Autoblog

Aston Martin to offer Ultimate Edition before replacing the DBS

Noah Joseph — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

In the earlier part of the last decade, the king of the Aston Martin hill was a model called the Vanquish. More muscular than the DB7 it superseded, the Vanquish was offered first with a 450-horsepower V12, and then as the Vanquish S with 514 hp on tap. The flagship model from Newport Pagnell was replaced in 2007 by the DBS, but before it went the way of the proverbial dodo, Aston offered a final run of 40 examples called the Vanquish S Ultimate Edition. And now that its successor is itself due for replacement, sources expect Aston to offer a DBS Ultimate Edition, as well.

What separated the Vanquish S Ultimate Edition from its penultimate basis were a special black paint job, an enhanced interior and - most significantly - a conventional manual gearbox to replace the maligned sequential transmission in the regular model. What the DBS Ultimate Edition might comprise remains to be seen, but sources don't expect a manual gearbox to factor into the mix.

The Ultimate Edition, then, may boil down to something largely similar to the above-pictured Carbon Black edition that, like the Vanquish special, also featured a special black paint job and unique wheels, but little in the way of powertrain or suspension upgrades. Whatever the Ultimate Edition does encompass, though, is expected to cost nearly $300,000 and limited in production to just 100 units, of which only 30 are expected to make it to American dealerships.

Aston Martin to offer Ultimate Edition before replacing the DBS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition takes its place as king of the hill

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:41:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover, Luxury, Off-Road

Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in the days before every luxury automaker and its sister (company) got into SUVs, there was one name in the premium off-roading game: Range Rover. And keen to prove it's still at the top, Land Rover unveiled the Ultimate incarnation of its premier line at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

Called, appropriately enough, the Ultimate Edition, this top-of-the-line Range Rover is based on the already luxed-up Autobiography trim. Sure to be the new must-have item among oligarchs and oil barons, the Ultimate Edition is kitted out like a Rolls-Royce Phantom but with the added distinction of being able to take its pampered occupants anywhere a mountain goat can go.

There are individual rear bucket seats and tray tables like the first-class cabin on an airliner, a drink cooler, a teak-deck cargo area and - in what's billed as an industry first - a pair of Apple iPad tablets mounted to the front seat-backs (for the use by rear passengers). Journalists and VIPs alike were clamoring for a chance to sit in the ultra-luxurious sport-ute, but we managed to capture the salient points for your viewing enjoyment with the gallery of high-resolution images below, and can tell you first-hand that it's every bit as posh as Land Rover says it is. High-res galleries of all the sybaritic luxury below, official press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition takes its place as king of the hill

Geneva 2011: Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition takes its place as king of the hill originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Farewell, Friend: Honda announces S2000 Ultimate Edition for Europe

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Honda

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition

With the announcement that the Honda S2000 will cease production after the 2009 model year and its successor in doubt, Honda decided to give the high-revving roadster a special send-off before it shuffles off this mortal coil.

The Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition retains the 2.0-liter VTEC-equipped four-cylinder putting out 237 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual transmission, but benefits from a new set of wheels and an optional hard-top. "Grand Prix White" coats the exterior, while a red leather interior, color-matched stitching and numbered doorsill plaques sets it apart from the standard model. Honda will debut the S2000 Ultimate Edition at the Geneva Motor Show this March, with sales beginning in Europe shortly thereafter. Honda hasn't announced if the U.S. will get its own version special edition S2000, but if the automaker can save a few bucks that can go towards the development of the new model, we'll be okay with missing out on the "Ultimate."

Gallery: Honda S2000 Ultimate Edition

Continue reading Farewell, Friend: Honda announces S2000 Ultimate Edition for Europe

Farewell, Friend: Honda announces S2000 Ultimate Edition for Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Vanquish S going out in style with Ultimate Edition, stickshift conversion

Alex Nunez — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:53:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Aston Martin

Click to enlarge illustration

Aston Martin's range-topping GT, the Vanquish S, is nearing the end of its run as the British marque's top dog, and to give it a proper sendoff, a special edition will be built. The Vanquish S Ultimate Edition, limited to just 40 cars, will be finished in a model-specific Ultimate Black paint. Inside, the all-black cabin will feature dark chrome accents, exclusive leather and stitching treatments, and of course, the requisite special-model plaques informing the occupants which number of the forty cars they're riding in. The Vanquish S powertrain is unchanged, and given that it's good for 200 mph, it's not as if it needed anything. Pricing will also be in line with the standard Vanquish S.

In other news relating to the Vanquish, Aston Martin's Works Service division has announced the availability of a kit that will allow existing customers to have their cars converted from the standard paddle-shifter setup to a true stick-shift manual gearbox. Pricing for that bit of surgery starts at £13,250 + VAT.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Vanquish S going out in style with Ultimate Edition, stickshift conversion

Aston Martin Vanquish S going out in style with Ultimate Edition, stickshift conversion originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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