. In the V12 Zagato I believe we have captured the spirit of that car and combined it with a confident twist of modernity to give it a character all of its own."

The V12 Zagato is powered by a 6.0L V12 that packs 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque. The V12 is mated to a standard six-speed manual. Aston Martin claims that the V12 Zagato will reach 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds and it will have a top speed of 190 mph.

It's body is made of aluminum and carbon fiber. The Aston Martin signature "double-bubble" roof and doors are made of aluminum, while the front and rear fenders, door sills and trunk lid are made of carbon fiber.

Buyers can choose between four colors: Scintilla Silver, Alloro Green, Alba Blue and Diavolo Red. Aston Martin is only going to produce 150 units, mainly because it take about 2,000 man hours to create even one of these. Pricing in the UK will start at £330,000.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato will debut next week at the Kuwait Concours d'Elegance.

Aston Martin has taken the wraps off the road version of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato race car, which will debut next month in Frankfurt.

Aston Martin is only planning on producing 150 units of the V12 Zagato, which is based on the V12 Vantage. The mostly handmade V12 Zagato is powered by Aston Martin's 6.0L V12 engine that packs 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque.

The first units are expected to be delivered next summer with a starting price at £330,000.

Aston Martin has unveiled the V12 Vantage GT3 race car, which is the successor to the DBRS9.

The V12 Vantage GT3 race car is powered by a modified version of Aston Martin's 6.0L V12 engine. It packs 600 horsepower and is mated to a Xtrac 6-speed sequential transmission with semi-automatic paddle shifters.

The V12 Vantage GT3 will be eligible for numerous race series around the world including the FIA GT3 Championship, ADAC Masters, Nürburgring VLN, Blancpain Endurance Series, British GT, Belcar and Open GT among others.

The official testing of the V12 Vantage GT3 will start in October with the first deliveries starting early next year. The starting price has been set at £298,000.

Aston Martin has confirmed production of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, but it looks like only 150 will be produced.

AutoWeek.nl is reporting that Aston Martin is only going to produce 150 units of the V12 Zagato with a price tag set at £330,000 or 364,000 Euros. That's unfortunately out of reach for most us, but we can dream...

At 364,000 Euros, the V12 Zagato is over two times as expensive as the V12 Vantage in which it's based on. It's almost double the price of the DBS. Just in case you're wondering, 364,000 Euros converts to around $500,000.

Aston Martin has confirmed that the Aston Martin V12 Zagato will enter production. Aston Martin's website states, "Only a strictly limited run of road going cars will be built."

Aston Martin's website also lists the Zagato in its model line-up.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is the result of a partnership between Aston Martin and Zagato, which dates back 50 years. The V12 Zagato features a handcrafted aluminum body and is powered by a 510 horsepower 6.0L V12 engine.

Expect an official press release soon.

It's being reported that Aston Martin has secured the funding it needs for its next-generation of sports cars that are expected to debut in 2015.

Engineers are already hard at work on the new models, which have been conceptualized and will replace the DB9, Vantage and Rapide models. Funding was finalized last week when Aston Martin announced that a £304 million bond was fully subscribed by global investors.

Aston Martin is reportedly seeking a new partner for its new platform that will replace the VH-platform in which the DB9, Vantage and Rapide are based on. It's being reported that Aston Martin is currently in talks with Mercedes-Benz about the platform that is the basis for the Mercedes-Benz SLS and SL models.

This weekend kicks off the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race and Aston Martin is headed to the race with its V12 Zagato.

Aston Martin is going to be be competing with a pair of V12 Zagatos that are nicknamed "Zag." The first red Zagato will be driven by Aston Martin CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, Nurburgring Test Centre Director, Wolfgang Schuhbauer and automotive journalists Horst von Saurma and Matthew Marsh.

The second, green Zagato will be driven by One-77 Chief Engineer Chris Porritt, sports car driver Oliver Mathai, amateur racer Peter Cate, and automotive journalist Richard Meaden.

Check out the video after the jump.

Aston Martin has teamed up with French fashion label, colette to create a limited edition Cygnet of just 14 units, dubbed the "Cygnet & colette."

The limited edition Cygnet comes in a Lightning Silver color with colette blue detailing, a brown leather interior and diamond turned wheels.

"The colette car is the first of the exclusive 'Cygnet &' collaborations," said Aston Martin Director of Design, Marek Reichman. "These cars will give Aston Martin a relevant platform to reach out to new customers in urban areas."

Pricing starts at €48,995.

Aston Martin is going to cut production of its Rapide sedan, due to lower than expected sales. Aston Martin is going to lower production to just 25 cars per day to better match the demand for the Rapide. Some sources claim that production could drop as low as 10 cars per day, even though Aston Martin is denying those rumors.

Aston Martin is only going to produce 1,250 Rapides per year, which is just over half of the 2,000 units that were originally planned. Obviously the luxury car market hasn't completely recovered from the financial meltdown in 2008. Aston Martin's sales are still only at about half of what they were before 2008.

This past weekend Aston Martin took the wraps off the beautiful Aston Martin V12 Zagato. Here's a video of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato revving its engine at its debut in Lake Como, Italy. Enjoy the sound of that 6.0L V12!

Happy Friday! Here's your first look at the new Aston Martin V12 Zagato, which is having its world debut at the Villa D'Este Concours.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is the result of a renewed partnership between Aston Martin and Zagato, which goes back 50 years. The V12 Zagato concept draws inspiration from past models like the DB4GT Zagato, V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato.

Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: "The Zagato design language is a perfect complement to our design and engineering expertise. After 50 years of the two companies being associated with each other the partnership has produced some of the world's most iconic cars."

"Of course, fifty years ago Italian design houses were widely seen as leading the way with new designs but now and supported by our independency, Aston Martin has its own in-house design ability so this new venture with Zagato is more collaborative than it perhaps would have been in the past."

The V12 Zagato has a handcrafted aluminum body and is powered by the same 6.0L V12 engine as the V12 Vantage with 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque.

The racing debut of the V12 Zagato will take place at the Nürburgring on May 28th.

Aston Martin and Italian design house Zagato have announced a new collaboration in the 50th anniversary year of the iconic DB4GT Zagato. The first result of the partnership will be shown off at the Villa D'Este Concours on May 21st 2011.

Dr. Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive said: "The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world's most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration.

"Now is the right time for a new Aston Martin Zagato and in combining our design intelligence I think we can create something fitting of the iconic DB4GT Zagato that has gone before and since established itself as one of the most famous Aston Martins of all time."

The initial concept is slated to debut this month with a production model coming in 2012. The first partnership between Aston Martin and Zagato came to fruition in 1961 after Aston Martin sought to remove even more weight from the very special DB4GT.

Aston Martin's CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez has announced that he will auction off his Aston Martin Rapide sedan at this year's annual Bonhams auction at Newport Pagnell and all proceeds will go to charities providing aid to victims of the recent earthquakes and Tsunami in Japan.

Dr Ulrich Bez said: "Nobody could have failed to be moved by the recent events in Japan and we at Aston Martin are no exception. After many years presence in the market and closer ties being forged with the Japanese automotive business in recent projects, we have many friends in the region and we wanted to do something to help."

"The Bonhams Aston Martin Auction seems the perfect platform to encourage the extended Aston Martin family to support this cause, so we have decided to auction my Rapide which I have used in my role as Chief Executive to represent Aston Martin at numerous events in both UK and Europe. I hope this superb car will raise a substantial amount to help make a difference."

Aston Martin Racing has announced that the new Vantage GT3 race car, which is based on the V12 Vantage road car will be ready for competition in 2012. The Vantage GT3 will effectively replace the DBRS9 that launched in 2006 at Le Mans.

The Vantage GT3 will be powered by a lightweight dry-sumped 6.0 litre V12 engine mated to a race semi-automatic paddle shift Xtrac gearbox and the latest race-developed ABS and traction control systems. Aston Martin hasn't finalized the exact specifications, but has set a target weight of 1250kg (2,755 pounds) and horsepower around 600.

The first car will be completed this July.

Still scratching your head wondering why Aston Martin decided to rebadge the Toyota iQ minicar, to create the Aston Martin Cygnet? Most of us are... But it looks like Project Kahn is currently working on a modification kit for the mini Aston Martin.

Project Kahn has released a single photo of a modified Cygnet. Project Kahn is in the middle of developing new kits for the Cygnet and is holding brainstorming sessions about it.

Aston Martin has officially unveiled the 202 Virage and Virage Volante, which are based on the brand's VH architecture. The Virage and Virage Volante are going to slot in between the DB9 and DBS in the Aston Martin lineup.

Since the Virage sits in between the DB9 and DBS it is the perfect balance of the two. The car remains understated and luxurious like the DB9, but has more power and increased performance. It's powered by a 6.0L V12 engine that puts out 490 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Virage and Virage Volante are going to be officially unveiled in Geneva next week, but the models are already on sale. Pricing will be announced at the show.

The Aston Martin Vantage is a beautiful car that many of us would love to have in our garage. Now Aston Martin has released an even more powerful version of the V8 Vantage that is even hotter.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage S is powered by the same 4.7L V8, but now puts out 430 horsepower and 361 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a newseven-speed Sportshift™ II transmission.

"The Vantage S epitomises every attribute of the V8 Vantage and pushes the driver experience beyond what we have offered before," says Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin, "It combines dynamic exhilaration with all the charming finesse, beauty and practicality already associated with the Vantage range."

The Vantage S gets a quickened steering rack ratio, larger diameter front disc brakes with new six-piston front brake calipers, new springs and dampers, and wider rear wheels. On the outside the Vantage S gets a new lower front bumper with a larger air intake. The splitter combined with the extended deck lid 'flip' also work to increase down force at speed.

Aston Martin has released the pricing details for its Cygnet city car, which is based on the Toyota iQ. Aston Martin has also announced that the Cygnet will be available in two special launch edition models.

The two Cygnet Launch Edition models; White and Black, are available with either standard manual or optional CVT automated transmission and each will be produced for a strictly limited time. Cygnet Launch Edition White is finished in Snow White paint with a mix of silver mesh, chrome brightwork and White Diamond turned alloy wheels. The interior of the White edition features seats hand trimmed in Pearl white leather with perforated Alcantara inserts. The Cygnet Launch Edition Black features Magic Black metallic paint with a specially developed deep sea green effect, offset by matt black louvers and chrome brightwork. Inside, the seats and dash are finished in pure black full grain leather, perforated in a specially-developed diamond pattern.

Both Cygnet Launch Editions also come with a bespoke Bill Amberg five-piece luggage set, especially designed for and tailored to Cygnet.

Production of the Cygnet will kick off in April with prices start from £30,995 in Europe.