Aston Martin Blog
Spy shots: Aston Martin V12 Vantage RSFiled under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Aston Martin  The noise of other sports car makers getting their lunches eaten sounds just like the twelve cylinder engine in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS. A single RS sheep was caught in Italy's Stelvio Pass, being shepherded by a DBS. This Vantage RS gets some shinier wheels and a coat of delicious black paint, but otherwise, it looks like it's ready for the showroom floor. If anything could be cooler than a 600 hp Vantage packing twelve hi-rev punches, it's the DBS... but frankly, the jury's still out until we drive both of them (hint, Aston Martin...). Follow the link to check out the spy shots, and check out the gallery of hi-res pics below. Thanks for the tip, Des!
[Source: GT Spirit] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Prince Charles' Aston runs on a gallon of sack... wine, that isFiled under: Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Sports/GTs, Etc., Green, Aston Martin, UK, Celebrities 
Prince Charles is not new to the environmental debate. His blue, 38-year-old Aston Martin, however, has had nothing to do with being environmentally friendly. Until now. The car, a gift from the Queen on Charles' 21st birthday, has joined the growing fleet of cars that run on bioethanol, having been converted to run on surplus British wine.
The wine comes from an English vineyard in Wiltshire, and the EU limits how much wine a vineyard can produce, so the vineyard sells the overage to Green Fuels, which turns it into biofuels and supplies it to the Palace.
The Aston can go ten miles on a gallon of gas, which would equate to 45 bottles of wine to go the same distance. The wine, though, puts out 85-percent less CO2 and costs £1.10 per liter, which is slightly less than the cost of gas. However, Charles only goes 300 miles in the car every year, and it's not like he's worried about gas prices, so the car won't make a difference by itself -- but he's got his royal heart in the right place.
[Source: Daily Mail] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Shots: Aston Martin V12 VantageFiled under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Aston Martin  Aston Martin shocked the industry when it took the wraps off of the baby-blue V12 Vantage RS concept back in December. The idea was revolutionary yet stunningly simple at the same time: take the lowest car in the line-up and turn it into the highest. Would Aston build it? We all hoped so, and our hopes were vindicated with spy shots of test mules running developmental laps around the race track.
From the latest batch, it appears that all those louvers on the hood will remain - a necessity for cooling the 600-hp V12 that is sitting where a 380-hp V8 usually resides - but the rear wing seems to have been reduced, with a big carbon-fiber diffuser taking over the balance (literally) of the downforce requirements. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the test mule is also wearing the carbon-ceramic disc brakes from the current top-of-the-line DBS, while insiders expect the imminently desirable supercar to bear an equally breathtaking pricetag at double that of the base V8 version. Worth it? We're betting yes.
[Source: NextAutos] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Quantum of Solace trailer shows little bit of Aston, lot of movieFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Supercars, Aston Martin, Lifestyle, Celebrities 
We have to admit, when we heard the next Bond film was going to be called "Quantum of Solace," we kind of scrunched our faces a little bit. Still, Casino Royale was so good that we figured we'd give it the old innocent-until-proven-guilty treatment. Well, now we've seen the trailer, and it looks so bloody good we're all verklempt. We clapped at the end. And then we watched it again.
There's so much action in the trailer that we don't know how there's going to be room for story unless it's as long as Ben Hur, but right now we don't much care. There's only a brief glimpse of the DBS in the trailer at the very end, but whatever it's doing it looks suitably Bond-ish. We'll even admit that the 2-minute clip is good enough to forgive wrecking this Aston DBS, this Alfa, and another Aston DBS during filming. Now you'll have to excuse us while we go watch the trailer a third time. Come on, November 7. Check out the Quantum of Solace trailer for yourself after the jump.
[Source: Moviefone]Continue reading Quantum of Solace trailer shows little bit of Aston, lot of movie Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Aston Martin suits up a Kilgour V8 Vantage for Paris fashion showFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Aston Martin, Lifestyle 
Click above for pair of high-res images showing the Kilgour Vantage V8
Supercars and high fashion go together like super models and getting high, so for its first ever fashion show in Paris, bespoke tailor Kilgour of Savile Row has presented its spring/summer collection alongside a bespoke Aston Martin V8 Vantage coupe. The haute couture Aston is dipped in a one-off Morning Forst Satin paint described as having the texture of fine silk, which would be quite a feat if true since metal usually feels nothing like fabric. The interior is also done up in Kilgour Midnight Blue with polka-dotted seat inserts. Apparently circles are Kilgour's trademark shape, hence the gaudy pattern on the seats. We don't understand high fashion very much, like why people care about apparel that's completely impractical and overpriced, but we suppose some could say the same thing about the cars we like. For instance, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Well, those people just don't understand.
