According to Aston Martin, the new V12 Vantage is “the most potent sports car in this marque’s 95-year history”. And now there are official photos to at least show us how the car looks, some time before it is finally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this March.

The limited-run high-performance sports car will sport a 6-liter V12 (duh) that produces 510 brake horsepower with 420 lb.-ft. of torque and a top speed of 190 mph. Aston Martin also cites the V12 Vantage as “driver-focused but usable” with “phenomenal levels of grip”, hinting that the new car will be distinct from the previous V8 and DBS. 0-60 time is a mere 4.1 seconds.

There have been some changes between concept and production models, in order to incorporate new components and to improve interior space. V12 Vantage chief platform manager Paul Barratt acknowledged that the real challenge was getting the larger V12 engine to fit in the V8 chassis.

High-performance specs, dazzling curves, and a host of high-tech features such as Bluetooth and cruise control sure makes the V12 Vantage one helluva package. Good thing we won’t have to wait long to see it at the Geneva Show.

Source: Autocar

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 was unveiled last week in Dubai, and with the launch come the juicy details about Aston Martin Racing’s successor to the Vantage N24. The car was developed for six whole months and was tested at the Dubai Autodrome.

Compared to its predecessor, the N24, the GT4’s 4.7-liter 8-cylinder engine has a higher capacity for a higher amount of torque for its rev range. The front uprights have been modified for increased camber. It has larger brake discs at the front and the cooling system has been modified. The GT4 is also 300 kilograms lighter than a normal V8 Vantage.

David Richards, Aston Martin chairman, cited the N24’s success in its racing class as a good base to develop “a competitive racing car for professional and semi-professional drivers, but also a forgiving car which will appeal to enthusiasts who wish to use it for track days and club racing.”

You can’t argue with performance and success. The V8 Vantage GT4 builds on a solid platform and should deliver quite a punch for those who can afford the hefty price tag once the car is delivered in January 2009.

Source: Lethistorylive

Reading this bit of news just made me feel sad. I have always dreamed of driving me one of these but my middle class income means that it would take me all my life and a miserly lifestyle to be able to afford the $265000 price tag on the Aston Martin DBS. Now, we might have to expect more price bumps as the company heads for a more upscale market.

Aston’s got new cars to hit the markets. The high-performance four-door Rapide will be on sale shortly. It’s beastly limited edition One-77 has sold out even before production. And they’re also out to relaunch the swanky luxury Lagonda badge.

Aside from these upcoming cars, Aston is also lining up replacements for the DB9 and the V8 Vantage into the pipeline just in time for their launches in 2011. As far as pricing is concerned, it is possible that the Vantage will be bumped to the current price range of the DB9 and the DB9 hiked up to the DBS’ price range.

Source: AutoWeek

So the f*ck what? This clip has gone viral for the past couple of days now. And since I’m not into ignoring something big just because I hate it, I’m writing about it.

This viral video (obviously for a Nike endorsement) features Lakers star ballhog Kobe Bryant jumping a speeding Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster. Too bad the clip isn’t real (on the basis of no one will ever allow their top scorer to do such a stunt, the shadows can easily be a camera/CG trick) and that Kobe emerged unscathed. Good for the Aston though, not getting whanged by some dude named Kobe Bryant.

Aston Martins are the epitome of exquisite design and impressive performance. They might not pack as much punch as Ferraris or as flamboyantly designed as Lambos but drive one and you’d be the envy of all the Ordinary Joes out there.

One of the best things about these cars is that they very much have their own personality. Consider them a lucky band of brothers with each looking just as good as the other. Their genes give them pretty much the same attributes but they are, deep inside, unique in ways.

So if you’re an Aston, what are you? Take this quiz (after the cut) to find out.

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We’ve had a string of paint job press releases from Aston Martin with the DBS a few months ago. If you’d ask me, paint jobs do not really demand a five or six-paragraph long press release but hey, it’s Aston Martin and their cars definitely deserve some look whenever they decide to give them a spiffy new color.

This time, it’s the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS in a swanky Mako Blue paint. Mako came from the Mako shark which is the most agile shark known to man. “Mako” is also the Maori word for “Blue Lightning.” I don’t know about the Vantage RS, as it isn’t the most agile car out there but I have to give props to Aston Martin. The paint job is exquisite.

Uhm, okay. So probably the V12 Vantage RS is the quickest Aston around, powered by a 600 bhp 6.0L V12. It goes from 0-60 in sub-4 seconds and hits a staggering 200 mph.

Source: Aston Martin

So here comes a tale of some guy from Aston Martin waking up one morning thinking “Hey, why don’t we put a V12 in the Vantage?” Just like some backseat accident, one thing leads to another and we end up with a Vantage RS with a V12 capable of 600 hp under the Vantage’s bonnet.

Okay, so it might not be how it happened but what we have is just that – an Aston Martin Vantage RS sporting 600 hp churning out interesting numbers. 0-60 in under 4 seconds, and a top speed of 200 mph. It is poised to compete with the Ferrari 599.

The car’s currently a concept but is bound to be in production by next year as a limited edition model. The speed comes with a price too as the Vantage RS is said to be pricier than the DBS.

Source: AutoWeek

If it’s just for the head-turning looks, Aston Martins are always too hard to ignore. We’ve all waited for the new Aston Martin DBS (ever since Casino Royale made us want it so bad) to be showcased in one of the grandest stages of European motoring and it finally did in Frankfurt.

But that’s not just what Aston Martin had in store because with the DBS came the new special edition V8 Vantage N400 (pictured) and the DB9 LM. The latter two, being testaments to the Aston’s successes in Nurburging and Le Mans, respectively.

On one hand, we have the new Vantage N400 now sports a V8 engine that brings an additional 20bhp to the old one’s 380 bringing the total usable horses to 400. It also features a new Sports Pack that brings a modified suspension and lightweight allows to the picture making the Vantage’s ride a lot more edgier than the last one. On the other, we have the DB9 LM which commemorates the Aston’s GT1 class win with the DBR9 at Le Mans. It features red brake calipers, a redesigned mesh grill and a Sports Pack.

Still, the big kahuna for Aston this time is the DBS which finally makes its European debut. It’s a dashingly handsome and very sexy set of wheels. Very Bond. And it’s no pussy either with its powerful 6.0L V12 engine under its bonnet that dishes out 510bhp that can propel the DBS to 191 mph and get to 100kph in just 4.3 seconds.

As far as the prizes go, the DBS is tagged at £160,000, the N400 starts at £92,000 and the DB9 LM costs £124,000. Got cash, will buy.

Aston will still be showcasing the Bond car – the Aston Martin DBS – but it’s not the only car with the Aston badge that we’ll be seeing in the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Word has it that Aston Martin will also be featuring a couple of other cars under the lights.

The added attractions? Road versions of the DB9 and the Vantage with a smaller V8 under the bonnet. Now, as production cars that will be hitting the market, they seem to be targeted to take on the Porsche 911 GT3 and the Ferrari F430 Scuderia. How the market would play out? Well we’ll know in time, wouldn’t we.

Source: Auto Express