Autoblog

Pics Aplenty: Mansory Cyrus goes out and about

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Aston Martin, Luxury

Mansory Cypress - Click above for high-res image gallery

Besides talking to the cute blond at the Audi booth, your Autobloggers spent the most time at this year's Frankfurt show arguing in front of the Mansory booth. Why? Some of us simply loved the all carbon fiber Cyrus, while others thought reskinning an Aston Martin DB9 in unpainted CF wasn't the best possible use of all that sci-fi plastic. Also (of course) there was the matte pink Vitesse Rose, which... no comment.

Anyhow, Mansory just released a plethora of images showing the world what the Cyrus looks like when it's on the road. The naysayers among us will no doubt be forced to admit that the Cyrus does look better at speed, though we're still quite anti- fake roof scoop, as well as the glued-on rear quarter panels. Is $600,000ish too much to spend on top of a DB9's based price for all that baked plastic goodness? You be the judge.

Gallery: Mansory Cyrus

[Source: Mansory]

Pics Aplenty: Mansory Cyrus goes out and about originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin One-77 closes in on being fastest car in marque's history, breaks 220 mph

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Aston Martin, Luxury

Aston Martin One-77 development mule - click above for high-res image gallery

Move over Jaguar XJ220. At 217 mph, your top end is just too slow. Hell, move over Batmobile. Why? The Aston Martin One-77, Britain's most expensive car ever, is now nearly its fastest. If not for the pesky, eternal problem of the McLaren F1 and its 241 mph top end, the One-77 would be the fastest production car in the history of Old Blighty. As it stands, or in this case flies, a One-77 has just crested 220 mph.

Can the latest and no question greatest from Aston Martin go even faster? Probably, as AM was quick to point out, that the 220 mph velocity was achieved in "dry, but windy conditions." Never forget the amount of power this 7.3-liter V12 beastie makes - between 700 and 740 horsepower, and around 553 lb-ft of torque. For the sake of national pride, the McLaren F1 produced "just" 627 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Obviously, the 2,514 pound F1 is much lighter than the 3,308 pound One-77, however, which actually makes 220 mph run all the more impressive.

0-60 mph? Quarter mile? Lateral acceleration? We don't know yet, but we do know that Aston Martin will keep us up to date as soon as all that information gets logged. For its part, the matte gray beauty you see above is at a "top secret proving ground in southern Europe" where its being flogged about in anticipation of the One-77's mid-2010 release. If not for the £1.25 million price tag (just shy of $2M Yankee bucks), we'd be losing sleep. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: Aston Martin One-77 220 mph

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin One-77 closes in on being fastest car in marque's history, breaks 220 mph

Aston Martin One-77 closes in on being fastest car in marque's history, breaks 220 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heart of Darkness: Aston Martin introduces limited-edition Carbon Black DBS and Vantage

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

Aston Martin V12 Vantage "Carbon Black" - click above for high-res image gallery

As if your average, run-of-the-mill Aston Martin wasn't special enough, the folks that regularly rifle around in 007's garage have now put together a pair of limited editions of their DBS and V12 Vantage sports coupes. As you might guess by the Carbon Black name, the special versions have decidedly noir paint schemes. The metallic black finish is formulated to flip around depending on how the light hits it, giving a different look at different times. Applying the new finish will require 50 hours of handwork per car, and as you might expect, those labor rates don't come cheap. Oh, and on the Vantage, the strake in the fender vent is also fabricated out of carbon fiber for an extra special touch.

The midnight theme continues on the inside, where the cabon-fiber-and-Kevlar seats are covered in Obsidian black leather with silver stitching. Other model-specific items include anodized black tread plates, "carbon themed" door sill garnishes, and the dashboard and center console trims are finished in piano black. Given the number of border-line econoboxes using piano black these days, we think it might have been nice for Aston to have considered something different for that last element. If this bothers you, no doubt Aston would do something more unique for a "nominal" fee. It's not all pure appearance however - the new chairs save 37 pounds.

