Photoshoot of Aston Martin DB9 on Modulare Wheels

Here is an Aston Martin DB9 coupe with a set of 21” Modulare H9 hidden hardware 3-piece forged wheels.  The wheels are 21×9 front and 21×10.5 rear, mated to Toyo Proxes T1-R 255/30/21 and 295/25/21 tires, and are finished in a special brushed finish with high polish windows and register.

Click Here to Visit ModulareWheels.com

2011 Aston Martin V12 Zagato Images

Aston Martin unveiled the stunning new V12 Zagato endurance racer concept on the shores of Lake Como, Italy at the Villa D’Este Concours.

Reviving a collaboration which has produced some of the most beautiful and sought-after cars in the world, the partnership takes inspiration from the past, to create a modern descendent of classics such as the DB4GT Zagato, V8 Vantage Zagato and DB7 Zagato based on Aston Martin’s ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range: the V12 Vantage.

Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: “The Zagato design language is a perfect complement to our design and engineering expertise. After 50 years of the two companies being associated with each other the partnership has produced some of the world’s most iconic cars.”

“Of course, fifty years ago Italian design houses were widely seen as leading the way with new designs but now and supported by our independency, 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.”

“The task for us has been to create a concept that is a natural successor to those iconic cars that have gone before. Matching the technology of the age with the traditional skills vital to deliver such a bespoke and exclusive sports car will lead to a strictly limited run of road going V12 Zagatos.”

Work began in 2010 with initial meetings between Aston Martin and Zagato where sketches incorporating the design DNA of both companies were discussed and a decision was made to proceed with the project.

Director of Design, Marek Reichman added: “The Design team at Gaydon spent time refining the concept using a mixture of the latest computer based modelling techniques along with crafting traditional clay models to give a real world idea of proportion, stance and detail”

“The V12 Zagato is an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style. The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car’s racing credentials.”

Working alongside the initial design team was a dedicated group of Aston Martin engineers led by Chris Porritt – previously responsible for the engineering of the One-77. With the skills and knowledge gained from such specialised projects this team has worked to bring the unique design of the V12 Zagato to reality in a very short period of time.

Featuring a new handcrafted aluminium body, the V12 Zagato delivers a beautiful and muscular design not possible using pre-formed panel techniques. Using the influences and skill of nearly 100 years of heritage in the craft, every aluminium panel was formed using an English wheel and traditionally crafted body bucks. Each front wing alone comprises seven separate pieces of aluminium, combined and then hand finished to give one flowing form. Another iconic Zagato design cue is the double bubble roof created in this case from five separate pieces illustrating further the intensity of craftsmanship involved in the construction of the V12 Zagato.

Designed for the focused driver, the V12 Zagato has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. The V12 Zagato combines Aston Martin’s most dynamic bonded aluminium platform with the power of the 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque.

The V12 Vantage which forms the basis of the V12 Zagato has been proven on the race track as early as 2009 with a class win in its debut race at the 24 hour race at Nürburgring whilst being close to production standard with only essential safety modifications, reduced weight and re-tuned suspension but no additional aerodynamic enhancements. In 2011 the car has gone on to form the basis of the new Aston Martin GT3 race car unveiled last month.

The first DB4GT Zagato shown to the public in late 1960 spent much of its life as a racing car after launch. Later perhaps the two most famous DB4GT Zagatos, registered ‘1 VEV’ and ‘2 VEV’ were raced with success by such names as Jim Clark and Roy Salvadori. The fascinating story of these cars and the nature of high performance and low weight which drove the Zagato projects gave the inspiration for the first two V12 Zagatos to be created as endurance race cars.

The racing debut of the V12 Zagato will be at the four hour VLN race at Nürburgring on 28th May with a view to two cars racing at the 24 hour race on 25/26 June. The cars will be driven by a team with great experience of Aston Martin race cars, led for the sixth year by Chief Executive Dr. Ulrich Bez.

Both cars follow Aston Martin’s philosophy of racing in close-to-production form but with full FIA safety compliance. V12 Vantage Zagato specification includes a bonded aluminium platform modified with a bespoke steel roll cage, front and rear double wishbone suspension with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV Dampers and a 120ltr endurance racing fuel tank.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato will be shown for the first time at the Villa D’Este Concours on Saturday 21st May 2011

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Endurance Race Car Specification

Body:
Two door, two seat coupe body
Bonded aluminium structure
Bespoke steel roll cage.
Hand crafted Aluminium body

Engine:
All alloy quad overhead cam 48 valve 5935cc V12
Compression ratio 10.9:1
Front mid-mounted engine, rear wheel drive

Transmission:
Rear mid-mounted, six-speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift manual/select shift manual (ASM/SSM) electric hydraulic control system
Magnesium alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Twin Plate competition clutch.
Limited slip differential.

