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Aston Martin: Development and Technology News
:ecstatic:
From Leftlanenews... It has been reported that Aston Martin will debut two new race-inspired cars along side the recently unveiled DBS at next month's Frankfurt Auto Show. Aston Martin took the wraps off its newest car, the DBS, earlier this month at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Although specific details remain a mystery, the two cars are believed to be a road-going version of the DB9 and a smaller V8 Vantage, possibly the V8 Vantage RS. The new cars are said to be based on the DB9RS and Vantage N24 and are aimed at the Porsche 911 GT3 and the recent Ferrari F430 Scuderia. Aston Martin's CEO Ulrich Bez has also said that the Rapide four-door coupe is a top priority for the company. Aston Martin’s chief designer, Marek Reichman, said the four-door coupe will arrive in 2009 or 2010 and will cost around $400,000. Aston Martin is also working on an all-new super car, dubbed the DBX, but Bez refused to comment on it other than it will be released after the Rapide and will surpass the sedan's $400,000 price tag. |
Obligatory smiley: https://i217.photobucket.com/albums/...erkbowdown.gif
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:ecstatic:
:woot: :alf: :dance: :party: :butthead: |
:bandito:
Very cool. I never thought I'd say "I can't wait for the Frankfurt show." |
Aston Martin: To Open Nϋrburgring Engineering Center
Aston Martin to open Nϋrburgring engineering center Aston Martin has announced that it will be opening an engineering test center at Germany's Nϋrburgring this May. Word of the new center — which will actually be a conversion of an existing building — comes on the heels of Aston Martin announcing its first ever purpose-built design studio at the company's Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire. Aston Martin uses the track to test its vehicles and the centers location should help with the development of new products. In fact, every new Aston Martin model undergoes a 10,000km sign-off test on the track before it can be put into production. The new facility will also be used for customer activities. "The Nϋrburgring has played a vital part in improving the performance and durability of all modern Aston Martins. Our new test center will allow us to further increase the performance of our cars |
*fap* *fap* *fap*
That must be Yummy on his way over ... |
http://www.motorauthority.com/wp-con...tin_race01.jpg
It looks like a new theme park isn’t the only major construction set to appear at Germany’s Nϋrburgring circuit. Aston Martin is the latest in a long string of carmakers that have either opened or are planning to open an engineering and design center at the famous race track. Just two months after opening its first ever purpose-built design studio at its Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire, Aston Martin has confirmed it will open a new test center in Germany. Work is underway to convert an existing building at a location at Meuspath, adjacent to the famous Nordschleife circuit, and the facility is expected to be operational by the end of May this year. Aston Martin has already made extensive use of the legendary circuit for testing and development over recent years. While being instrumental in developing aspects such as ride and handling, tires, brakes and cooling systems, all new models are also subjected to a 10,000km high speed sign-off test on the grueling circuit. Hopefully this means there will be even more track-honed models coming from Aston Martin within the next couple of years. In addition to the Rapide sedan due next year, Aston’s engineers are also rumored to be prepping an all-new flagship to replace the now discontinued Vanquish supercar. http://images.worldcarfans.com/artic...026.Mini1L.jpg |
I have found my new home. :what:
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Originally Posted by Yumchah
I have found my new home. :what:
We are building holiday apartments with balconies and a view of the Nürburgring Nordschleife at the part of the track called Breidscheid, next to the second entrance to the racetrack. Every holiday apartment has its own garage to keep your vehicle in safely throughout the year, and to get German insurance. All apartments are fully furnished, carpeted and wall-papered, and include phone, internet and satellite TV. Bathrooms are tiled in white and include modern fittings from prestige manufacturers. Each bathroom provides a shower, WC and washbasin. |
Is it okay to leghump a building...? :ponder:
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Open for Business...
:bow: @ Aston Martin...
