D2Forged Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The US tuning company D2Forged usually specializes in wheel packages, but have now released a complete kit for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. This one definitely got our attention, and is one of the better looking Aston…

Mansory Cyrus based on Aston Martin DBS

Mansory presents the Cyrus package based on the Aston Martin DBS or the DB9. The Cyrus emphasises masculinity and power with its newly designed front skirt with enlarged air inlets, the carbon fibre wing extensions and the newly designed rear skirt with an integrated diffuser. The two slotted power domes on the carbon fibre bonnet send extra air into the 12 cylinder engine. Completing the picture are the stainless steel tailpipes attached to the sonorous sport exhaust system.

The car squats on large 9x20 front and 10.5x21 rear ultra-forged rims wrapped in 255/30ZR20 front and 295/25ZR21 rear Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres. The coilover suspension has been adjusted to lower the centre of gravity and improve road holding.

Mansory's definition of luxury extends to the interior where tailor-made carbon fibre parts are found. They include some bits from the dashboard, the centre console and the re-designed steering wheel. Foot pedals are made of aluminium while the door sills and head rests feature embroidered CYRUS logos. Hand-stitched leather covers the seats, parts of the dashboard and inside the door panels.

Aston Martin Vantage by MW Design Technik

Canadian tuners MWDesign + Technik have turned their eyes to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Their model, dubbed the Helvellyn Frost, is painted in a cool, matte white color meant to reflect the English Mountain Range from which Aston gets its name.

The engineers have designed new aerodynamics and performance enhancements in an attempt to improve on an already lauded car. The design package includes new bodywork, new fascias, and other body panels in carbon fiber, all of which fit into the spirit of the original vehicle. Now the car also sits on black Modulare M14 20-inch wheels that look superb on the white vehicle, especially with the frost white Brembo brake callipers.

Under the hood, the company added a polished RSC Vantage-C Powerkit which extends to a new exhaust. The 380-horsepower engine was retuned to output a much more serious 445 hp.

Aston Martin DBS by Edo Competition

Edo Competition has unveiled their tuning program for the Aston Martin DBS.

To beef up the sexy beast, Edo installed revised ECU software, a new exhaust system, special catalytic converters, and high flow air filters. Thanks to these changes, the DBS produces 550 PS (542 hp / 405 kW) and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque - an increase of 33 PS (32 hp / 25 kW) and 30 Nm (22 lb-ft). This enables the car to rocket from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph).

Underneath, the company added a high performance brake system, 21-inch wheels, and an adjustable sports suspension (which can vary the ride height, spring compression and rebound damping).

Inside, customers can order carbon fiber trim or exclusive leather upholstery in a color of their choice.

Aston Martin DB7 by Alchemist

Luxury customization company, Alchemist, thinks their Aston Martin DB7 isn't getting enough attention. So, they've decided to bath the exterior in 24-carat gold and platinum leaf. No details have been given exactly how they did it and what the total cost might be, but they went as far to add 7 diamonds embedded in the bodywork as the final touch.

Alchemist’s creative director and modern day ‘Goldfinger’, Jacques Blanc, said: “Forget the everyday optional extras offered by car manufacturers, this is the King Midas of customization and the gold standard of luxury.”

The 24-carat DB7 makes its debut at MPH The Prestige and Performance Motor Show featuring Top Gear Live at London’s Earls Court among 200 other supercars on display.

2007 Aston Martin Vanquish S V12

The fastest production model ever to be built by Aston Martin made its world debut at the 2004 Paris Motor Show.

With a maximum speed in excess of 200 mph (321 km/h) and a 6.0 liter V12 engine developing 520 horsepower, the Vanquish S has been designed to deliver even greater performance, complemented by subtle suspension and steering changes and a number of interior and external style revisions.

The Vanquish S has received subtle but effective changes to complement its elegant muscular body. The famous Aston Martin grille has a new rounded and more open appearance for better cooling, and an aerodynamic splitter improves high-speed stability.

At the rear, a redesigned boot lid featuring a new high mounted stop lamp reduces lift and improves balance and stability, helping to achieve an impressive Cd figure of 0.32.

These differences on the Vanquish S not only improve the appearance but also enhance performance. All the exterior body panels are constructed from aluminum with each individual panel hand tailored to the central structure to ensure a perfect panel fit. Every carefully detailed feature provides graphic evidence of the painstaking craftsmanship and quality, which is invested in its construction at Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell site in Buckinghamshire.

Revised steering geometry provides a 20% quicker response, allowing the driver to apply a reduced input for required steering response. This enables the driver to be more precise with inputs - especially on winding roads - and more accurate feedback from the chassis.

The Sports Dynamics suspension, steering and braking package is now standard on the Vanquish S. This includes stiffer springs and dampers and shorter steering arms.

Further development of Aston Martin’s low emissions, all alloy, quad-overhead camshaft, 48 valve, 6.0-liter V12 engine has generated an increase in power from 460 bhp to 520 bhp at 7000 rpm and torque is boosted to 425 lb-ft at 5800 rpm.

Engine enhancements include new cylinder heads with fully machined inlet ports and combustion chambers to improve airflow, revised engine mapping and new fuel injectors.

