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First Drive: 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Michael Harley — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin, First Drives, Luxury

The Automaker's Most Powerful Engine Meets Its Smallest Platform

2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage - Click above for high-res image gallery

Sketched drawings of imaginary sports cars covered my notebook as an elementary school pupil. Assembled in the ether of a daydream, each penciled design came from an imagination unrestrained by reality, with nary a concession to things like outward visibility, bumper heights or ground clearance. Engines were huge, tires were wide and bodywork was unbelievably sleek. It didn't matter that none of the drawings represented real cars. From my naive perspective, I could bring the world's coolest cars to life in two-dimensional black and white.

Thirty years later, I find myself sitting in the driver's seat of a 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage. To a car guy, this artful amalgamate of aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber, leather, rubber and glass represents pure sensory overload. As a jaded automotive journalist, I'm supposed to maintain a poker face when presented with such an objet d'art. Plainly, I am struggling today.

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Gallery: 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage: First Drive

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage

First Drive: 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Aston Martin refreshes the DB9

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin, Luxury

2011 Aston Martin DB9 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite the fact that few people would actually argue that the Aston Martin DB9 really needed a nip and tuck, that's exactly what it's getting for 2011. Given how well the DB9 has held up over the last seven years, the changes have been kept pretty discreet. The lower front grille has been reshaped and new mesh inserts have been added, while the rocker panel crease now sweeps up into the rear wheel arches.

Mechanically, the DB9's 6.0-liter V12 powertrain has been carried over, as has its 470 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The most significant upgrade for 2011 is the adoption of an adaptive damping system similar to the one already available on the DBS and Rapide. Thanks to the improved handling offered by the damping system, Aston has decided to drop the Sport Pack previously available on the DB9. Production of the upgraded models has already started and customers should be getting the new cars in the coming weeks.

Gallery: 2011 Aston Martin DB9

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Officially Official: Aston Martin refreshes the DB9

Officially Official: Aston Martin refreshes the DB9 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Aston Martin DBS gets a nip, a tuck and new headlamps

Zach Bowman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin, Design/Style, Luxury

2011 Aston Martin DBS spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Our spy photographers have been busy little bees lately. The crew recently managed to set their lenses on what appears to be the next Aston Martin DBS, complete with a pretty new face. From what we can tell, the company has refreshed the V12 heathen with all-new body work from the A pillars forward. The car now wears a revised fascia with thinner headlamps, and the hood appears to have a few new wrinkles as well. We're having a hard time telling if the front fenders have been significantly massaged or not, but chances are they've been modified somewhat to mate with those new LED-bespeckled lights.

From the rear, its clear Aston Martin has equipped the car with a redesigned diffuser, and the taillights have been redrawn as well. So, will the company supply buyers with any extra power to accompany the new suit of clothes on the DBS? It's possible, but not likely. Odds are the car will still pack the same burly 6.0-liter V12 with 510 horsepower. Which still sounds pretty good to us.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Aston Martin DBS

Spy Shots: Aston Martin DBS gets a nip, a tuck and new headlamps originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Aston Martin DB9/DBS nip/tuck spotted swirling 'round the 'Ring

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin, Luxury

2011 Aston Martin DB9/DBS - Click above for high-res image gallery

A refreshed version of either the Aston Martin DB9 or DBS has been spotting working out at the Nurburgring, likely in preparation for a debut in Paris this September. Up front the lower fascia has been reshaped with a single wider lower opening while a pair of DBS-style air extractors are added to the hood. Both of those point to a bump in output, likely in the range of 10-20 horsepower although it could be considerably more if Aston Martin decides to add something like direct injection to the 6.0-liter V12.

Obviously, it's too early to speculate about gearbox changes, but since Aston Martin has indicated that it will be working with Daimler on some future projects, we wouldn't be surprised to see the SL63's multi-clutch-transmission supplant the hydraulically actuated manual.

