We could have sworn the V12 Zagato production car had already made its debut, but no, we've only seen the concept plus a couple racecar prototypes that Aston raced in the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Turns out we'll get to see this top car in the Vantage series next month at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show, following its official debut this month in Kuwait. We imagine it won't have gotten any cheaper by the time it arrives in Switzerland, but we'll enjoy looking at it all the same. Aston will build 150, and deliveries begin this fall.
Just don't name this one Zig... OK, guys?
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Geneva Motor Show,Luxury Cars,Sports Cars
Unless you have a press credential, you'll want to make sure to visit the 2011 L.A. Auto Show on the first weekend (Nov. 18-20) of the public days. That's because the Aston Martin One-77 will be part of the Galpin exhibit in the Concourse Hall, and it will only be there that initial weekend.
Even if you've decided this car is ugly, it's a stunning thing to behold in the metal, and it's just not every day you can be within a few feet of a 750-hp series-production car with a carbon fiber frame and aluminum bodywork that's capable of 220.007 mph.
A reminder of how the the One-77 sounds after the jump.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,LA Auto Show,Sports Cars
If you think this is the "skid button" or the "no control on the rear wheels" button like Roberto Ricci -- professional surfboard designer -- does, you should probably stay out of an Aston Martin Rapide.
If, however, you do decide to get into a Rapide and understeer it into a guard rail so hard you take the wheel off, don't blame the button.
For crash footage, follow the jump, you've never seen someone so cheery after narfing $200K worth of Aston. For track tested footage of a 2011 Aston Martin Rapide where we push the "no control on the rear wheels" button and manage not to crash, click here.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Miscellaneous,Videos
Virtually everything awesome about this video of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato and its fantastic sound is erased by the description on YouTube, "Experience a lap of the Nurburgring as 'Zig' the V12 Zagato takes to the world famous race circuit."
Zig? Seriously? We're naming race cars now? ::sigh::
That sound, though...
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Motorsports
Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test-drivers. Enjoy.
It's been a long time since we took an Aston Martin to a test track. Our testing team was still in its infancy and many of today's editors didn't even work here yet. We were still publishing books back then, for Pete's sake. Anyway, we're long overdue.
The 2011 Aston Martin Rapide is the stylish alternative in the uber-luxury-sport-sedan segment that has pretty much been overshadowed by the Porsche Panamera. But this $200,000 super sedan isn't just a beauty queen. It's got a 5.9-liter V12 cranking out 470 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque.
So, was it worth our wait? Did it do Aston Martin proud or does the Porsche Panamera Turbo S still deserve to be at the front of everyone's mind?
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,IL Track Tested,Sedans
The Aston Martin V12 Zagato has had us rapt since the concept was first rendered back in May. Hearing the race car (via Youtube) at the Villa d'Este concours just jammed it deeper into our brains.
Seeing the production version at the Frankfurt Auto Show could be too much to bear. Sure, it'll be the same mechanically as the V12 Vantage, but who are we to scoff at a 510-horsepower 6.0-liter V12? The production version will differ from the race car with a slightly less insane hood (there are two fewer vents), a slightly more road-going front splitter, functional windows and, of course, a wing delete.
Aston will build "no more than" 150 examples of the V12 Zagato and at $540,000 -- some $359,465 more than a V12 Vantage -- they'll go fast.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles
Yes, advertising appeared racecars as early as 1932, as evidenced by this Alfa Romeo Tipo B Don Lee Special. Photo by Mark Takahashi
Yesterday, we brought you the first installment of the 2010 Monterey Historics weekend that mostly centered around the Motorsports Reunion. We continue today and add in shots from the Pebble Beach Concours and Concorso Italiano.
Continue reading...
Categories: Alfa Romeo,Aston Martin,Bugatti,Cadillac,Classic Cars,Ford,Jaguar,Lincoln,Maserati,Motorsports
Apparently, it's limited-run exotic luxury car video morning here on SL. Some days are just like that.
