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2011 Aston Martin Rapide. Under the derma is Aston Martin’s accepted bonded-aluminum assemblage physique and rear-mounted transaxle, while the 6.0-liter V12 is aggregate with the DB9. The Rapide is abundant larger, however. Beyond the 9.8 inches of added wheelbase, the Rapide is 12 inches best all-embracing and 10 inches wider.

The Aston Martin Rapide is rear-wheel drive and is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 acceptable for 470 application and 443 pound-feet of torque.

The 2011 Aston Martin Rapide that’s not covered in bendable leather, while wood, admixture trim and even azure clear ample in the blanks.
The 2011 Aston Martin Rapide sees no significant changes, but there is a new Luxe edition that includes major options, normally extra-charge colors and a custom luggage set.

Times have changed, thanks to the 2011 Aston Martin Rapide. Under the skin is Aston Martin's customary bonded-aluminum unit body and rear-mounted transaxle, while the 6.0-liter V12 is shared with the DB9. The Aston Martin Rapide is much larger, however. Beyond the 9.8 inches of additional wheelbase, the Rapide is 12 inches longer overall and 10 inches wider. So it's based on the DB9 and looks like the DB9, but does the Aston Martin Rapide drive like one as well?

The "2011 Aston Martin Rapide" is a four-passenger, four-door sedan with a hatchback-style trunk. Standard equipment includes 20-inch cast-aluminum wheels, adaptive dampers, a limited-slip differential, bi-xenon headlamps, front and rear parking sensors, power outside mirrors, front and rear automatic climate control, power front seats with memory functions, heated front and rear seats, a full leather interior, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth, a hard-drive navigation system and a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with a CD player, an iPod/USB audio interface, an auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.

The Rapide Luxe gets special wheels, standard ventilated front and rear seats, a secondary glass-trimmed key fob, glass switchgear, a rear-seat entertainment system, a six-piece bespoke luggage set that matches the interior leather, and custom paint and leather colors. The Aston Martin Rapide is rear-wheel drive and is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 good for 470 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. According to Aston Martin, the Rapide will go from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds, which is certainly quick, but notably slower than luxury sport sedans like the supercharged Jaguar XJ and Porsche Panamera Turbo. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 13 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 15 mpg combined.

The Rapide comes standard with antilock disc brakes, brake assist, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Front and rear parking sensors are also included.
The driver seat is marvelously comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom for taller drivers.
Climb into the 2011 Aston Martin Rapide's snug driver seat and you might think you're actually in a DB9. Owners simply must be mindful of their pretty Aston Martin's underbody and chin spoiler.

It is neither, but a handsome and elegant transformation of the DB9 and Aston design heritage into a 4-door sports car.

No, Rapide is not Aston’s answer to Porsche’s Panamera. The English machine is more a generous 2+2 with extra doors. Aston did the reverse.
Aston says the Rapide is the DB9 back to the A-pillar...traditional grille, swept-back headlamps, and the side strake. The rear gets us back to DB9 thinking.

The front suspension comes from DB9. Aluminum is used for all you see outside save the rear fender structure (steel) and the front fenders and rear tailgate (SMC composite). Entry and exit to the front seats is easy with plenty of room available. Setting the driver’s seat for my 6-foot frame, I slipped in the seat behind it. Equipped with a rear-mounted 6-speed automatic, 0-60 mph comes up in 5.1 seconds, the acceleration curve climbing to 184 mph.

British sports car-maker Aston Martin announced its first foray into India’s booming luxury market on Friday with the opening of its first dealership in the country located in the city of Mumbai. India’s car market posted sales of 1.87 million units in 2010 recording an impressive 25 percent increase over the previous year. More importantly for brands like Aston Martin, the premium car sector grew by a staggering 70 percent last year.