The overall interior design is a subtle blend of traditional, classic and modern materials with Bridge of Weir leather upholstery matched to contemporary metal interior fittings and finishes. A number of detailed improvements have been made to the interior of the Vanquish S to enhance the overall appeal.

The luxurious but purposeful two seat or optional 2+2 cabin now features supportive all leather trimmed sports seats with many additional and exquisite detail touches which amply demonstrate the truly special nature of this unique hand crafted sports car.

With the capacity to continue to turn heads, the design of the Vanquish is already established as a modern classic. Since its launch in 2001, the Vanquish has proved to be a huge success for Aston Martin with over 1500 cars built.

2008 Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin will unveil one of the most eagerly anticipated cars of the year when the new DBS is revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 16th, where the company takes a starring role as the featured marque. Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, said: “The DBS is the ultimate expression of Aston Martin’s engineering and technical ability. It offers pure performance without compromise. “The DBS delivers the complete driving experience and bridges the gap between our road and track cars – the DB9 and DBR9.”

Equally at home on a twisting mountain circuit as on the open road, the DBS is a true thoroughbred. The Aston Martin DBS is a 6.0-liter V12 powered, race-bred, two-seater shaped by the aerodynamic demands of high performance, with an exquisite interior that marries beautifully hand-finished materials with the very latest in performance technology.

A combination of elegant design, innovative manufacturing processes, race-derived materials and components and Aston Martin’s unrivalled hand-build expertise makes the DBS a luxury sports car without equal. Every line, crease and curve conveys the enormous potential of the DBS, a seductive blend of refinement and raw power, provided by the hand-built V12 producing 510 bhp, a top speed of 191 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds.

Performance

The need for high-performance stability, handling ability and low kerb weight defined the DBS’s form and construction. Accordingly, the DBS becomes the first production Aston Martin to make extensive use of ultra-light carbon-fiber body panels. High levels of performance and control are delivered by the combination of inherent light weight, near-perfect weight distribution, a supremely powerful and flexible V12 engine, and a performance-honed six-speed transmission, together with new carbon ceramic brakes and an adaptive damper controlled suspension system.

At the heart of the DBS is a 6.0-liter V12 engine. As with all current Aston Martins, it is hand-assembled at Aston Martin’s dedicated engine facility in Cologne, Germany. The classic 6.0-liter V12 features a number of power-increasing enhancements. These include a ‘by-pass’ engine air intake port that opens above 5500 rpm to allow more air into the engine, and re-profiled air inlet ports that further improve airflow into the combustion chamber. Combined with a compression ratio of 10.9:1, the result of these enhancements is prodigious power and torque: the DBS delivers 510 bhp at 6500 rpm. The 3.71:1 final-drive ratio ensures that the additional power is usable, enhancing in-gear acceleration in particular.

Design

The DBS is manufactured using the finest materials, with a combination of hand-finishing and pioneering high-technology processes. From the exceptional quality of the design and finish to the advanced production techniques employed to save weight and create strength, the DBS is both a technological masterpiece and a powerful visual and tactile experience, inside and out.

The external detailing reflects the power and dynamic abilities of the DBS, with revised inlets and enlarged grilles that deliver more air into the engine and increase its cooling capacity. Subtle design details include a new five-bar design for the polished alloy main grille, as well as two additional vents in the enlarged power bulge on the carbon-fiber bonnet. These vents are entirely functional, improving engine performance and efficiency, yet also communicating the increased power output of the uprated V12 engine.

The DBS’s aerodynamic enhancements are shaped by Aston Martin’s racing experience. A carbon-fiber splitter and a new front bumper design help channel airflow around the car’s wider bodywork. The aerodynamics team worked hand in hand with the modeling team to ensure that the forms and surfaces of DBS were sculpted for inherent stability at high speeds.

Interior

The interior of the DBS represents the epitome of Aston Martin’s commitment to using materials honestly, without disguise or embellishment. Lightweight materials are used throughout to save weight; door pulls are made from carbon-fiber, for example, and the carpet has been woven with lighter fibers to save weight. Special semi-aniline leather is used throughout the cabin, saving weight as well as giving a soft feel and distinctive aroma.

As an option the DBS may be equipped with specially developed lightweight seats (outside North America). These feature a carbon-fiber and Kevlar composite structure and are manufactured by a supplier to the motorsport and aviation industries before being returned to Aston Martin’s Gaydon factory for hand-trimming. The structure is created by sandwiching a layer of Kevlar between two layers of carbon-fiber with the outer finish left exposed on the seat backs, lacquered to create a durable and attractive finish.

The start sequence of the DBS is augmented by an all-new centre console design with a cast metal surround, crisp typography and new graphics. The new console has a traditional dial-face clock at the centre, flanked by two rotary controls for the heating and air-conditioning system, fashioned from solid, turned aluminum.

Deliveries of the DBS are expected to commence during quarter one 2008, with prices to be confirmed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS Concept

At the official opening of Aston Martin’s first ever dedicated design center in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11 December, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, thrilled an audience of more than seven hundred VIP guests with a surprise unveiling of a stunning new 600 bhp performance concept car; the V12 Vantage RS.