Aston Martin dealers are taking orders now, but the final price won't be set until early 2010. Aston also hasn't said how limited these editions will be, so you might want to hurry and get your deposit in.

Gallery: Aston Martin Carbon Black DBS and V12 Vantage

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Heart of Darkness: Aston Martin introduces limited-edition Carbon Black DBS and Vantage

Heart of Darkness: Aston Martin introduces limited-edition Carbon Black DBS and Vantage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin shows off completed Cygnet, Euro sales in 2010

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hatchback, Aston Martin, Toyota

Aston Martin Cygnet - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this year, we saw photos of Aston Martin designers working on a clay-covered Toyota iQ in the studio and applying typical Aston styling cues to it. Creating a leather clad urban commuter car struck us as a dubious proposition for an upscale brand like Aston Martin, but nevertheless the Cygnet is now complete and Aston has released a fresh batch of photos.

While the Aston Martin face is well suited to the extended nose of a DBS or Rapide, we think it looks more than a bit overwrought on the front of the tiny Toyota. On the inside, virtually all of the available surfaces have been covered in red and black premium leather. For the time being, the Cygnet is a concept only, but Aston says it hopes to have it in production in 2010 for European and UK customers. There's no word yet on price, but in the meantime, you can check out our high-res gallery below and brief press release after the jump.

Gallery: Aston Martin Cygnet

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin shows off completed Cygnet, Euro sales in 2010

Aston Martin shows off completed Cygnet, Euro sales in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin updates the V8 Vantage for 2010

Noah Joseph — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin

2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Click above for high-res image gallery

Reports from the British Isles and a new batch of images from the manufacturer indicate that Aston Martin has quietly prepared a few minor revisions for its entry-level V8 Vantage for the 2010 model year.

Among those changes are clear tail lamps (like those on the V12 version), side sills borrowed from the N400 edition and "magnum silver" mesh for the hood and side vents. There will also be some new optional equipment, including the ten-spoke, 19-inch forged, diamond-turned alloys pictured on the car above, carbon-Kevlar seats that trim 17kg off the curb weight, and a 1000-watt Bang & Olufsen stereo.

Along with the mild visual upgrades and the new optional equipment, Aston has cut the V8 engine's carbon emissions, the manual-equipped model dropping from 328 g/km to 315 g/km, and the Sportshift model dropping to 300 g/km. The changes are applied equally to the coupe and Roadster, with order books reportedly open now with deliveries beginning early in the new year. Check out the updated model in our high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

[Source: Aston Martin via CAR magazine]

Aston Martin updates the V8 Vantage for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin revisits much derided Lagonda Concept

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Aston Martin, Luxury

Aston Martin Lagonda Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Aston Martin is used to success. Its road cars are some of the most coveted in all of auto-dom, and its race cars have mastered Le Mans like Yo-Yo Ma has the cello. This year's planned rebirth of Lagonda, however, didn't go as well.

The oddball crossover concept that debuted at Geneva earlier this year was received with such ire that the company yanked it after the first day, before the public could ever see it... save through our camera lenses. So you can imagine the surprise when the Lagonda Concept popped up again on the Aston Martin media website, complete with a new batch of photos.

We've placed said photos of the Mercedes GL-based concept in the gallery below - complete with some very strange interior trim - for your browsing "pleasure," if you can call it that. But we can't help but wonder what Gaydon's up to.

Gallery: Lagonda Concept

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Aston Martin Lagonda Concept

[Source: Aston Martin via eGMCarTech]

Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin revisits much derided Lagonda Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to Aston Martin Racing with exclusive chronograph

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aston Martin

Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing Paris - Click above for high-res image gallery

We love us a nice Aston Martin here at Autoblog. But if the British purveyor of the grandest of grand touring cars has a counterpart in the watchmaking industry, it's surely Jaeger-LeCoultre. Good thing the two of them just signed a three-year renewal of their partnership, then.

