Gallery: Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Aston Martin V12 Vantage revealed

Geneva Preview: Aston Martin V12 Vantage revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: 2008 Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin DBS owners have to wait a bit longer to be Bond originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With its Le Mans racing program soon to be bolstered by GT2 and LMP1 entries, and with sales of its ever-so-desirable GTs ever increasing, Aston Martin is preparing to add the four-door Rapide to its production line-up. And if this spy shot is any indication, things seem to be moving along nicely.

Aston was anticipated to decide by year's end where the Rapide would be built. Although the company just moved to a new facility in Gaydon, the automaker was reportedly in discussions with a number of smaller contractors - including Pininfarina, Karmann, Magna-Steyr and Valmet - over potentially outsourcing the Rapide's manufacturing. As we already know, these private coachbuilders are all in dire need of the contract.

Confirmation that Aston would build the Rapide was one of the first things its new owners did after acquiring the company from Ford, and we're looking forward to seeing the production version in the flesh after seeing this spy shot.

[Source: The Hollywood Extra]

Spy Shot: Aston Martin Rapide originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click on the images to view in high resolution

In our day-to-day, we come across a fair number of replicars. Some are especially convincing, while others are just plain bonkers. Far more so than the Miata-based AMX07 we brought you back in 2006, this Aston Martin V12 Vanquish replica could have had us fooled.

Made by Ontario, Canada-based Exclusive Motor Cars, this Aston replica is based on a previous-gen Ford Mustang. Ten companies are then involved in the transformation -- stretching the wheelbase, widening the track and lowering the ride height with suspension mods; crafting, painting and fitting the 34 composite body panels; custom upholstering the interior and fitting interior trim pieces; and mounting all the extra details from the headlights to the badges.

The end result, at least as far as we can tell from the pictures (you can judge for yourself in the gallery below), would appear to fool anyone but the most trained eye. Exclusive even plans to offer a "spy package" complete with (what we'd hope are fake) grille-mounted rocket launchers and hood-mounted machine guns in an effort to complete the "Die Another Day" 007 package. Although the company's pricing page is currently blank, you can bet it costs a heck of a lot less than the authentic, now-discontinued V12 Vantage itself. You very well might be the only one who would know the difference.

[Source: Exclusive Motor Cars via Carscoop]

Gallery: Exclusive Aston Martin Vanquish replica

Mustang-based Aston Vanquishes other replicas originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Daimler blocks debut of Chinese smart clone

Daimler blocks debut of Chinese smart clone originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Aston Martin & Prodrive working on V8 Vantage GT2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Aston Martin N400 V8 Vantage

Frankfurt 2007: Waiting for our inheritance, Part 1 - Aston Martin Vantage N400 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Earning top honors was the classic '64 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (which we also got to see in its cameo encore appearance in Casino Royale), ahead of the '75 Lotus Esprit featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. Surprisingly, the '97 BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies started from the second row, out-qualifying the '85 Aston Martin Volante from The Living Daylights, the 1930's Bentley Mark IV (From Russia With Love), the 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish (Die Another Day), and the '99 BMW Z8 (The World is Not Enough). The experts also gave honorable mention to the markedly more affordable '61 Sunbeam Alpine from Dr. No.

For our part, we'd certainly have placed the Vanquish ahead of the 7-Series, and ahead of the '85 Volante, but the real question is where the specially-made Aston Martin DBS would slot into the list. (And for that matter, what will Bond drive in the next episode?)

[Source: Cars.com]

Top 7 for 007: Rating Bond's rides originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You just wanted to grab something from the liquor store, the same way you've done who knows how many times before. What you probably did not want to do is get in your truck in front of the liquor store and put it in drive ... then have your prosthetic leg come off at the worst time possible ... and get jammed in the worst place possible: on the accelerator. If that happened, as it did to Martin Niels of Beloit, WI, your loose leg would do the worst thing possible: drive your Chevy Silverado into the side of the building. Thankfully, no one was injured, and Nehls was only cited for driving without a valid driver's license -- surely not the worst ticket possible.

[Source: WTOP News]

Note: Since there was no pic of the actual incident, we found a random car-through-wall pic to use, which surprisingly was not that hard to find.