The last we heard of the Aston Martin One-77, Aston had announced that they'd sold 60 of the planned 77 unit run of the $1.87 million supercar. But Aston wants to keep this one hot, but unfortunately some video editor with more time spent in movie theaters and coffee houses than on mountain roads ,or the Circuit Paul Ricard which is also featured here, and has mucked the whole thing up with some goofy soundtrack you expect to hear in the lobby of a Southwestern Motel 6.
(Also, how much like an exaggerated ZR1 does the One-77 look from this angle?)
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Sports Cars,Tuners and Modifications
I know there's a joke here, but I can't settle on a start. "Three blondes drive into a Ferrari.." "What do you get when you cross three blondes and $1.1 million in exotic cars?"
Or then there's the Monaco angle: "Gee, demolition derbies in Monaco are different."
I could grasp at these all day, so let's skip that and just get straight to the facts: There was a car crash in Monaco in front of the Casino involving a Bentley Azure crashing into an S-Class....and then a Ferrari F430 which got bumped into a Phantom Drophead Coupe. And then, not to be outshone by the spotlight of a Bentley/Roller crash, another of Britain's crown jewels entered the fray in the form of an Aston-Martin Rapide slamming into the passenger door of the Bentley.
And just for fun, a Porsche 911 crashed into the lot of 'em. This is what insurance is for, right?
Gallery available here.
(Yahoo, )
Categories: Aston Martin,Bentley,Ferrari,Porsche
The sound of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato at its premiere at the Villa D'Este Concours still haunts my dreams. The V12-powered coupe with the double-bubble roof is the latest collaboration between Aston Martin and Italian coachbuilder Zagato and is finally for sale. Albeit from $525,000 and in extremely limited quantities -- only 150 examples will be produced.
Powering the V12 Zagato is Aston Martin's 6.0-liter, 510 horsepower, you guessed it, V12. Production begins in about a year and orders will be taken on a first-come first-serve basis.
Well, at least it's more affordable than the One-77.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Coupes,Tuners and Modifications
The Aston Martin V12 Zagato introduced last week at the Villa D'Este Concours in Italy was already close to race-ready with a bespoke steel roll cage and an enormous endurance fuel tank. Yet, Aston released a computer-generated "sketch" today teasing what the car will look like once it hits the Nurburgring for a pair of endurance races.
Basically, the wheels are now black, the little Z in the jumbo side vents has been removed, the front splitter looks more like a pool deck and those weird black nostril things next to the Aston badge have been removed. Oh, and there's an enormous wing now.
So, are we liking the Zagato? Does the wing make it better?
Categories: Aston Martin
The Aston Martin V12 Zagato showed itself at the Villa d'Este concours this weekend. This noise should make you forget about all of those perfectly valid "kinda looks like a GT-R" thoughts.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Tuners and Modifications
No, Takahashi did not just Photoshop an Aston Martin Vantage with a Nissan GT-R. But it kinda looks that way, eh?
Aston Martin released the first official photos of its V12 Zagato ahead of the car's official unveiling tomorrow at the Villa D'Este Concours in Lake Como, Italy. The car is a result of a collaboration between Aston and Italian design house Zagato, and comes on the 50th anniversary of the legendary DB4GT Zagato.
"The Zagato design language is a perfect complement to our design and engineering expertise," Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez said. "Fifty years ago, Italian design houses were widely seen as leading the way with new designs ... but Aston Martin has its own in-house design ability, so this new venture with Zagato is more collaborative than it perhaps would have been in the past."
Indeed, the V12 Zagato is the latest in a line of special, low-production Astons that have included the DB4GT Zagato, V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin
When passions collide, good things usually result. Obviously, here at Inside Line, we're into cars. Recently, a few of us have taken up shotgunning as a hobby. Those two interests are also shared by Aston Martin enthusiast Ron Collier, who commissioned a Browning B25 12-gauge shotgun with hand-engraved depictions of his beloved 1990s V8 Volante.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin
In an interview with CAR Magazine, Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez revealed that his company will relaunch the Lagonda brand with two or three new models.
Like the ill-received 2009 Lagonda concept, the first new Lagonda will be a midsize crossover based on the next-generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class. The styling has apparently been alterred from the concept by Aston's chief designer Marek Reichman. While this Lagonda crossover will be a sporty, road-going model, a second is intended to "attract the odd Range Rover customer," according to CAR.