Greatest car company. Period. From Top Gear... If you haven't been to the Nurburgring then, frankly, what are you playing at? It's got to be done at least once in your life. OK, we know that was harsh. In these Spartan economic times, it's hard enough to squeeze a tank of fuel to go shopping, let alone drive all the way to the Ring. But nonetheless, next year will be a good time to go. So get saving, 'cos Aston Martin have will be opening a new showroom at their test centre over there, and it looks awesome. A little slab of Britishness right in the middle of the sprawling Eifel forest. The Test Centre is officially open as of now, and is already a base for Aston's engineers while they develop lots of tasty new products for us. The DBS, DB9, V8 Vantage and soon-to-be-finished Rapide were all developed over there. It also serves as a support centre for things like the N24 race series. But by June 2009, it'll also have a showroom, that will also be used to host other events. There'll be a VIP business lounge too - the perfect place for all those gentleman racers to sit and twirl their facial hair as they wait for a few hot laps. But don't worry, us mortals will be able to make use of it too. By dribbling and drooling in that new showroom, which opens at the same time. Let's just hope they put down some damn good lino. We wouldn't want any accidents, would we? http://www.topgear.com/content/news/...es/2/large.jpg |
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And that Gulf Livery...wow, just...wow. :cry:
http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...es/7/large.jpg http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...08/01large.jpg http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...es/3/large.jpg |
https://img461.imageshack.us/img461/...bowdownlf8.gif @ Aston Martin...
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Aston Martin in talks for AMG engines
Aston Martin's newest shareholder has confirmed that the high-end sports car maker is currently holding talks with other manufacturers to develop engines and electronics for its vehicles. First rumored late last year, Investindustrial Chairman Andrea Bonomi, whose company scooped up a 38 percent stake in Aston Martin in December, confirmed to Bloomberg that the UK-based automaker is holding talks with outside manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz' AMG division. The talks involve engine and electronics development. Unlike super car makers Ferrari and Lamborghini, which are owned by Fiat and Volkswagen respectively, Aston Martin lacks a major backer, making it difficult for the independent automaker to develop expensive vehicle components. A tie-up with a company like AMG would help defray costs while cutting development time. Long-time coming A tie-up with AMG would seem to make sense as Aston Martin has reportedly been interested in a partnership with Mercedes-Benz since early 2008. Early talks between the two involved Aston Martin designing the next-generation Maybach for Mercedes in exchange for access to AMG's parts bin. However, the Maybach brand has since been killed off, meaning the talks are back at square one. It remains unclear how Mercedes might benefit from a new deal, but vehicle development could still be on the table. |
Aston Martin: Development and Technology news
From Leftlanenews: http://www.leftlanenews.com/aston-ma...-with-amg.html
Aston Martin announced on Thursday that it has inked a "significant technical partnership" with Mercedes-Benz's AMG high-performance division. The contract comes five months after Aston Martin signed a letter of intent with AMG for its V8 engine know-how and electrical components. Per the terms of the contract, Aston Martin will work closely with AMG to design bespoke V8 engines for its range of up-scale sports cars. Set to launch in the next-generation of its automobiles, Aston Martin promises that the V8 engines will combine high-performance and fuel efficiency. "Our company is this year celebrating its centenary, and the partnership agreed today underpins prospects for Aston Martin's bright, vibrant and dynamic second century in the sports car business," a spokesman for Aston Martin said. "This strategic collaboration for Aston Martin will, in our next generation of luxury sports cars, offer our customers increased performance and efficiency whilst retaining the unique character and style of an Aston Martin." In exchange for access to its engine technology, Mercedes parent Daimler will receive up to five percent non-voting shares in Aston Martin. The German automaker will also be given observer status on the Aston Martin Holdings board. The technical pact does not cover V12 engines, but Aston Martin has previously stated that it plans to carry on with its own 12-cylinder engine program. |
More tidbits on AMG engines in Astons...
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...edes-boss-says Future Aston Martins may have engines from Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance division, but those engines won't wear AMG badges. Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche told Autocar that the engines Aston buys won't have any German badging, and that AMG plans to keep its involvement with the iconic British automaker on the down low. "Our customers will know about it without us making too much of the link," Zetsche said, "That is enough for us." While it seems logical that Aston Martin cars would go without another company's branding on the their fenders and valve covers, remember that AMG client Pagani proudly plasters AMG badges on its cars. The first product of the alliance will be a new V-8 engine, which will power the replacement for the current V8 Vantage. For now, the relationship between AMG and Aston Martin will be limited to the sharing of engines and electrical components, although Mercedes is reportedly open to further collaboration. Zetsche told Autocar that his company would be willing to share chassis architecture with Aston, possibly to replace the British firm's aged VH platform. Developing a new platform from scratch would require a considerable investment on Aston's part, but the company hasn't made any decisions yet. It may not amount to more than talk, though, as Aston and Mercedes with previously discussed platform sharing with little progress. The last scheme involved a Lagonda-badged Aston-Martin SUV that would have shared its chassis with the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. |
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So is AMG making naturally aspirated engines for other manufacturers but only twin-turbos for Mercedes?