The V12 Vantage RS concept is based on Aston Martin’s critically acclaimed V8 Vantage coupe, but the company’s design and engineering team have fully exploited the design flexibility of their unique VH architecture and the motor sport development of their 6.0 liter V12 engine to create a dramatic and production feasible concept car focused on extreme performance and dynamics.

In a speech to the assembled guests, Ulrich Bez said: “Over the last five years, we have established a reputation for presenting fully functional, feasible concept cars, and the V12 Vantage RS is no exception. We will listen with interest to feedback on this concept and, as ever, if there is sufficient demand then we will seriously consider a low volume production run in the near future with a price that will reflect the exclusivity of the car.

“With our dedicated production facilities, our own engine plant, our own unique vehicle architecture and now a dedicated design studio, we have the ideal framework to bring new models such as this to market and to further establish Aston Martin as the ultimate independent luxury sports car company.”

Although the 600 bhp power output of the V12 Vantage RS concept will be the focus of attention, just as significant is the level of weight reduction achieved by Aston Martin’s engineering team. With a kerb weight of less than 3500 lbs, the RS concept underlines Aston Martin’s continued commitment to intelligent use of materials and weight reduction as a means of achieving improved efficiency and performance. In common with the recently launched DBS, the bonnet and trunk lid are moulded in carbon fiber and the concept also adopts motor sport-inspired carbon ceramic brake discs.

The subtly aggressive exterior appearance is driven by function. The dramatic bonnet louvres extract air from the fully ducted cooling pack and the trunk lid features a deployable spoiler that rises automatically at high speeds to increase rear down force. The front bumper features cooling ducts for the carbon ceramic brakes and a carbon fiber splitter to balance down force.

Director of Design, Marek Reichman, commented: “Much of Aston Martin’s recent success has come from the ability of our designers and engineers to work hand-in-hand to optimize form and function. Our new dedicated design centre will take this process to a new level and I am delighted that the V12 Vantage RS is the first car to stand on the turntable in the studio.”

The 600 bhp 6.0-liter engine featured in the V12 Vantage RS concept has benefited directly from the race development of this acclaimed power unit. It features a dry sump lubrication system, tuned length exhaust manifolds, forged pistons and steel con-rods, revised lift and duration camshafts and modified cylinder heads. Peak power is achieved at 6250 rpm and peak torque of 509 lb-ft is at 5000 rpm.

With a power-to-weight ratio of over 375 bhp per ton, the V12 Vantage RS concept is the fastest accelerating road car ever built by the company, capable of reaching 62 mph from rest in 4.0 seconds and 100 mph in just 8.5 seconds.

The unveiling of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept concludes a remarkable year of new product announcements for the British manufacturer. In the last twelve months the company has launched two of the most eagerly anticipated sports cars of the year – the DBS and Vantage Roadster – and announced details of the DB9 LM and V8 Vantage N400 special editions which celebrate the company’s racing successes at Le Mans and the Nurburgring. All of these models now join the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9 and DB9 Volante models in production at the company’s Gaydon headquarters.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage RS in Mako Blue

Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage RS Concept has a new colour. Mako Blue is it, and it was chosen out of numerous names suggested by interested public members. When the car was unveiled by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez last December, he called on the public to send names they thought would suit the colour of the concept.

One such quick-thinking world citizen was Mat Wilson whose name was the one picked. Wilson said: “The name came to me instantly, when I first saw the car. There is a distinct parallel between the shark and the car – both being the fastest of their kind.” Mako is the Maori word for Blue Lightning, which Aston Martin reckon is perfectly suited to their 600 bhp/ 447kW 6.0-litre V12. Indeed the car is said to be the fastest Aston Martin to ever come out with that badge on its sleeve.

Press Release

The newly housed Aston Martin Design team has selected a name for the colour of the company’s V12 Vantage RS concept car, after inviting suggestions from the public at the opening of the company’s new Design Studio last year.

The V12 Vantage RS was unveiled in December by Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, who, during his speech, invited suggestions to name the colour of the concept. The Aston Martin design team was inundated with suggestions, and after careful consideration has selected ‘Mako Blue’ as the name of the concept colour.
Design Director, Marek Reichman said: “The name is taken from the Mako shark, which is the fastest and most agile shark known to man. We thought the name not only reflected the colour, but also that the nature of the shark was synonymous with the character of the car.
“The Maori translation for ‘Mako’ is ‘Blue Lightning’ which obviously is descriptive of both colour and car - a very befitting name.”
Mat Watson, who penned the winning name added: “The name came to me instantly, when I first saw the car. There is a distinct parallel between the shark and the car – both being the fastest of their kind.”
The environmentally sustainable Design Studio is the marque’s first purpose-built and fully-owned design facility. The Vantage RS concept features a 600bhp 6.0 V12 engine and has been subjected to a weight-loss programme. The result is the fastest ever road-going Aston Martin.

Aston Martin is currently evaluating feedback from customers to the Vantage RS concept, with a view to a possible low-volume production run should sufficient demand exist.