[Source: Aston Martin]Continue reading Aston Martin suits up a Kilgour V8 Vantage for Paris fashion show Permalink | Email this | Comments
Aston Martin may go public in three yearsFiled under: Aston Martin, Earnings/Financials  Since Ford sold it over a year ago, rumors have been flying around regarding a possible re-sale of Aston Martin by its current owners or a large purchase of shares by Mercedes-Benz. While all of these rumors have been denied, a public offering of the historic British brand has been mentioned in the past and is indeed likely. Aston's current chairman David Richards has again alluded to this option, saying that he'd like the company to go public sometime within the next three years. If you long for the opportunity to do your best James Bond impression in an Aston, but couldn't hope to afford one any time soon, perhaps a chance at owning a piece of the company itself would be a fair alternative.
An initial offering on the London Stock Exchange could net £500 million for expansion of the storied British marque. Anything that would allow Aston Martin to continue offering its range of drop-dead beautiful cars is fine by us.
[Source: AM Online] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Enough is Enough: Bond crashes Aston DBS into wallFiled under: Etc., Aston Martin 
Despite a couple of disastrous and debilitating setbacks, filming of the next Bond flick, the Quantum of Solace, is back, with production continuing in the mountains of Carrara, Italy. Unfortunately, these newest shots from the set are further proof that the writers and producers have absolutely no regard for the hotness that is the Aston Martin DBS. To their credit, the death of the DBS was deliberate, as 007 is chased through a rock quarry by a handful of villains piloting Alfa Romeos. The 15-minute scene will make up the pre-credit sequence that is the staple of any good Bond film (they're always our favorite), right before they cue the cheesy retro-pop and cut to blacked-out babes wielding heavy artillery.
Thanks for the tip, Miguel!
[Source: MI6] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Aston Martin upgrades the V8 Vantage for 2009Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Aston Martin 
Click above for a high resolution gallery of the V8 Vantage
Not one to settle, Aston Martin is giving its V8 Vantage a host of upgrades for 2009 highlighted by a larger V8 engine with more power. Originally displacing 4.3 liters, the V8 has been bored and stroked to 4.7 liters for an 11% increase in power to 420 bhp and a 15% increase in torque to 347 lb-ft. Despite these changes, fuel economy has been improved by 13%. Both optional transmissions have been upgraded as well, with the 6-speed manual getting a modified clutch and flywheel, and the Sportshift automatic has been programmed to provide smoother shifts. The suspension has been slightly revised with slightly stiffer spring rates, improved steering geometry, and stiffer bushings in the front suspension to improve handling. The interior has been revamped with a new center console finished in graphite silver as well as an ECU that replaces the standard key. Thankfully the Vantage's beautiful lines have remained untouched, although new 19-inch wheels are available.
Full details on the 2009 upgrades to the V8 Vantage can be found in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Aston Martin]Continue reading Aston Martin upgrades the V8 Vantage for 2009 Permalink | Email this | Comments
Rotten Tomatoes rates top 50 movie carsFiled under: Etc., Videos, Aston Martin, Dodge, Volkswagen, Ferrari 
Click the image above for more classic movie car pics
It's no secret that we're passionate about cars, and we're pretty sure you feel the same way. We're also big fans of the silver screen, especially when a great car or truck is a big part of the plot. The movie mavens over at Rotten Tomatoes feel the same way, and they've compiled a list of the top 50 movie cars in the history of motion pictures.
The list is chock-full of classics from movies like Bullitt and Vanishing Point, but there are also a lot of hidden gems, like Pepe the Little Mule from Romancing the Stone, or the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe from Mad Max. One omission that we would have like to have added was Gary's red Ferrari Mondial from Weird Science, but while we could argue forever which vehicle should rank where, we'd say this is a pretty darn good list. We've posted Rotten Tomatoes' top five movie cars after the jump and some of the classic movie cars in the gallery below, but it's definitely worth checking out the entire list. RT even added some great honorable mention vehicles, as well. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!
[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]Continue reading Rotten Tomatoes rates top 50 movie cars Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Job Listing of the Day: Prodrive Chairman's Estate ManagerFiled under: Etc., Euro, Aston Martin  So you want to work for Prodrive/Aston Martin, but you don't quite have the qualifications to be a bodyshell fabricator or a chief engineer? Then perhaps you have what it takes to fill the position of estate manager for the chairman of the company. You won't need to know your way around a sheet of carbon fiber, but you will need to be able to manage the garden and domestic staff, have a good sense of humor, and "carry out occasional driving duties," among other things. For your dutiful service, your rewards will include a fully paid-for cottage on the property, a mobile phone, and a company car. But remember, Ford still owns part of Aston, so that car could be a Mondeo... but that wouldn't be too bad, would it, guv'nor? Thanks for the tip, sndkick!