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New Platform in Development; Sales up 11%...
From here: http://www.leftlanenews.com/aston-ma...#ixzz30IHmjTIp
Aston Martin is celebrating strong sales for 2013 -- its 100th year in business -- and has confirmed that a new platform is under development. The luxury brand shipped 4,200 cars in its fiscal year, an 11-percent increase. The sales boost contributed to revenue of £519 million (~$874 million USD) and a 22-percent jump in profit before taxes and other charges, reaching £85 million (~$143 million USD). "We will, in the next few years, be implementing the biggest investment programme in our 101-year history, preparing the ground for new and exciting products in the future," said Aston Martin CFO Hanno Kirner. The investment will be used to engineer a "completely new architecture" that will underpin the company's next-generation sports cars, some of which will also benefit from engines co-developed through a partnership with Mercedes-Benz' AMG division. "The strategic partnership with Daimler AG will bring with it cutting edge electrical and electronic architecture expertise, and the shared development of world-class bespoke V8 powertrains," Kirner added. The platform development project does not come as a surprise, as the VH architecture -- utilized by all current models -- was first introduced more than a decade ago. The CFO's comments appear to contradict recent reports suggesting the British automaker had inked a deal to source its next-generation car platform from Daimler. Mercedes-Benz' GL-Class platform is separately viewed as a likely candidate for an Aston Martin SUV, however. A launch time-frame for the next-generation platform remains unclear. |
Aston Martin Upgrading Facilities
http://images.thecarconnection.com/l...00468243_l.jpg
http://images.thecarconnection.com/l...00468244_l.jpg http://images.thecarconnection.com/l...00468245_l.jpg http://images.thecarconnection.com/l...00468242_l.jpg http://images.thecarconnection.com/l...00468247_l.jpg From here: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-future-models Aston Martin is working on an all-new platform to underpin its future sports, starting with a next-generation DB9, but there’s much more to the British automaker’s growth plans. Aston Martin is also investing in its manufacturing facilities and looking to hire new staff. Among the upgrades to Aston Martin’s plant in Gaydon, England is the creation of a new pilot build area, new offices and an expanded parts and logistics storage area. The new facilities will cover an extra 100,000 square feet and the major development work is due to be completed in 2015. Around £20 million (approximately $33.5 million) is being invested in the upgrades. Alongside the building work, Aston Martin is also embarking on a recruitment drive with around 250 new jobs in engineering, manufacturing and commercial functions being created over the course of the next few months. The British automaker is also still without a CEO, with the operations currently being run by CFO Hanno Kirner. “The investment in our Gaydon HQ forms part of our long-term strategy which is focused around being the number one British luxury sports car brand,” Kirner said in a statement. ““We have confirmed that the coming years will see Aston Martin implementing the biggest investment programme in the 101-year history of the brand, with a plan to inject over £500 million [$837 million] into the company’s next generation of high performance sports cars.” As mentioned above, Aston Martin’s first all-new model is expected to be a next-generation DB9, due in 2016. Replacements for the Vantage and Rapide are also expected. In addition to new models, Aston Martin is also expected to expand its Q by Aston Martin personalization department to cater to clients looking for bespoke, coachbuilt cars. One of the first has already been commissioned: a new sedan based on the Rapide with styling inspired by the Aston Martin Lagonda sedan launched in 1976. |
Trademarks Filed for "DB" Names
From here: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...s-new-db-names
Aston Martin has applied for the trademarks DB10 through to DB14, in preparation for the reveal of the next DB model. The successor to the DB9, which will feature a twin-turbo AMG V8 engine and new styling, is planned to go on sale in 2016 – but its name has not yet been confirmed. “It’ll definitely be a DB,” Aston Martin's design director Marek Reichman has said previously, “but what number will follow, that is yet to be decided.” Although the trademark application for DB14 was applied for first, rumours suggest that the next DB model might bear the name DB10. Some company executives are reported to be keen on retaining the DB9 name for the new car. However, Aston has historically moved forward the numerical denomination of its model names to emphasise the design and performance advances made by the newest of its cars. |
Autocar on Aston Martin future plans
Aston Martin is planning what it calls the "biggest product offensive" in its history as it looks to reinvent itself as a supercar manufacturer fit to take on Ferrari. The transformation will come about thanks to new technology and a fresh design language.
