Aston Martin – Page 13 – Automobiles Review

Aston Martin Rapide 4 Door by Kahn Design

News from Kahn Design. This time, the car that has gone under the knife is a 4-door Aston Martin Rapide. Even though owning a stock one yourself is a statement enough that you are an open-minded, fun and classy executive, things can go even further. That’s true if you ask someone at Kahn.

We say knife but actually the “styling package” consists mostly of matte black painted elements – the front bumper grille mesh, the hood and fender vents, the brake calipers. The exhaust system is new, we’ll give them that. Also, thanks to a set of lowering springs, the ground clearance is less of a thing now. Good for handling then. Probably the most noticeable work done here involves the wheels – Kahn 21” RSX-F pieces in platinum silver finish.

Is the power of the Kahn Aston Martin Rapide up by some points? We don’t know but still, a coat of matte paint won’t bodge down the stock 470 bhp that come out of the saloon’s 6.0-liter V12 engine.

This being Kahn Design which profess individuality, uniqueness and style etc, the interior trim is rather flexible. This one here however has some Alcantra on the wheel and on the sporty binnacle behind. The rest of the Aston Rapide‘s upholstery is left to the creamy leather.

Source: Kahn Design

July 21, 2012

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster spotted on the streets [VIDEO]

Few days after the official release of Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster, it has been already spotted on the narrow streets of London. The new sports car by the famous British brand looks even better than on the pictures. And just wait to hear the roaring sound at the end of the video.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster on the streets of London

Being a limited edition model, the V12 Vantage Roadster has one of the coolest interiors I’ve ever seen: a red indulgence of carbon fiber material. This undoubtedly will give the lucky one driving the car the feeling of luxury and uniqueness.

In particular, this Aston Martin’s power comes from the naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, it generates the stunning 517 horsepower (380 kW) at 6,500 rpm and a muscular 570 Nm (420 lb-ft) of torque at 5,750 rpm.

Given these facts, I am sure it will be no surprise for you to read that the 0-62 mph sprint is dispatched by it in just 4.5 seconds.

httpv://youtu.be/K2YVH7FLkP8

Video Source: YouTube

July 13, 2012

Global debut for Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is the new sports car by the famous British brand which will be available for only limited number of customers because it comes out as a limited edition model.

It comes equipped with the astonishing power of Aston Martin’s naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine that will offer the lucky drivers the thrills of Vantage Roadster driving experience. The V12 is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, and hence is able to produce 517 hp (380 kW) at 6,500 rpm and a muscular 570 Nm (420 lb-ft) of torque at 5,750 rpm.

It is no surprise then that the 0-62 mph sprint is dispatched in just 4.5 seconds. The top speed here is 190 mph.

Furthermore, the new Roadster includes modified rear boot lid and lower front air intake to maintain a level of dynamic performance that’s fully in keeping with the V12 Coupe. In addition redesigned are also the rear damper set-up, front and rear damper valve tuning and a new rear spring design. The outstanding performance of the vehicle is improved additionally by the Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.

Some other stylish characteristics of the car include: carbon fibre side strakes; a carbon fibre front splitter and rear diffuser; carbon fibre mirror caps and carbon fibre rear lamp infills; new forged alloy wheel design.

The interior includes some new features as well. For example, there are subtle additions as the use of glass switches in the lower centre stack. They give more luxurious ambience to the Vantage Roadster cabin.

What is more here is the unique feature of the V12 Vantage’s which the engine’s “Sport” mode button is. What it does basically is to enables the driver to select between two different powertrain modes.

When in Normal mode, which is active as soon as the car starts working, the Roadster has not only a more relaxed throttle response but also a quieter, more refined exhaust note.

On the other hand, the Sport mode is made for more dynamic driving situations where sharper responses are required. Thanks to it the car has sharper throttle response, with the engine delivering more torque during the early stages of throttle pedal travel.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster pricing starts at £150 000 RRP.

Source: Aston Martin

July 11, 2012

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster

Aston Martin has announced the new V12 Vantage Roadster. The new “Volante” model is planned to make its official debut later this week. The production will be limited to just 101 units and the manufacturer is apparently already taking orders from special clients.

An unknown UK dealer has stated pricing of approximately £150 000.

The modifications include front and rear suspensions as well as a revised luggage lid and rear spoiler. Other new design elements include carbon fiber side strakes, carbon fiber mirror caps, rear lamp black outer trim with carbon fiber inner appliques, new design forged alloy wheels, black exhaust pipes and Aston Martin emblems with black background.