"Langonda cannot survive as a one-model brand," Bez told CAR. "That's why we are looking at two, maybe three different offerings. The most logical follow-up to the crossover is a high-end, high-visibility luxury saloon not unlike the angular Lagonda designed by William Towns (pictured above) which was not only very different because of its high-tech (and horribly unreliable - Riz) electronic dashboard."
It is speculated that this this Lagonda sedan would also be based on a Mercedes-Benz. The full Bez interview can be found in the June issue of CAR.
Categories: Aston Martin
An electric Aston Martin sounds awful. I mean that both figuratively and in a speculatively literal sort of way. Yes, Astons are gorgeous, but they also sound magnificent whether it's a V8 or V12 model. Even if an electric motor could duplicate the thrust, the only way to get the noise would be some fake Nissan Leaf noise-maker thingy. Lame.
Well, Georg Kacher at CAR magazine is reporting that Aston Martin will indeed be making an electric car, but that it will be an EV version of the Cygnet, and thus just an Aston Martinized version of the likely electric Toyota/Scion iQ. In other words, something that's already inherently awful. However, it would further the Cygnet's goal of reducing Aston's carbon footprint and corporate average fuel economy.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Electric Vehicles,Future Vehicles
You know, I was really chugging along today, being really efficient. The Mercedes CLS model review was in the bag and I was well on my way into the 2012 Ford Flex. And then Magrath sends me this: the new Aston Martin web site and configurator. There goes the rest of my day.
Naturally, I went straight for the DBS, but it turns out you can't build one just yet. The configurator seems to be restricted to the Virage and a Scion iQ (must be British humor). Wait, what? They're making that? Called the Cygnet you say? Because independent Aston Martin needs the fuel economy offset? Alrighty then, anything to keep those big V12s around. At least it has most of the Aston Martin paints and leathers on hand (plus a few special ones like Yellow Kangaroo).
Should I ever find myself in a closet with a burning garbage bag full of weed, I think I would configure and order my Cygnet in Lightning Silver (Quantum Silver would be the equivalent of punching James Bond in the junk) with a Raven Black and Aurora Blue interior.
Categories: Aston Martin
When you hear Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, how long does it take you to pull that mental file out of the drawer and have the image of that iconic racer splashed all over the inside of your brain? Milliseconds if you're anything like us. And it'll take you hours before anything else is sitting in that slot. If you didn't manage anything **gasp** click here.
And now, 50 years after that collaboration, Aston Martin and Zagato are at it again with this sketch, the physical version of which is to be released at the Villa D'Este concours in Italy on May 21. (That show is getting good.)
Aston Martin is showing the concept to "gauge initial customer reaction, with a view to a production car following in 2012." CEO Ulrich Bez added, "The DNA of both Aston Martin and Zagato has combined successfully to make some of the world's most desirable collector cars in the past and in this special anniversary year of the DB4GT Zagato it is appropriate to explore a modern collaboration."
After the initial showing at Villa D'Este, the concept will be raced at the Nurburgring endurance race on May 28.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Classic Cars,Motorsports,Tuners and Modifications
Royal Wedding. Kate Middleton and Prince William. Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Are you as tired of hearing these things over and over and over again as I am? Thought so, we'll keep this short.
After the Royal Wedding ceremony was over (sorry for being late on this, we were sleeping or working or doing virtually anything else) Will and Kate drove off in Prince Charles' Seychelles Blue Aston Martin DB6 Volante MkII convertible. Followed, of course, by a security detail.
Charles' Aston isn't new to anyone in the car world, as we saw it back in 2008 after it was converted to run on biofuel made from excess British wine.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin,Celebrities,Tuners and Modifications
Not going to say a lot here because there's video of an awfully pretty car after the jump.
Maybe just a quick refresher on the Virage? Ok. The Virage slots between the DB9 and the DBS, the coupe can be configured in 2+2 or 2+0 configuration, it's got 490 horsepower from a 5.9-liter V12 hooked to a six-speed automatic. Ceramic rotors and 10-setting driver-adjustable dampers round out the package.
Video after the jump, photos here.
Continue reading...
Categories: Aston Martin