Break a leg: Man's prosthetic leg falls off and jams accelerator originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2007 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

[Source: Automobile magazine]

One of Aston's new owners puts F430 and Gallardo on notice originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The ink isn't dry on the contracts and the ownership transfer won't even be complete for another thirty days. However, Kuwaiti firm Investment Dar and its partner Adeem Investment Company are planning to put their stake up for sale. The consortium that purchased Aston was led by Dave Richards, backed by the Middle Eastern firms and American banker John Sinders. Using the best numbers we could find, Aston was sold for 479 million pounds, Investment Dar put up 240 million pounds, international banks pitched in 200 million pounds, and Ford retained a 40 million pound share. We don't know where the extra one million large went, but those are the numbers.

Investment Dar is the largest listed investment company in the Gulf. It says it has been getting bids daily and that it has planned to sell the stake, but we wonder if everyone knew that a sale would be in the cards and publicized so soon. According to Reuters, the Dar sale could happen any time, though it hasn't identified any bidders, and the firm would expect to make at least 20% profit. However, another story reports that Dar won't sell for at least a year and expects to make a 100% return on its investment. In the mean time, the company will help Aston focus on new models and expand its dealer network. Either way, we hope that this doesn't create any more instability for a great company getting back on its feet. And we really hope it doesn't do anything to interrupt the arrival of the Rapide.

[Source: Reuters]

Kuwait firm puts Aston Martin stake in play for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2007 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Company officials swear it's not in the cards, but industry sources are suggesting that Aston Martin's new ownership is mulling over the possibility of building a mid-engined supercar to top the range.

When the announcement was made that Aston was going independent, CEO Ulrich Bez showed a product line-up that featured the codename NPX at the top, positioned above the $400,000 Rapide four-door coupe, which the automaker, infused with new capital and bolstered by growing sales, approved for production.

Currently the entire Aston line-up is based on the same front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform, and according to the company's five-year plan, that's not set to change. Not yet, at least, but that's not to say it couldn't change after 2010 when the plan expires and the automaker will have to set a new direction.

This isn't the first time Aston was reported to have been considering a mid-engined model, as the entry-level V8 Vantage was originally planned as a mid-engined model to face off against the Ferrari 360 Modena. If the NPX gets the green light, however, the sites will be set considerably higher on the Enzo's successor.

Related posts:

• The DBX: Aston Martin's forthcoming supercar
• Aston Martin developing a DBX?

[Source: AutoWeek]

REPORT: Aston Martin considering mid-engined flagship originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There's no better moment than the day after Earth Day to announce a new smaller, kinder, gentler Hummer. Martin Walsh, Hummer's general manager, said "Our growth will be downwards in terms of size," and that begins with the now-official H4. Walsh also indicated there might be a smaller model than the H4 if need be.

The H4 comes below the H3 in the pecking order, meant as a compact SUV to go against competitors like the Nissan Murano. As such, Walsh said the H4 would be built on an upcoming compact GM platform, but didn't say which one. As long as Hummer-philes get the same gruff styling cues and useful ability in the dirty stuff, that shouldn't be a problem. Hummer insiders are apparently fretting that GM might "go soft" with the H4, but even Walsh readily admits, "We have to offer legitimate off-road capability."

Last year Hummer sold 56,000 H3's and 14,000 H2's. The H4 could bump those numbers up by an additional 40,000 units. Also in the pipeline are "bio-fuel powertrains '...in every single vehicle application," an H3 SUT, and even though it was ruled out late last year, news out of Australia is that a hybrid could even be in the works. It's a new day indeed. As for the H4, sources tell us to look for a preview of it in concept guise during next year's auto show circuit, likely in Detroit.

[Source: GoAuto via Top Speed]

HUMMER 1, 2, 3 . . . and now 4: H4 confirmed for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Aston Martin Racing brings former F1 driver to Le Mans team

Aston Martin Racing brings former F1 driver to Le Mans team originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It'd be far too easy to dismiss as negligible the minority stake in Aston Martin retained by Ford after the sale, but even in the new era, Aston models will continue to benefit from its ties to the Ford Motor Corporation.

In addition to the safety systems expertise garnered from Aston's former PAG sister-company Volvo, on which we reported earlier, Ford resources will continue to have input into currently-produced and upcoming Aston Martin products. in a number of ways. First, Ford still owns the engine plant where Aston Martin's V8s and V12s are built, in Cologne, Germany. Second, even though Aston is no longer a wholly-owned Ford subsidiary, the British sportscar-maker will continue to benefit from FoMoCo's buying power in securing bulk rates on raw materials, especially aluminum. And third, Ford engineers are tipped to play an even larger role in developing future Astons, input which will come in handy especially as AM rushes to get the Rapide to market ahead of Porsche, which has been working on the Panamera for some time now.

When the sale was announced, Ford's statement read that they wished Aston Martin well in its new stage. As it turns out, they won't be leaving that up to chance.