The interior is also revised. It boasts lower center console glass switches (instead of black plastic) and carbon/black trim detailing. A Carbon Interior Pack takes it a step further with the addition of a carbon fiber center console fascia and carbon fiber gearshift base plate.

Stay tuned for more information about the new V12 Vantage Volante.

Source: Aston Martin

July 2, 2012

DMC Fakhuna: Aston Martin DB-S boasting more style and performance

German Luxury Tuner DMC has launched a number of successfull Refinement Packages, including the recent Lamborghini Gallardo “Toro” and the Aventador “Molto Veloce”. While only some models make it through a number of harsch project phases before being invested and approved internally, some design never make it to the production stage. Introducing the DMC “Fakhuna”, a concept design for the Aston Martin DB-S.

Most significant change is an aggressive new front bumper fascia, which is equipped with larger air-intakes and a spoiler lip. Between the front and rear side, striking side skirt attachments render an integrated design and give the Aston a lowered and more stretched look. In order to reduce the lifting forces at the back axle, DMC engineers envisioned a shapely spoiler which can be fitted on the rear lid and enhanced with a matching three-part rear diffuser. The latter optically extends the side skirts downwards and skilfully enhances the two end pipes of the DMC sport exhaust system. Basically, carbon fiber and real actual gold are the dominant colours in this styling package.

One of the technical highlights in the tuning programme will be the new three-part DMC forged alloy wheel. The rim combines both sportiness as well as elegance. The concave rims and the titanium bolting emphasise the dynamism of the wheel, the highly-polished rim flange on the other hand renders a noble appearance. DMC offers the wheel/tyre combination measuring 9,0Jx21 inches with 245/30ZR21 tyres at the front and 10,5Jx21 rims with tyres measuring 295/25ZR21. The new aluminium wheels are accentuated with special chassis springs which lower the centre of gravity of the Aston by 30 mm at the front axle and by 20 mm at the rear axle. At the same time, this enhances the handling of this sports car.

As part of the performance upgrade, the Duesseldorf based engineers developed sport catalysers and sport end mufflers. The components made of titanium steel render an impressive sound setting and emphasise the sportive value of the DMC-makeover.

While the Fakhuna has not made it into the regular production lines, DMC gives the design, which was developed by Dutch artist Wildspeed, a chance to be realized as custom order.

Source: DMC

June 22, 2012

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish revealed

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish has just been unveiled and this new version of the car is promising every driver the highest level of excitement and thrill.

This breath-taking new super grand tourer comes equipped with the next generation of the renowned VH architecture as well as a significantly upgraded 6.0-litre V12 engine. The latter is promised to be even more powerful than before.

The exterior design of the car represents the latest take on Aston Martin’s iconic visual language. As you can see it includes new styling cues such as the elegant new waist, elongated side strakes and LED rear light blades.

One is sure – once you see it you will unquestioningly know that this is an Aston Martin. Furthermore, details such as the stunning new Aero Duct on the rear boot lid can also be seen on the new model. This feature counteracts lift at the car’s rear when traveling at speed.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

In fact Vanquish is a true expression of Aston Martin’s design philosophy, engineering innovation and technical ability. It not only offers luxurious, continent-crossing capability, but also is capable to offer unforgettable driving excitement.

As mentioned, the car is powered by a significantly revised naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine. It is mated to the Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic gearbox. Therefore it is no surprise that the car generates 573 horsepower (421 kW) at 6,750 rpm, 620 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm.

The acceleration time for the sprint from 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) is just in 4.1 seconds and the top speed of the Vanquish is estimated to be 183 mph. Despide the great power figures, this supercar is promised to economically and emissions-wise improved.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish Interior

Each body panel on the car is constructed from carbon fibre because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility of form. At the same time the torsional rigidity is enhanced by more than 25 percent.

Further practical improvements have been also featured: newly designed and spacious cabin and a boot of 368 litres are just couple of the examples.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish starting price is £189,995 and is expected to be delivered at the dealerships in Europe at the end of this year.

Source: Aston Martin

June 20, 2012

Icon Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Volante: a modern interpretation

Icon Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Volante is a unique vehicle which is going to enrich the portfolio of Icon 4×4. And although the designers from the company mainly focus on recreating cars seen in the past, this project aims something different. Still, the motto of the company stays the same: Classic styling, modern performance, and timeless utility.