To the delight of most motorsport fans, Aston Martin's racing division has thrown the covers off its latest creation, the all-new Vantage GT3 racer, which will be ready for competition in 2012. Based on the V12 Vantage road car, the GT3 model will take the place of the DBRS9 after a five-year long career that began in 2006 at Le Mans, and which has since seen a total of 26 chassis built cars that were raced to numerous victories in national and international series across the world. Read more »

How’s this for a dream job? Britain’s Repairacar is seeking a very special someone who can drive supercars from a customer’s address to one of their repair shops and back. It’s all very glamorous – the opportunity to drive supercars as diverse as Aston Martins, Ferraris and even the occasional Zonda or Bugatti Veyron – though it does include some taking of public transport.

A company spokesperson explains:“[The successful applicant] will also be expected to make their own way back to base from any corner of the UK and Europe – using public transport.”

So what they’re offering are a couple of hours on a bus or train in return for the chance to drive a selection of the world’s greatest supercars? Who could say no? Well, Repairacar, for one. You see, they’re not just looking for any Tom, Dick or Harry:

If there’s one place in the world you’re sure to find the rarest and most exotic supercars up for grabs, it is Dubai, the jewel of the United Arab Emirates. And it is here that we find one of the most talked about hypercars, the Aston Martin One-77, being offered up for sale by luxury car dealer Alain Class Motors.

It’s nearly universally agreed that the Aston Martin DBS has one of the most elegant designs in the supercar segment, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement - especially when it’s tastefully done. Anderson Germany’s new package for the DBS falls into that category with the tuner playing around with the black and red color theme inside and out.

2011 Aston Martin DBS Coupe is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 that produces 510 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque. Aston Martin DBS coupe estimates will accelerate from zero to 100 km / h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds.

Interiors 2011 Aston Martin DBS Coupe is one of the best examples of British art. Thin carbon fiber trim and elegant lines of the port areas of cut aluminum wheels and an optional piano black trim (a must-have) adorn the center console.

2011 Aston Martin DBS Coupe should be quite a few safety equipment for an exotic sports car. Stability and traction control and ABS brakes are standard carbon-ceramic disc. Side airbags front and rear fog lights are standard.

The special edition Carbon Black trim features lightweight carbon fiber and Kevlar sport seats with black leather trim and silver stitching, piano black trim, gloss black alloy wbeels, six-speed auto transmission, anodised black tread plates and a bespoke Carbon Black metallic paint.

Sporting a 510-horsepower V-12, massive wheels and a low-slung hood, the DBS competes with supercars like the Ferrari 599 GTB and Maserati GranTurismo. The rear-wheel-drive DBS crowns Aston Martin's three-car lineup and is available as a coupe or convertible. It shares its platform with the similarly styled DB9 and less expensive V8 Vantage, both of which have convertible variants.

New for 2011
There are no significant changes for 2011.

Exterior
Those who have seen a mid-'90s DB7 or anything newer should recognize the DBS as an Aston. Its trapezoidal grille and low-slung hood mimic the V8 Vantage and DB9; the front air dam is larger, the bumper has a few more etchings, and the rear sports an aggressive underbody air diffuser. Exterior features include:
• Constructed from lightweight aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber
• Aluminum chassis
• Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
• LED taillamps
• 20-inch wheels standard
• Available lightweight 20-inch wheels
• Power retractable fabric roof (convertible)
Interior
The two-seat interior looks much like that of the DB9. The center stack starts with the air-conditioning vents up top and flows down to the center armrest. A small cargo area behind the seats can hold a custom luggage set. The rear cargo area can be replaced with additional seats to increase seating capacity to four. This configuration comes standard on the convertible. Interior features include:
• Leather-upholstered dashboard, armrest, steering wheel and seats
• Choice of ultrathin racing seats or chunkier, but still heavily bolstered, sport seats
• Available navigation system
• Available Bang & Olufsen stereo
Under the Hood
The engine sits in front of the driver and passenger but is pushed back toward the center of the car. The automatic transmission is similar to the unit used in the DB9, but with beefed-up internal parts to handle the extra power. Mechanical features include:
• 510 hp and 420 pounds-feet of torque
• Mid-mounted 6.0-liter V-12
• Zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds
• Standard six-speed manual transmission
• Available six-speed automatic with paddle shifter
• Adaptive suspension adjusts dampers to changing road conditions
Safety:
• Antilock brakes
• Traction control
• Electronic stability system