Suspension:
All round independent double wishbone with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers.
Brakes:
Front: Ventilated floating grooved discs with 6 piston callipers
Rear: Ventilated floating grooved discs with 4 piston callipers

Fuel System:
120 litre endurance racing fuel tank

Source: Aston Martin Press Release

2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

The Aston Martin Vantage range comes of age with the new V8 Vantage S characterised by a host of new driver-focussed features all designed to push the honed dynamics of the standard Vantage to a new benchmark level.

Aston Martin’s own 4.7 litre V8 engine has been engineered to deliver peak power of 430 bhp (436 PS / 321 kW) at 7300 rpm and torque of 490 Nm (361 lb.ft) at 5000 rpm and is coupled with a new ground-up developed Sportshift™ II transmission specifically designed for the Vantage S with seven short ratio gears to deliver the most engaging and intense driver involvement.

“The Vantage S epitomises every attribute of the V8 Vantage and pushes the driver experience beyond what we have offered before,” says Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin, “It combines dynamic exhilaration with all the charming finesse, beauty and practicality already associated with the Vantage range.”

Dynamic revisions are central to the Vantage S, with a quickened steering rack ratio of 15:1 compared to 17:1 on the standard car and a larger diameter front brake disc with new six-piston front brake calipers. New springs and dampers, and wider rear wheels also contribute to chassis revisions. A new dynamic stability control (DSC) system specifically tuned to the Vantage S along with a new brake module providing features such as Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) which provides assistance in emergency braking situations, and Hill Start Assist (HSA). Bespoke tyres have been developed with Bridgestone to optimise road holding enhancing dynamic feel.

At the core of the Vantage S is the new seven speed Sportshift™ II automated manual transmission, offered as standard and delivers exceedingly rapid gear changes, twenty per cent quicker than Sportshift™. The extra gear permits shorter well-spaced ratios taking advantage of the optimum torque, which combined with a shorter final drive ratio of 4.182:1 delivers quicker acceleration and an enhanced sporting feel. The inherent benefits of a single clutch system reduces complexity and significant weight over a dual clutch solution. Sportshift™ II allows the driver to take an increased level of control, modulating the throttle pedal to achieve the desired type of gear change. In addition, the Vantage S features a ‘Sport’ button which quickens the gear changes and gives the driver a more aggressive throttle response while also opening the exhaust bypass valves across most of the engine speed range perfectly characterising the ‘S’ variant.

As with every Aston Martin, the Vantage S benefits from its own unique sound with a new exhaust muffler and bypass valve map, creating a very distinctive and highly vocal exhaust note.

The Vantage S is instantly recognisable as a true Aston Martin, characterised by its purposeful stance conveying its agility and performance capability. From the front, a new lower front bumper finished in perfectly-aligned carbon fibre houses a larger air intake feeding the engine and front brakes. The splitter combined with the extended deck lid ‘flip’ work in harmony to provide increased down force at speed. New 19 inch ‘V’ spoke wheel styles are available as standard, while an optional 10-spoke lightweight forged wheel option, reduces unsprung mass further. A new rear bumper and side sills optically widen the car.

Bridging the gap between road car and race car, the Vantage S is heavily influenced by the 2011 Vantage GT4 race car. The GT4 takes advantage of the Vantage’s immensely rigid bonded aluminium chassis, providing the ideal platform for a race car. Minor racing safety modifications including an FIA approved roll cage and racing ‘bag’ petrol tank along with weight saving measures are made to the standard road car to convert it into a class winning race car. In 2010, it won its class at the Dubai 24 Hours following this up with further endurance race wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Silverstone 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours. It also won its first major international championship victory in the European GT4 Cup.

The Vantage S is available to order now from Aston Martin’s global dealership network.

Source: Aston Martin Press Release

Festivals of Speed 2009 Ritz-Carlton brings the Rolls Royce Ghost & Ferrari FXX to the East Coast

The Festivals of Speed took place this past weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando at Grande Lakes. It was a magnificent showcase of some of the most rare and exotic automobiles in the world.

Some of the headline autos on display included the 2002 Ferrari world champion formula 1, Aston Martin DBR9 GT Race Car, Ferrari FXX, 1954 Ferrari 375MM, Mosler MT 900S and the east coast debut of the 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost.

The Festivals of Speed next stop will be in Miami on November 15th.

LuxuryAutoDirect.com Road Tests the 2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante

As most people are well aware by now, Aston Martin has been producing legendarily refined sports cars for decades.  Those slightly more versed in the subject know that the DBS is the brand’s latest V-12 flagship, and has gotten more than its share of press with its role as the new preferred ride of fictional superspy James Bond.  True Aston illuminati will also know that the DBS moniker is lifted from a late 60s successor to the DB6 and that Volante is the brand’s traditional nomenclature for a convertible.  So what makes the 2010 DBS Volante so special?  Quite a bit, as it turns out. 