The collaboration between these two esteemed marques has resulted in some of the most lust-worthy wrist-machines known to man, not the least of which is the AMVOX2 Chronograph. Its innovative design actually incorporates a transponder to open and close the doors on an Aston sports car. Plus it's just one of the slickest looking timepieces we've seen yet.

While JLC has to date only produced wristwatches to compliment Aston's road cars, the Swiss watchmaker has just come out with the AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing, in tribute to Aston's considerable motorsport prowess on the streets of Le Mans. The 280-piece, 41-jewel 751E manufacture movement - only 5.65 millimeters thick - is housed in a PVD-coated titanium case and held to the wrist by a perforated and top-stitched calfskin strap.

It is, to our eye, one of the most beautiful machines - of any kind - to carry the Aston Martin name, but while the series has bred numerous editions, only 24 examples of this particular one will be made available exclusively at JLC's boutique on Place Vendôme in Paris. So we'll just have to content ourselves with the press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX2 Chronograph Racing Paris

[Source: Jaeger-LeCoultre]

Continue reading Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to Aston Martin Racing with exclusive chronograph

Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to Aston Martin Racing with exclusive chronograph originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #156

Dan Roth — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, Etc., Aston Martin, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Volkswagen

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Editor Chris Paukert has apparently been bitten by the podcasting bug, and he once again joins Shunk and Roth for Episode #156 of the Autoblog Podcast. We dive right in to reminiscence about the recently finished Los Angeles Auto Show. Moving on from there, we talk about Audi's new A7 Sportback and its extreme gorgeousness, as well as the new A8 and all its massive awesomeness. Speaking of awesomeness, Shunk thinks that the $199,950 Aston Martin Rapide is one very attractive four-place supercar. Going to the other end of the spectrum, rumors about Volkswagen's upcoming Jetta replacement gets some head scratches from us before we moved on to prognosticating about a unibody Dodge Dakota replacement. We wrap up a chewy hour-and-forty-five minutes by addressing some of your questions and calling it a night.

Don't forget to check out our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget, and let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #156

Autoblog Podcast #156 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Rapide to start at $199,950 in the U.S.

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Aston Martin

Aston Martin Rapide - Click above for high-res image gallery

A couple of days after announcing U.K. pricing for the the new Rapide, Aston Martin has now also priced the North American version of its slinky four-door. When Aston starts deliveries of its newest model next spring, U.S. customers will have to pony up a minimum of $199,950. Aston Martin dealers will doubtless provide clients with the opportunity to substantially elevate that price tag via costly personalization options. After all, when you're dropping that kind of coin, you don't want to see yourself coming and going all the time.

The Rapide will be the first Aston Martin produced outside of Great Britain once cars start rolling off the line in Graz, Austria. The special factory was set up in cooperation with Magna Steyr prior to the global financial collapse, back when the Gaydon factory that makes the other Astons was running at full capacity. In these post-meltdown days, the decision about where to produce the car may have been very different. If you have the means, your local dealer is taking orders now. Official press release available after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Aston Martin Rapide

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Rapide to start at $199,950 in the U.S.

Aston Martin Rapide to start at $199,950 in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Aston Martin, UK, Luxury

Aston Martin Rapide - Click above for high-res image gallery

Aston Martin has finally hung a price tag on its long-awaited four door, the Rapide, in its U.K. home market. As you might reasonably expect, it won't come cheap, starting at £139,950 or about $233,000 USD. Given pricing disparities between international markets, that's not necessarily an indication of what the Rapide will command Stateside, but we note that the Rapide costs nearly twice what Porsche asks for its base Panamera - and over £40K ($66k USD) more than even the impossibly quick Panamera Turbo. Though the cars weren't exactly designed as competitors, there's little doubt that the two four-passenger sloping-roof models will be cross-shopped by interested parties, along with other quick luxocrats like the Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

For that £139,950 price tag, though, buyers will be getting a largely handmade and finely-crafted automobile powered by a 470-horsepower V12 engine. For what it's worth, that's 30 horses less than the Panamera Turbo, but it's wrapped in less divisive sheetmetal and it'll undoubtedly be far more exclusive.