[Source: Prodrive] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Second crash at Bond filming proves MI6 hates Alfas tooFiled under: Etc., Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Celebrities  Filming of the latest Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, has been put on hiatus after two stunt drivers were injured during filming. The crash apparently took place while performing a chase sequence where one driver in an Alfa Romeo crashed into a wall while chasing Bond's Aston Martin DBS along the Gardesana, a curvy road that lines Lake Garda. The man behind the wheel of the Alfa was flown to the hospital in a helicopter and is in serious condition, while his passenger sustained only minor injuries.
This news comes within days of the previous crash that put one of the DBSs used for filming into the same lake, and despite the fact that filming was about to be wrapped today, the set remains closed until an investigation takes place. Thanks to all who tipped in.
[Sources: CNN, MI6.co.uk] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Bond's DBS extracted from the drinkFiled under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Videos, Aston Martin 
The typical 007 Aston looks phenomenal, goes incredibly fast, and has enough gadgets to single-handedly depose a hostile government. Unfortunately, not all of those attributes apply when it's raining, as Mr. Bond's Euro KITT ended up at the bottom of lake Garda in Italy after a chase scene on the set of Quantum of Solace went awry. We reported last week that the stunt driver involved in the crash was relatively unharmed, and after watching the Youtube footage of the destroyed DBS, we'd say it was a miracle worthy of the real James Bond. Hit the jump to view the post-mortem of a DBS that can't swim. And if you come across an unbelievable deal for an Aston on Ebay, you may want to run that vehicle history report. Thanks for the tip, Joe!
[Source: YouTube] Continue reading VIDEO: Bond's DBS extracted from the drink Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
ALMS at Long BeachFiled under: Motorsports, Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, Mazda, Porsche, Ferrari 
Click above for high-res gallery of ALMS action from Long Beach
With Champ Car going the way of the dodo bird after this year's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, it looks like the American Le Mans Series is poised to take over top billing at America's Monte Carlo. The street course around downtown Long Beach, California is quite a track, with a long tradition of motorsport excitement. Everything from Formula 1 to CART to Trans-Am have run here, but very few series can match the thrill of four different classes running into the dusk like the ALMS presents. This year's sophomore running of the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach showed exactly why the series deserves more support and coverage than it gets. Not only was the on-track action enthralling, but the huge crowds that Long Beach always attracts seemed to go ga-ga over the prototypes and GT cars wearing names like Porsche, Aston Martin, Corvette and Ferrari. In case you haven't seen the race yet, the results are after the jump. Don't let that stop you from clicking through the massive high-res gallery however.
All photos Copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.
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Aston Martin DBS owners have to wait a bit longer to be BondFiled under: Sports/GTs, Plants/Manufacturing, Aston Martin 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Aston Martin DBS.
According to Autocar, the lucky few that have put a deposit down on the new Aston Martin DBS will have to wait an additional three-months to get behind the wheel of the body-kitted Bond car. The problem apparently stems from suppliers who aren't able to deliver Aston with the one-off parts necessary to complete the DBS. As such, coupes are sitting unfinished at Aston's plant, but sources within the automaker say that they're willing to hold off on deliveries to ensure that all the parts are top-notch. Unfortunately, we doubt that some of the bespoke bits can be salvaged from one of the vehicles that's already been delivered.
[Source: Autocar via Winding Road] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Bond stunt driver takes plunge into lake in Aston Martin DBSFiled under: Etc., Aston Martin, Celebrities 
At 6:30 this morning, a stunt driver shooting a scene for the upcoming James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, lost control of an Aston Martin DBS while filming a chase scene and plunged into Lake Garda in Italy. The film's executive producer, Anthony Waye, said that the scene was being shot in the pouring rain, and although the DBS didn't survive it's unplanned excursion into the water, the driver sustained only minor injuries and was released from the hospital earlier this afternoon. MI6 declined to comment on the incident, but a spokesperson for the agency remarked that the submersible kit for the Aston was under development. Too little, too late Q.
Thanks for the tip MaTTia.
[Source: Reuters.it - translated] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: Mustang gets Aston Martin Vanquish V12Filed under: Tuners, Coupes, Videos, Aston Martin, Ford 
Click above to view video after jump
For decades, the Ford Mustang has been a symbol of affordable performance. While the average GT will still run you less than $30,000, for many that is merely the starting point. Next is the booming Ford Mustang aftermarket business, where you can beef up every square inch of your ponycar. One item not commonly found in a Ford Racing catalog is an Aston Martin Vanquish V12 engine, but after hearing one in the engine bay of a beautiful blue stallion, we think that problem should be corrected.