 

For starters, this Volante is only the 16^th convertible that Aston Martin has produced in 95 years.  Though the automatic retractable soft top is largely identical to that of the earlier DB9 Volante, it is now for the first time integrated into a DBS, that muscular synergy of bulbous fenders, functional vents and twelve-cylinder power.  Like its coupe sibling, the DBS Volante features a six liter V-12 good for 510 bhp.  Coupled with the optional “Touchtronic 2” paddle shift 6-speed transmission, this car rockets and slaloms with the ease and grace of a video game.  Throw in standard 20” wheels and carbon ceramic brakes and the agile DBS Volante has the tools to stay glued to the road and stop on a dime. 

 

Aston has attempted to maximize the engine’s power by reducing weight in some areas, namely by using carbon fiber in the hood, fenders and trunk lid, and a fabric soft top rather than a hardtop.  Though it might be considered a ragtop, this smooth gizmo is a far cry from the wrestling match that was your dad’s MG.  Featuring a sound-deadening layer of Thinsulate as well as a more aesthetically pleasing alcantara headliner, this convertible top automatically retracts at the push of a button, stowing neatly under a tonneau that seamlessly blends with the trunk.  The collapsibility of the soft top also minimizes the reduction of trunk space, a contrast to the retractable hardtops that tend to significantly impede cargo capacity.

 

Though a standard drive mode is always available (certainly a better choice if one is distracted by phone calls or navi use), the true fun of the DBS Volante lies in its paddle shifting.  In this mode one not only more fully utilizes the engine’s innate capabilities, but also benefits from the beautiful exhaust note to be found in the upper tach reaches. The exhaust system features an active bypass valve that transforms the usual raspy exhaust note into a climaxing, monstrous explosion when the revs exceed 4,000 rpm.  As an acquaintance of mine summed it up, this pretty much feels like one would imagine the Batmobile does when it bursts out of the Batcave with fire belching out of its exhaust. 

 

Typical to all Aston Martins, performance is balanced with considerations of comfort and luxury.  Memory seats, iPod connectivity, satellite radio and a navigation system are just a few of the amenities that make the DBS Volante feel more like a Bimmer or Mercedes than a demanding exotic sports car.  And with the top down, this car is almost as easy to get in and out of as those more pedestrian luxury models, resulting in an Aston that is far more tractable than some of its competitors.  

 

The capper of luxury points comes in the form of the truly awesome Bang & Olufsen “BeoSound DBS” sound system, one that has been exclusively designed and built for the DBS.  With a subwoofer poised at one’s leg and 13 speakers peppered throughout the cabin (punctuated by two hidden dash-top tweeters just inside the A-pillars that automatically rise into view when the system is turned on), the BeoSound creates an acoustic environment that disguises the speakers’ location, resulting in a subtle wall of sound whose beginning and end are nearly impossible to discern.  Perhaps the best aspect of the BeoSound is an automatic volume attenuation function that senses speed changes and the top’s position.  Simply stated, the BeoSound automatically raises the volume to overcome any wind noise from acceleration and conversely, returns the volume to its original level upon deceleration or raising the top.

 

Aston Martin has forged an identity based on handbuilt cars that are sporty enough to compete with race-tuned exotics, and comfortable enough to attract the luxury segment.  No exception to this pattern, the DBS Volante is a stunning looker with nary a bad angle; it is exceedingly close to external design perfection and harmony.  And with the V-12 engine, there’s no arguing that this is a fast and capable performer.  But at 3,990 pounds, this is not a lithe track car…nor is it meant to be.  Likewise, with a dauntingly long front overhang and low slung chassis, this car isn’t predominantly characterized by luxurious ease of use…nor is it meant to.  Aston quite simply knows their market very well, and though this car may not be Ferrari fast or Bentley comfortable, it perfectly straddles that small gap in between, that target niche that the company has been mapping beautifully for the last 60 years or so.

 Specs:

 All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5,935 cc V-12

Rear-mid mounted ‘Touchtronic 2’ six-speed paddle-shift gearbox

Max power: 510 bhp at 6,500 rpm

Max torque: 420 lb-ft at 5,750 rpm

Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds

Max speed: 191 mph

MSRP as tested:  $300,870

Photos & Text by Mike Daly

Viva Las Vegas: Historic Ol’ Yaller VIII Race Car to Cross the Block at Barrett Jackson Las Vegas

Movie star car and celebrated racer, the 1961 Ol’ Yaller VIII, will be sold at No Reserve during the 2^nd Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Las Vegas Oct. 7-10, 2009. It is one of only nine Ol’ Yallers built by road racing icon, Max Balchowsky, from 1956-1963 and appeared in the 1964 movie, “Viva Las Vegas,” with Elvis Presley. The 2009 Las Vegas event will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and feature approximately 500 collector vehicles on sale, posh lifestyle events and live, high-definition TV coverage from SPEED.