Aston Martin released the first official video of its new model series, the Virage. Available as a coupe or convertible, the latter called Volante, this new GT model fills the gap between the DB9 and the more exclusive DBS. Even though it's largely an upgraded DB9 (both esthetically and technically), the 497HP Virage is still impressive, especially when seen in action, blasting through winding mountain roads as it does in the video. Oh, and this time the music is right so you don't have to turn off the sound. Enjoy the clip after the break.

Is the Jaguar XK8 not good enough for you? Then how about turning it into something with a bit more pizazz like an Aston Martin DBS? At least that’s what an eBay seller is proposing in our latest replicar find. The DBS doppelganger is based on a 1998 Jaguar XK8 and was up for sale on eBay with a ‘Buy it Now’ price of $50,000, but received no bids.

Not surprising, given the fact that you can find examples of the XK8 for as low as $8,000, with KBB suggesting a retail value of around $12,000 for a pristine 1999 model with the same mileage (95,000 miles). Heck, for under 50 grand you can actually get a real Aston Martin as we found 2002/2003 DB7s going for around $45,000 on eBay. Photos and video follow after the break.

Aston Martin released the first driving footage of its new V8 Vantage S. Available as a coupe or a roadster, the S is more powerful than the standard V8 model, has a different gearbox and a track-oriented suspension.

Aston Martin released the first driving footage of its new V8 Vantage S. Available as a coupe or a roadster, the S is more powerful than the standard V8 model, has a different gearbox and a track-oriented suspension.

In terms of coolness, Aston Martin’s are ice cold, baby. You have proper classics like the DB5 and the DB4GT Zagato and modern classics like the Vanquish and DBS. The less said about the Cygnet the better. So now there’s a new kid on the block, the Virage, for those who want something a little faster than the DB9 but not quite as fast as the DBS.

So that’s that, then? Well, no quite. You see, it’s getting to the stage where you need a trainspotters guide to tell one Aston model from another. They’re great cars, though without a tape measure and an eye for subtle differences in head- and taillights and body vents, they’re very similar looking. Too similar, one might say.

For me, the greatest and most prestigious motoring even in the world is the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. It’s where motoring royalty – in terms of both drivers and manufacturers – come out to strut their stuff on the world stage.

Now Aston Martin, the British sports car maker, wants a piece of the action. To achieve this, the company has developed the AMR-One: a mid-engined racer powered by a 540 bhp turbocharged in-line six. The body is a carbon fibre monocoque underpinned by a carbon fibre chassis.

Aston Martin has decided to further complicate its range with the presentation of yet another pair of cars that are virtually indistinguishable from the brand's other models (insert Cygnet joke here) - at least for the untrained eye. This time, Aston Martin has resurrected the Virage name for a new coupe and cabriolet that sit between the DBS and DB9. According to the company, the Virage "capitalises on the technology from the DBS and unites it with the comfort and refinement found in the DB9 and Rapide".

The Virage Coupe and the soft-top Volante are both powered by the company's familiar 6.0-liter V12 engine. Given that the same poweplant produces 477HP and 443 lb-ft in the DB9 and 517HP and 420 lb-ft in the DBS, it's only natural that the Virage's V12 would fit in between in terms of output delivering 497HP and 420 lb-ft of peak torque.

2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage S

Aston Martin will offer this car in coupe and roadster versions complete with V12 Vantage styling. At the rear of the car is a more pronounced deck lid, which Aston claims will reduce lift at high speeds. The carbon fiber rear diffuser will also help airflow from underneath the car. These features may be functional, but they also help to distinguish this new model from the base version in an already tight model lineup. The sporting feel increases further if the driver presses the sport button allowing the exhaust bypass valves to open fully and let out a strong V8 rumble.