At the back the DB9/DBS gets clear taillamp lenses, a taller lip spoiler and a big diffuser to help keep the rear wheels stuck to the pavement at elevated speeds. Undoubtedly, there will also be interior upgrades with some new woods and hides and perhaps a better telematics system of some sort.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Aston Martin DB9

Spy Shots: Aston Martin DB9/DBS nip/tuck spotted swirling 'round the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin to field near-stock Rapide at Nürburgring 24

Noah Joseph — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Europe, Aston Martin, Racing

Aston Martin Rapide Nürburgring racer - Click above for high-res image

Round-the-clock endurance races typically demand the participation of three or even four-man teams, taking shifts as the sun rises and falls on the circuit. The car they're driving, though, doesn't usually have the capacity to carry the entire team. But as if to emphasize once again the true sporting nature of its latest product, Aston Martin will be taking on the competition this year at the Nürburgring 24 in a damn-near-bone-stock Rapide.

In addition to its innumerable victories in Le Mans-class racing, Aston has had great success at the 'Ring in the SP8 category, which it has won the past two years running. In fact last year, a V12 Vantage took the class win and placed 21st overall in the race, outshining a wide array of dedicated race machinery.

Like the V12 Vantage (which will also run this year's event) the Rapide endurance racer will run with very few modifications, limited largely to the removal of interior trim, the addition of some mandatory safety equipment, and racing slicks mounted to a readjusted suspension. That's about it. Aston chief Dr. Ulrich Bez will once again lead the team of factory drivers, and we'll be watching on May 15-16 to see if the four-door can make it three-for-three. Full details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide

Gallery: Aston Martin V12 Vantage at the Ring

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin to field near-stock Rapide at Nürburgring 24

Aston Martin to field near-stock Rapide at Nürburgring 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin shows off completed Cygnet, Euro sales in 2010

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hatchback, Aston Martin, Toyota

Aston Martin Cygnet - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this year, we saw photos of Aston Martin designers working on a clay-covered Toyota iQ in the studio and applying typical Aston styling cues to it. Creating a leather clad urban commuter car struck us as a dubious proposition for an upscale brand like Aston Martin, but nevertheless the Cygnet is now complete and Aston has released a fresh batch of photos.

While the Aston Martin face is well suited to the extended nose of a DBS or Rapide, we think it looks more than a bit overwrought on the front of the tiny Toyota. On the inside, virtually all of the available surfaces have been covered in red and black premium leather. For the time being, the Cygnet is a concept only, but Aston says it hopes to have it in production in 2010 for European and UK customers. There's no word yet on price, but in the meantime, you can check out our high-res gallery below and brief press release after the jump.

Gallery: Aston Martin Cygnet

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin shows off completed Cygnet, Euro sales in 2010

Aston Martin shows off completed Cygnet, Euro sales in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Aston Martin, UK, Luxury

Aston Martin Rapide - Click above for high-res image gallery

Aston Martin has finally hung a price tag on its long-awaited four door, the Rapide, in its U.K. home market. As you might reasonably expect, it won't come cheap, starting at £139,950 or about $233,000 USD. Given pricing disparities between international markets, that's not necessarily an indication of what the Rapide will command Stateside, but we note that the Rapide costs nearly twice what Porsche asks for its base Panamera - and over £40K ($66k USD) more than even the impossibly quick Panamera Turbo. Though the cars weren't exactly designed as competitors, there's little doubt that the two four-passenger sloping-roof models will be cross-shopped by interested parties, along with other quick luxocrats like the Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

For that £139,950 price tag, though, buyers will be getting a largely handmade and finely-crafted automobile powered by a 470-horsepower V12 engine. For what it's worth, that's 30 horses less than the Panamera Turbo, but it's wrapped in less divisive sheetmetal and it'll undoubtedly be far more exclusive.

Initial Rapide deliveries in Great Britain are expected to begin in the spring of 2010, but if you're interested in having an example of your very own, you'd best queue up now. Check out the updated gallery with new high-res images of the 2011 Aston Martin Rapide below, and the official press release is after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK

Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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