The California based Icon 4×4 decides with this latest project to recreate the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. The model dates back from the sixties and has special characteristics. The original Zagato was equipped with 3.7-litre aluminum twin-spark straight six-cylinder engine with a powerful 9.7:1 compression ratio.

Hence, it was able to produce 314 hp (234 kW) and had an acceleration time of 6.1 seconds for the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint. Its top speed number approximately 154 mph (246 km/h).

Unlike the original car however, the California team will build the iconic model in Volante-style. This basically means that it is going to be without a roof. Moreover, Zagato coupe’s original designer Ercole Spada will join the process and will help with the “recreation” of the car.

Of course, all the mechanicals included in the new reimagined DB4 GT Zagato Volante will be modern and will include Aston Martin’s AM V12 engine.

The Reimagined Icon Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Volante

Source: Icon 4×4 via Autoblog

June 8, 2012

Aston Martin Project AM310 [VIDEO]

In it for some high-octane, gut-churning acoustics? Good. Here’s an Internet circulating clip of the supposed DBS successor – the Aston Martin Project AM310 Concept. It was filmed this weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy. An official debut is set for August while sales will most probably start in early 2013. Aston are going to be celebrating one hundred years of engineering very soon and if that’s the party piece, count us in.

As stated, in terms of styling, the AM310 is rather reminiscent of the Aston Martin One-77 (Fun fact: the One-77 was also revealed at the Concorso back in 2009). The details are still a bit wishy-washy but the word out there is that a 6.0-liter V12, 570 and above horsepower engine will be at work. The interior was supposed to be a secret but sneaky photographers and even the operator here manage to “get the picture” – the rev-counter needle moves the wrong way but we don’t care. Oh, and then there’s the sound which, to us, doesn’t sound “insane” but pretty darn close.

Enough silly talk. Please, indulge yourselves:

httpv://youtu.be/mO3VwMkzDEs

Source: marchettino via YouTube

May 30, 2012

Anderson Casino Royale Aston Martin DBS

Here’s a treat from Anderson (Düsseldorf, Germany). It’s called the Aston Martin Casino Royale DBS – an evident reference to the James Bond franchise. And it certainly looks exclusive enough to bare that image – shady, sleek and, inside, a bit over the top but don’t worry. That’s why the windows are tinted – it will be your dork secret.

Anderson are quick to announce that because of the ECU tweak, the new manifolds and exhaust system with sports catalysts, the power of the Casino DBS is up by 55 ps. So that’s 572 ps and 569 Nm of torque coming from the Aston’s epic sounding V12. However, for the guys at Düsseldorf, epic is not enough. That’s why there’s a remote controlled valve somewhere down the line so that there are three sound levels. Also, the complete mass of the exhaust system is around 21 kg less than the standard one. Has it been made with tinfoil?

As for the body, we can clearly see that predominant matte gray color. Anderson claim however, that there are two shades of it – various components such as the window borders, tailgates block and radiator case are more “shiny gray”. Right…. As additional components there’s a front lip spoiler and a rear diffuser. All the while, 21-inch Anderson wheels complement the whole look while 255 tires at the front and 295 at the back give the necessary grip.

The brake calipers and some external logos bare a bronze motive which continues inside. Bronze stitching on the Alacantra upholstery and bronze embossing. Otherwise, almost everything else is carbon fiber – black, gray, you name it. If you stare at its patterns long enough your eyes will start to bleed. That being said, we will most definitely not decline an overnight stay inside because at the end of the day – it’s an Aston Martin… with a James Bond feel on it. What more does one need?!

Source: Anderson

May 21, 2012

Aston Martin – Nurburgring 24 hour

Aston Martin will compete in the ADAC Zurich Nurburgring 24 Hours on 19^th and 20^th May. Eight cars will take place in the epic battle at the world’s most famous and tough race track. The brand will field its most ambitious entry to date with four official Aston Martins – including a pair of V12-powered Vantage GT3s – supported by a further four customer cars.

More than 170 cars will start at the 24 hour race on the daunting 25km circuit that combines the legendary Nordschleife with the modern Grand Prix track.

Having focused its efforts in previous years on near production-specification cars since its 2006 Nürburgring24 Hour debut, Aston Martin will, for the first time, be represented in the senior SP9 category for FIA-homologated GT3 cars. The pair of V12 Vantage GT3s will be run in association with long-standing official partner team, Young Driver AMR.