Related posts:

• Rapide leads the way for Aston under new ownership
• It's done: Aston Martin sold for $925 million

[Source: Motor Authority]

Ford's not abandoning Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Volvo, Ford to help out with Aston's Rapide originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Having unique character might be good for enthusiasts, but it's not so good for the bottom line, and Martin Winterkorn is more concerned about the latter. That's why the CEO of Volkswagen AG is planning on remaking its struggling Seat brand in a new mold.

Although not offered in the North American market, overseas buyers know Seat by the "auto emocion" moniker, positioning the Spanish carmaker as the group's sportier subsidiary offering more aggressive-looking models compared to the more traditional images of the Volkswagen and Skoda divisions (Hmm, sounds like the European version of Pontiac). Unfortunately, that strategy hasn't seemed to pay off for Seat, and to keep it in the black, Winterkorn is ordering a change of strategy that involves appealing to a wider customer base and cutting ten percent of its workforce.

We can't help but wonder what Seat will have to offer if it's brand image is tossed aside. But treading on each other's turf seems to be the strategy du jour at Volkswagen group, where VWs go upmarket to compete with Audis and the corporate structure includes three ultra-premium brands. Whether Winterkorn's strategy pays off remains to be seen.

[Source: Just-Auto]

New strategy for Seat appeals to wider base originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

All the bids are in and the winning bidder has been revealed: Aston Martin is being bought by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the French luxury goods consortium that produces upper-crust products ranging from leather trunks and wallets to champagne and cognac...and now exotic luxury sports cars, too.

In placing the highest bid, Louis Vuitton beat out some serious contenders, including consortia led by Aston's current boss, billionaire moguls and numerous heavy-hitting investment firms.

Ford Motor Company will reportedly retain 15% interest in Aston Martin when Louis Vuitton takes over. Although both Ford PAG and Louis Vuitton declined to comment to DowJones MarketWatch, the media outlet that broke the story, German car mag Autobild will be running the story tomorrow (Friday).

While there has been a history of fashion labels and automakers collaborating on special editions - including Aston Martin and Dunhill - the purchase of a stoic marque like Aston Martin is pioneering new ground, although Louis Vuitton does have an established history in sponsoring concours d'elegance.

Gold and brown DB9, anyone?

Related Posts:

• Did you get your bid in? Auction closed for sale of Aston Martin
• Ford tells bidders Aston will earn $109 million
• Aston Martin sale imminent
• Aussies make bid for Aston Martin

[Source: MarketWatch]

Scoop: Louis Vuitton buys Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Drag-racing legend Dick Landy passes on to the big strip in the sky originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Aston Martin in F1? Not likely, but that won't stop some from speculating. And being the diligent reporters we are, we'll search high and low (and in foreign languages) to bring to you the latest in motor news.

The speculation comes out of the arrival of David Richard's Prodrive outfit re-entering the grand prix paddock. Prodrive is essentially a racing consulting firm, offering automotive manufacturers the opportunity to go racing without developing and implementing their own racing program. Prodrive's responsible for Subaru's rally success, took the 550 Maranello endurance racing for Ferrari and implemented Aston Martin's racing program as well, to mention a few. Richards was hired to overhaul Honda's F1 team, and after delivering results sooner than expected, was shown the door.

Richards has claimed Prodrive has no interest in racing under their own banner, so eyebrows were raised when the British outfit secured their own entry into F1. But while Richards has stated they're considering a number of potential partners, he remains understandably tight-lipped about who that might be, leaving the motoring press to speculate. Of Prodrive's major previous clients, Ferrari and Honda have teams of their own and Prodrive's already forged Subaru's racing image in rallying. That leaves Aston Martin, whose involvement could be as simple as buying Cosworth engines and rebadging them as their own (which is hardly unheard of in F1). Ironically, Aston's impending separation from Ford could help their chances of entering F1, after Ford pulled sister-company Jaguar out of racing several years ago and would have little interest in re-entering under the Aston banner. One thing's for sure: if Aston Martin does end up being the client, Prodrive will have one hell of a time trying to make an F1 car look like every other Aston.

Another potential client could be Nissan, tipped to be entering F1 themselves (likely in closer partnership with Renault) or Hyundai, which hopes to be on the grid by the time their home-turf Korean Grand Prix joins the circus in 2010. (Unfortunately, due to budgetary restrictions, AutoblogF1 just isn't in the cards.)

[Sources: Le Blog Auto (French) and Crash.net]

Could Aston Martin join Prodrive in F1? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.