Initial Rapide deliveries in Great Britain are expected to begin in the spring of 2010, but if you're interested in having an example of your very own, you'd best queue up now. Check out the updated gallery with new high-res images of the 2011 Aston Martin Rapide below, and the official press release is after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK

Aston Martin Rapide priced from £139,950 in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Galpin Motors makes up for Aston Martin no-show, brings the whole lineup

Drew Phillips — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Aston Martin

Galpin Aston Martin at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show - Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's been a meager LA Auto Show this year for exotic cars. Many didn't even show up, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bentley. Aston Martin wasn't on the list as well, but to our surprise their full line of cars was on display. Apparently Galpin Motors decided to pick up the slack and brought a decent selection of the inventory from the Van Nuys, CA showroom. We generally don't think of Aston Martin when we hear about Galpin, but the world's largest Ford dealer also has an impressive showroom for the British marque. In fact, it's where we were able to get up close and personal with the Aston Martin One-77.

Beau Boeckmann, Vice President of Galpin Motors, told us that they considered the show important enough for their Aston Martin sales to make the investment. This makes us wonder how the absence of Ferrari, Lamborghini and the like will impact local dealers. If so, we can see many following Galpin's lead and bringing cars next year like many of the regional shows. Only time will tell, but we can't imagine the exotic car manufacturers staying away from the auto show in one of their most important markets for too long.

Gallery: LA 2009: Galpin Aston Martin

LA 2009: Galpin Motors makes up for Aston Martin no-show, brings the whole lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction

Drew Phillips — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Aston Martin

1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With just 75 built between 1959 and 1963, the Aston Martin DB4 GT is a rare breed. Of those, a mere six are the coveted lightweight models that cut weight by using aluminum components (instead of steel) and delete items like the radio, speakers, and heater. It's not very often that one comes up for sale, but this January, RM Auctions will be offering a pristine example at their sale in Scottsdale.

The car going up for auction is chassis #0175/L, the last DB4 GT Lightweight built. It underwent a total restoration in the mid-Nineties where it received upgrades like Dunlop racing tires, Dayton wire wheels, and a four-point roll bar. The car wasn't competitively raced in the Sixties, but several owners have competed with the car in various vintage races at tracks like Lime Rock Park and Laguna Seca.

Sound like your kind of car? RM estimates you'll need anywhere from $950,000-$1,000,000 to take this ruby beauty home. If you don't have that kind of cash, then you'll have to settle for the press release after the jump and the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading Rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction

Rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini not attending LA Auto Show

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Lamborghini, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Spyker, Fisker, Luxury

The closest we'll get to the Ferrari 458 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here's an unsurprising stat for you: 60 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. that cost over $100,000 find homes in New York, Florida and California. The majority of which are parked in garages in Manhattan, Miami and Los Angeles, respectively. So the revelation that Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini won't be attending next month's LA Auto Show is -- at the very least -- surprising.

According to a spokesperson speaking with The Detroit Bureau, Bentley has decided to skip the So. Cal. show, adding that the automaker is looking for "a better use of our resources." Ferrari and its sister marque Maserati are out as well, with an unnamed source telling the industry pub, "It's just the economy. We're cutting back on a lot of things."

Given the global economic climate and its affect on high-end automotive sales, the choice to scale back isn't such a shock, but for automakers that rely on the Southern California market, it's a disturbing sign of the times. As for the rest of the LA exhibitors, the luxury market's Big Three (Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz) will be in attendance, although it looks like the lower hall will only house Aston Martin, Spyker, Fisker and -- we'd assume -- Rolls-Royce.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

REPORT: Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini not attending LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it half all the fun

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Aston Martin, Reviews, Luxury

2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante - Click above for high-res image gallery

Let's say a clandestine organization asked you, for your country, to "take care of" an enemy of the state at tonight's performance of Tosca at The Met. And let's say this organization gave you the choice of any Aston Martin in which to conduct the evening. Which Aston would you choose? If you said the DBS, we hope you've arranged bail. You're getting caught. Quickly.