The lead Vantage GT3, carrying the iconic #007 designation, will be driven by Johannes and Ferdinand Stuck (A) – sons of triple Nürburgring 24 Hour winner Hans-Joachim Stuck – alongside Dennis Rostek (D) and Aston Martin Racing factory driver Darren Turner (GB). Turner’s regular works team-mate, Stefan Mücke, will drive the #006 car with Tomas Enge (CZ), Fredy Barth (CH) and Oliver Mathai (D).

Aston Martin - Nurburgring 24 hour — Aston Martin – Nurburgring 24 hour

In addition, Aston Martin’s engineering department will return with the spectacular V12 Zagato concept car that made its Nürburgring24 Hour debut in 2011. Targeting another successful race finish will be Aston Martin Chief Executive Dr Ulrich Bez (D), Chief Engineer Chris Porritt (GB), Aston Martin Nürburgring Test Centre Director Wolfgang Schuhbauer (D) and renowned motoring journalist and racer Richard Meaden (GB).

“Our 100 per cent finishing record in thirteen starts in one of the world’s toughest endurance races is remarkable; truly a testament to the reliability of our cars and the efforts of our people. In the past six years we have deliberately focused on racing close-to-production cars, achieving seven class podiums and three class wins. For 2012, I am delighted to be returning again to drive our V12 Zagato with my engineering team, but also to have such an exciting step up with the V12 Vantage GT3s.”, commented Ahead of the race, Dr Bez.

The fourth official entry will be a V8-powered Vantage run by Aston Martin’s Nürburgring Test Centre team and driven by Jurgen Stumpf (D), Australians Mal Rose and Rob Thomson, and Peter Cate (GB). Aston Martin will be represented by four further customer outfits, including Team Mathol Racing, winners of the SP10 class for GT4 cars in 2010.

The 40^th ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours starts at 16:00 CET on Saturday, 19 May.

Source: Aston Martin

May 11, 2012

Aston Martin Ultimate DBS

Keep your eyes peeled as a new Aston Martin might be coming out. Well, we say new, but it actually a special edition of the DBS – the ultimate Aston get’s an “Ultimate” trim. Not much has been disclosed so far so we’ll have to play the guessing game.

There will two versions of it – Coupe and Volante (open top). The exterior shades will range from Silver Fox to Quantum Silver and Carbon Black II. The wheels will be strictly Black Diamond only contrasted by the yellow brake calipers (one would be able to have them also in red or black). The wing mirror caps and lamp in-falls will be garnished with carbon fiber and the rear lights will be smoked. A unique “DBS Ultimate” will finish off the exterior look.

As for the inside, we can clearly see those Obsidian Black, diamond patterned seats with contrasting red stitching – delicious. The inside of the door bares the same design while the headlining is made from Alcantra. On the headrests, we find yet again, a unique DBS Ultimate badge with red in-fill. The flappy paddles behind the well also get a leather treatment in red.

If this really is going to be the “ultimate” Aston Martin DBS then it better develop, at the very least 510 hp and 570 Nm. This is the absolute minimum. Pretty certain that they won’t change the plant – 5.9-liter V12 but squeezing out more juice from it does not sound that impossible.

Source: Aston Martin

May 9, 2012

World debut of 2013 Aston Martin Dragon 88 Limited Edition

2013 Aston Martin Dragon 88 Limited Edition was just showcased in Beijing and it immediately grabbed the attention of the public.

This new Aston Martin model is actually an exceptional personalization. The number 88 in the name, in fact means there will be only 88 examples of Aston Martin models which are going to be available from “dragon” modification.

Some of the most inspiring models of the brand have been already customized, and these include: DBS Volante, Virage Coupe and V8 Vantage S Coupe.

So this means in general that the Dragon 88 concept is reserved only for afore mentioned powerful, elegant and prestigious models.

In particular, each of the 88 cars will include bespoke details, which evolve around the “dragon” symbol. In Chinese folklore this symbol stands for power, strength and good luck.

In addition, 24-carat gold is applied to the signature Aston Martin wing badges on each car. The cars are also finished in one of three special colors.

2013 Aston Martin Dragon 88 Limited Edition

Another exceptional car that is showcased at the brands stand in Beijing is the 2013 Aston Martin One-77. This vehicle is literal expression of Aston Martin’s engineering excellence. It comes equipped with the powerful 7.3-litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine and the low mass, high-rigidity properties of a carbon fibre chassis.

Of course the number 77 means that only 77 luck owner will be enjoying driving this powerful machine.

Source: Aston Martin

April 24, 2012

Tag: Aston Martin