Interior appointments are rounded out by embroidered "Vantage S" logos in the carpets and headrests.

Aston Martin builds each of its V8 engines at their facility in Cologne, Germany. Aston Martin wanted this car to be driver-focused with a more involving character overall. The standard Vantage features a 6-speed sport shift transmission that is more than capable of performing well in the car, but Aston engineers wanted more. Utilizing a carbon fiber driveshaft and other performance components, the Vantage S will have weight distribution of 49/51. The Porsche GTS line may be the most compelling comparison considering that it bridges the gap for Porsche between the base models and Turbos. Improved exterior bodywork, tweaked engines, and slight handling improvements make the GTS line a success while keeping the price down from an all out Turbo model. The Carrera GTS produces 408 hp at 7300rpm and 310 lb-ft at 4200rpm.

The Aston packages a more powerful version of its V-8 with some of the V-12 Vantage’s aggressive bodywork.

The automated transmission is standard (read: no available manual) because, Aston tells us, a majority of V-8 Vantage buyers opt for the paddle-shifted Sportshift automatic already.

The Vantage S, which is available as a coupe or roadster, patterns its side sills, rear deck, rear bumper, and carbon-fiber front fascia after those of the V-12 Vantage. A new 19-inch V-spoke wheel design is standard, while lightweight 10-spoke wheels are optional. The rear wheels are a half-inch wider than those of the non-S V-8 Vantage, and all four wheels are wrapped in new Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tires that are 10 mm wider than the base car’s.

Aesthetically, the V8 Vantage S taps its twelve-cylinder sister for exterior looks in both coupe and roadster trim. Acoustically, it gets a new exhaust system and bypass valve tuning to create a "distinctive and highly vocal exhaust note," according to Aston Martin.

Aston sees it as a bridge to the gap between the Vantage GT4 racer and the standard V8 Vantage road car.

The ROFGO Gulf Collection by Duncan Hamilton is one man's dream of assembling the largest assortment of racing cars ever to compete in the legendary colors of Gulf Oil. The collection comprises 14 of the most prominent Gulf Oil-liveried competition cars and has been created by Duncan Hamilton & Co.’s Chairman, Adrian Hamilton, for an unnamed but obviously passionate and extremely wealthy client.

All 14 cars were tracked down and acquired in just two years. The collection includes a variety of models ranging in age from the 1967 Mirage, which was the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans, to the 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo that competed in the GT2 Championship.

Aston Martin has released the third and final part of its promotional trilogy “True Power Should Be Shared” starring the Rapide four-door coupe. There's less action in this film as our heroes drive towards their destination, wondering what they are transporting. Well, it turns out to be some kind of a time machine, which saves them from being killed in an ambush and returns them to Lisbon, where everything started. Not what we expected, but at least the Rapide didn’t get blown up. Hit the jump to watch the video. Read more »

Aston Martin has announced a new addition to its Vantage family in the form of the more driver-focused V8 Vantage S, which is available in both coupe and roadster body styles. The new S models borrow certain styling cues from the V12 Vantage and also come with increased power, a new transmission and a tweaked chassis.

As promised, Aston Martin released the second part of a new promotional series of films featuring the Rapide sports saloon. Called “True Power Should Be Shared”, it’s a more of an action-packed sequel, showing longer driving scenes and a spectacular fight sequence, as the story gets more substance. Still, this is no James Bond movie, although seeing and hearing the British four-door coupe kind of makes up for the lack of originality. Video available after the jump.

To celebrate the start of production of its new Toyota iQ-based Cygnet city car, Aston Martin has announced two special launch edition models called White and Black.

Set to go on sale in April, both are offered with the iQ's 1.33-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 98HP, matched to either standard 6-speed manual gearbox or optional CVT automated transmission, and each will be produced for a strictly limited run.

The British automaker says the Cygnet with the manual gearbox completes the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint in 11.6 seconds while returning an estimated combined fuel economy of 56.5 mpg UK, equal to 47 mpg US and 5.0 lt/100km.