Despite its impressiveness, the DBS is just a little over the top. Driving it says to the world, "I'm rich (or I have rich backers), I'm sociopathic (or at least self-centered), and I kill people (or I've had them killed)." There's no denying this. Attempt to pull off your mission at the opera and you'll be fingered before the body hits the ground. "It was the guy in the suit and the DBS," the rattled, blood-spattered socialites will tell the authorities just before you're whisked off to a damp, underground bunker in a country created by the breakup of the USSR.

The better choice? The 2009 Aston Martin DB9 - even the Volante. It's got just enough gentleman to remove you from suspicion, but the faintest hint of evil to make fearsome things happen when needed. We had it for a weekend, yet despite the urge and a twitchy trigger finger we never got the chance to test out our "cleaning" abilities.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Continue reading Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it ~~half~~ all the fun

Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it ~~half~~ all the fun originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin Rapide is ready for its close-up

Noah Joseph — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Aston Martin, Luxury

Aston Martin Rapide - Click above for high-res image gallery

It isn't every day that Aston Martin comes out with a new car. And this isn't one of them, because the production version of the Rapide four-door saloon came out over a month ago already. But considering that the British sportscar-maker got by - just fine, thank you very much - on what essentially boiled down to a two-car line-up for several years, we'll gladly run with it a little longer. Because there are few cars on the road that are as sumptuously crafted or lustily styled as an Aston. And this is their first sedan in decades. So take a deep breath, poor yourself a dry martini, click on the thumbnails below, and take a stroll through the mega gallery of high-resolution images that Aston has released purely for your viewing enjoyment. We particularly like this one, which shows the high-dollar super saloon being used as an actual family car.

Gallery: Aston Martin Rapide

[Source: Aston Martin]

Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin Rapide is ready for its close-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Tesla/Harley-Davidson exec Michael van der Sande resurfaces at Aston Martin

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Aston Martin, Luxury

It didn't take Michael van der Sande long to land a new gig after leaving his last posting at Tesla Motors. In August, van der Sande left Tesla after only nine months as senior vice-president of sales and marketing for the electric car maker. The sales executive who spent 12 years at Harley-Davidson (much of it running its European operations) will now be responsible for growing Aston Martin's global sales.

Aston has announced that van der Sande, 44, will occupy the new position of chief commercial officer. Mr. van der Sande will report directly to CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez and oversee all commercial aspects of the company from its headquarters in Gaydon.

Like most other brands, Aston Martin has been struggling with the flagging world economy and one of its Middle East investors is reportedly short of cash. Hopefully, the launch of the new four-door Rapide will help van der Sande and his team right the luxury marque's ship in 2010. To learn more about van der Sande and his appointment, check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Ex-Tesla/Harley-Davidson exec Michael van der Sande resurfaces at Aston Martin

Ex-Tesla/Harley-Davidson exec Michael van der Sande resurfaces at Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Cygnet (nee Toyota iQ) to hit European city streets next year?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Aston Martin, UK

Aston Martin Cygnet Concept - Click above to enlarge

Most of us would be willing to kill for the opportunity to have an Aston Martin as our daily commuter. (Then again, most of us here at Autoblog are writers and don't commute much of anywhere). But the British purveyor of luxury GTs figures some of its customers - those based in major European metropolitan centers like London and Paris, for example - could use something a little more compact for driving into the city. Hence the Cygnet, which as you may recall is essentially a Toyota iQ with some Aston touches.