Aston Martin One-77, One for the Ages in Carmel Valley

Aston Martin – Customer Courtship in Carmel Valley

 

 Aston Martin could hardly have selected a more picturesque setting for its Pebble Beach weekend customer event than the Bernardus Lodge, an aesthetically rustic yet ultra-luxury resort nestled in the hills of Carmel Valley next to a vineyard.  The manicured grounds of the Bernardus proved to be a perfect backdrop for the 5-star catered brunch that surrounded an unassuming grass-square placement of the superlative One-77, Aston’s new 700 bhp supercar.  Guests dined on smoked salmon and other culinary delights while taking turns carving up the Carmel Valley hills with a stunning assortment of Vantages, DB9s and DBS models.  Aston was particularly keen on getting customers into the new DBS Volante, the convertible version of the $270,000 DBS that invokes the traditional marque open top nomenclature, and will come to market this fall.

 Notwithstanding the enviable opportunity to drive the powerful sportscars on the challenging curvy hill climbs that surround the estate, the star of the event was clearly the One-77, the uber-Aston that has been appropriately greeted with awe since its unveiling at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza at Lake Como, Italy last April.  Though pictures merely suggest a more emphatic interpretation of Aston’s signature design language, in person the One-77 takes on new life, a sensuous and fluid combination of sinewy bulges and well-placed vents that cannot be described as anything less than awesome.  Only 77 examples of the $1.97 million supercar will be produced, ensuring a level of rarity unclaimed by even the most select of exotics.

 Aston’s commitment to customer satisfaction was cemented by the presence of now legendary CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez, who casually roamed the event greeting customers and fielding questions.  In a brief interview, Dr. Bez described the One-77’s handmade engineering with words like “beauty, refinement and substance,” and asserted that the car would forever assume a position in the pantheon of Aston’s most collectible models, alongside the DBR1 and the Zagato-bodied cars.  Gently dismissing possible comparisons to competitors such as the Bugatti Veyron, Dr. Bez clarified that while VW’s car was engineered with a performance goal of 1,000 bhp, the One-77 was rather designed and built to be “a piece of art.”  Clarifying that the One-77 would sit atop the model range for decades to come, Dr. Bez commented, “We can’t make something more beautiful.”

 By Michael Daly

Preview The Official Auction of Pebble Beach

 

If you’re in the market for a collector car, there will be no lack of options this weekend at the Monterey Peninsula as proceedings get under way for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Concorso Italiano, and a host of related events.  What began 59 years ago as one relatively modest exhibition of fine collector cars has burgeoned into an entire week of related events, races and auctions that has come to be a mainstay for every major collector car auction house.  While Bonhams proudly accompanies the ever-more-exclusive Quail Motorsports Gathering, RM Auctions maintains its reputation for volume and quality, and Russo and Steele continue to lead the muscle car bracket, one auctioneer has distinguished itself from the crowd with a growing reputation for the finest overall selection and its enviable affiliation with the Pebble Beach Concours as the official auction of Pebble Beach:  Gooding & Company.

 David Gooding’s event, a two night affair which is held a mere 200 yards from the 18^th hole fairway that hosts the Concours, will feature a stunning array of rare and desirable collector cars that range from prewar brass and classics to postwar vintage sports cars.  Particular attention has been paid to two cars that are expected to easily surpass the million dollar mark: a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Special Coupe with one-off coachwork that was purportedly used as a personal car by Ettore Bugatti, and a 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Roadster with a body that is regarded by many to be the finest coachbuilt Duesenberg ever produced by Pasadena-based Bohman & Schwartz.

 Sports car aficionados will be much more taken with the great selection of 1950s and 60s coupes and convertibles, including a 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Competition Spider, a 1954 Cunningham C-3 Coupe, a 1956 Talbot-Lago T14 LS, and a 1958 BMW 507 Series II.  Italian sports car lovers should enjoy the offering of a 1966 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 that was featured in the model’s original sales brochure as well as two Ferrari California Spiders and four different Maseratis.  Two legendary Italian-bodied Corvettes will also cross the block, the one-off 1963 Pininfarina Rondine, and a 1959 Corvette Coupe with coachwork by Scaglietti, the first of three ever produced.

 For more info see www.goodingco.com

Photos courtesy of Gooding & Company