Hit the jump to view video of a very well-modified Mustang that has the face of a GT500, the butt of a Saleen, and the heart of an Aston. If you thought the throaty V8 of a stock GT was music to your ears, the silky smooth symphony coming from the Vanquish V12 is better than Bach. The best part of the video comes about a minute in when the snugly-packed V12 reveals itself for the first time. Is it just us or is a real Mustang with an Aston motor a hundred times better than a 'Stang with a Vanquish body?
UPDATE: Video after the jump fixed.
[Source: Streetfire]Continue reading VIDEO: Mustang gets Aston Martin Vanquish V12 Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
SPY VIDEOS: Aston Martin DBS on set for Quantum of SolaceFiled under: Spy Photos, Sports/GTs, Videos, Supercars, Aston Martin 
Click above for the video of the Aston DBS on set
There's something rather ironic about finding a spy video taken of a James Bond movie under production that makes us wonder if footage wasn't captured on an Omega watch or exploding pen. Just the same, as we reported late last year, the eminently desirable Aston Martin DBS will be returning to the silver screen for the second in the new series of Bond movies, and now we have the footage to prove it.
Called Quantum of Solace, the movie will also feature the upcoming new Ford Ka. In the first of two videos after the jump, you'll see a DBS with a huge camera rig fixed to it, with another DBS in the background and the wagon version of the new Ford Mondeo which 007 drove in Casino Royale. Oh, and turn up the speakers: you don't want to miss this most original of motion picture soundtracks.
[Source: YouTube via Motor Authority] Continue reading SPY VIDEOS: Aston Martin DBS on set for Quantum of Solace Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Rendered Ruminations: The AM V10, Aston Martin's next halo car (not really)Filed under: Supercars, Aston Martin 
Click above for high-res gallery of AM V10 renderings
Like most rendered ruminations, we know absolutely nothing about these digital drawings of a car named the Aston Martin AM V10, other than they were penned by someone who goes by Sabaman. They're not new either, having been uploaded onto the interwebs about a year ago. Nevertheless, they're very good and show off a vision for Aston Martin's future that's become all the more relevant since the brand's been sold by Ford. Perhaps building ever faster versions of its current lineup won't cut the mustard someday soon, and Aston will begin considering a proper halo car. Such a low-slung, mid-engine exotic like this AM V10 concept could do the trick. It's swoopy with a familiar Aston Martin front face, but the rest of the body is pure sex. Again, we reiterate, these renderings are purely fantasy and nothing like this is being planned, but we wouldn't mind if it were. Thanks for the tip, Timon!
[Source: Deviantart.com] Permalink | Email this | Comments
Podium finish for Aston-powered LMP1 on race debutFiled under: Motorsports, Euro, Aston Martin 
Everyone knows that when it comes to Le Mans-class racing, Aston Martin has its game on. But dang! On its race debut, the Aston-powered Lola B08/60 took on the best of the best to score a third-place finish at this past weekend's Le Mans Series race at Barcelona.
Now competing in GT1, GT2, GT3 and GT4, Aston Martin inked a deal with Charouz Racing Systems back in January to flip around the 6-liter V12 from the DBR9 GT1 racer and shoehorn it into a Lola prototype chassis. The idea was to dice it with the best gasoline-powered LMP1 racers on the grid - which the Charouz Lola-Aston did emphatically - but before the race was over, the car was giving even the diesel-powered Audis and Peugeots, slightly behind which it ultimately finished, a reason to worry. Jan Charouz and Aston/Prodrive chief David Richards were thrilled, vowing to build on the spectacular race debut towards success at the title Le Mans 24 Hours race in mid-June. With competition this fierce, we'll be watching.
[Source: Autosport] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Aston Martin: Not for saleFiled under: Sports/GTs, Plants/Manufacturing, Supercars, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz 
According to Autocar, rumors of Mercedes-Benz purchasing a major stake in Aston Martin don't hold water. Aston's current owners are reportedly not interested in selling all or part of their British sportscar marque to anybody at this time. The possibility still exists that Aston will go public within the next five-or-so years, meaning that just about anyone could own a piece of the tasty Aston Martin pie in the future.
Dreams of a beautifully styled Aston Martin powered by a glorious AMG engine are still possible, though, as Aston's current owners have been in talks with multiple other automakers over parts-sharing opportunities. Major technical components could be bought or developed in collaboration with a company that's got plenty of R&D acumen, and MB/AMG certainly qualifies as such. Although a possible synergy does exist between the two brands, nothing beyond collaboration and the sharing of technical know-how seems likely.
[Source: Autocar] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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