News of the car's development broke a few months ago, but the latest reports now indicate that the Aston-badged city car could begin shipping as early as next year. Although no mechanical changes are expected to take place, the pre-assembled units are expected to be shopped to AM's plant in Gaydon, England, where the company will give the citycar its own unique interior, slap on an Aston grille and the requisite badging and raise the price up to $32,000 - about twice the price Toyota fetches for a stock iQ.

Whether Aston's customers bite remains to be seen, but for our part, we still want to see one of these face off against the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari for the exotic supermini crown.

[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd]

Aston Martin Cygnet (nee Toyota iQ) to hit European city streets next year? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AB stops at the 27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chrysler, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, Specialty, Luxury

27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis, Dana Point - Click above for high-res image gallery

For its 27th iteration, Orange County's most prestigious classic car show returned to the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, and finally dropped the "Newport Beach" from its name. No longer would it be known as the Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance, instead adopting the Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis moniker. The title may have changed, but the quality of the entrants hasn't. Still benefiting the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital and the CSP Assessment and Treatment Services Center, the field of classic cars at this concours was once again stunning.

This year's featured marque was Mercedes-Benz, and the automaker was represented by some truly spectacular models, aided in no small part by the show's proximity to the Mercedes Classic Car Center, the factory-backed restoration shop for vintage Mercedes vehicles. Besides the beautiful Benzes, the roughly 3,000 attendees got to see about 300 other classic and exotic vehicles spread out around the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and the adjacent Dana Point Sea Terrace Park. Read on to learn what else we found during our day in Dana Point and don't forget to check out the huge gallery below.

Gallery: 27th Annual Concours d'Elegance at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort

Continue reading AB stops at the 27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort

AB stops at the 27th Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development

Chris Shunk — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Aston Martin

Aston Martin Rapide - Click above to watch the video after the jump

After seeing the production Aston Martin Rapide at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, we're pretty sure it's one of the most attractive sedans ever produced. And now that we've seen the sleek looking sedan in motion, we're 100 percent sure the Rapide is a winner.

Aston Martin has released a simply stunning video of the Rapide in various stages of development, from the skid pad to the Nurburgring, kicking off with a 50 second montage with just enough Rapide to keep us interested, then another 30 seconds in the garage. From there, the Rapide heads over to Germany for some hot-lapping, then the video crescendos at the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy for some powertrain development. Hit the jump to view the video for yourself, you'll be happy you took the three minutes out of your day.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Aston Martin Rapide

Continue reading VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development

VIDEO: Aston Martin releases new Rapide video chronicling development originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Aston Martin in jeopardy as parent company Investment Dar in financial turmoil

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Aston Martin, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

Is Aston Martin on the brink of insolvency? Britain's Guardian is reporting that the Kuwaiti fund that owns half of Aston is having trouble refinancing the debt it's incurred during the recent global economic crisis. It hasn't help that the fund failed to report its 2008 financial records on time and subsequently had trading halted on its shares. All isn't doom and gloom, however. Kuwait's Investment Dar says that it recently inked a deal that will at least buy it some time in working out a new plan to get out of its mess, but oil prices just aren't what they used to be, and money is hard to come by - even for wealth funds.

When Ford sold Aston Martin in March of 2007, times were better for the consortium that bought David Brown's legacy. Along with ex-racer Dave Richards, banker John Singers and Adeem Investment, Investment Dar bought the Bond-ride firm for $925m (£480m). Fast forward to late 2008 and Investment Dar was itself trying to borrow $1B (£630m) to refinance debt, and iteven defaulted on a $100m Islamic bond in April. So, the Dar finds itself in a position of having to keep its creditors at bay while it seeks to right the ship. The agreement they've reached now is known as a standstill agreement. That means creditors won't make any new individual claims for a while. The arrangement will continue until the end of the year and hopefully Aston Martin will survive the financial storm.

[Source: The Guardian]

REPORT: Aston Martin in jeopardy as parent company Investment Dar in financial turmoil originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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