The new model range promises to herald an updated design language under Aston’s long-term design boss, Marek Reichman. Insiders say that in response to criticism of today’s line-up, the new models will be significantly differentiated from each other, putting them more in line with the clearly defined and executed models in Ferrari’s range. It is understood that work is well under way on the first new model, a new DB9, which will be powered by a Mercedes-AMG engine built specifically for the British company. The car is expected to make its debut in the second half of 2016, although it might not go on sale until early 2017. The new DB9 will be the foundation stone of Aston’s new beginning. It will be followed by a replacement for the V8 and V12 Vantage models and then the Vanquish. There’s no clear news yet on whether the four-door Rapide will be replaced directly, although that model is likely to be phased out after Aston Martin switches over to its new vehicle architecture in 2016. Even so, Aston sources say they are confident that the sales boost from the new DB9, and the V8 and V12 Vantages following close behind, will push Aston into profit. That would be a turnaround on last year’s results, which saw the company pushed into the red. However, this is something of a high-risk strategy for the tiny company. Aston Martin has borrowed heavily for its big product push, and that is expected to stress the company’s finances over the next two years, especially as it pays interest on its loans. At the beginning of May, credit rating agency Standard and Poors cut Aston’s credit rating to five notches below investment grade. At the moment, the much-discussed SUV remains on Aston’s wish list rather than in the product plan. The company’s new injection of investment money has been earmarked for the reinvention of the sports car family. The next-generation VH architecture, which is currently being engineered, is said to have been created by Lotus Engineering when Aston was under Ford ownership. It is based on the same principles as the current VH platform but is being completely reworked to accommodate Mercedes’ engines and technology. Aston’s current V8 and V12 engines are built by Ford under contract at its Cologne plant. This deal ends in 2016, just as the new AMG engines come on stream. The VH structure, which is claimed to be especially light and stiff, is made up of fairly small-scale components made from either stamped, cast or extruded aluminium. This approach is cost-effective because tooling costs are kept low and is ideally suited to small-scale production (Aston sold just 4200 cars last year). Components such as the front suspension strut towers are made from cast aluminium, while the windscreen surround is made from pressed and formed aluminium. These can then be shared across the various models. The floor and centre tunnel construction is also common across today’s sports car models. The new-generation VH architecture will use the same principle but will be more of a clean-sheet design able to accommodate a more diverse range of body styles and styling. While today’s Astons are hampered by having to share a core structure, which results in a similar appearance, the new VH construction is likely to be much more flexible. The front and rear crash structures will be common, as will the main floor structure. It is understood that the new architecture will be able to offer two track widths and two wheelbases, along with a new rear bulkhead design that can be switched between the demands of saloon, cabrio and liftback body styles, while the mounting height of the windscreen surround is expected to be adjustable. Aston’s engineers will also have to give thought to accommodating a battery pack on certain models. As well as developing this new VH architecture, Aston is currently working on integrating an electrical architecture supplied by Mercedes. This is not only to allow the use of AMG engines and transmissions, but is also the key to future Aston models being able to feature the latest in-car multimedia systems and electronic driver aids. It would be difficult, although not impossible, for Aston to incorporate technology such as stereo cameras in the windscreen (for future intelligent traffic management) or stop-start technology into the current VH set-up, but direct integration of Mercedes’ technology into the new VH architecture will be hugely beneficial. Indeed, Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company, said it was going to spend a massive £8.8 billion on research and development across 2013 and 2014. That Aston’s future models will be able to tap into much of Mercedes’ parts bin is a huge step forward for the company. Components such as braking systems, already thoroughly tested by Mercedes’ own engineers, are a perfect starting point for Aston. The core of the technical co-operation is, of course, the supply of engines from the AMG division. The core Aston powerplant will become a version of AMG’s upcoming twin-turbocharged V8, its 4.0-litre capacity crucial to tapping into lower tax brackets in markets including China. Autocar understands that a V12 engine, based on AMG’s twin-turbo 6.0-litre unit, will also live on in Aston’s future range, although possibly without forced induction. Further down the line, expect to see a petrol-electric hybrid Aston Martin featuring an electric motor incorporated into the transmission. Manufacturers expect a number of global cities to adopt zero-emissions zones by the end of the decade, so a hybrid model is an essential part of the new-generation Aston Martin line-up. When are Aston Martin's new models arriving? 2017 - new DB9 Likely to be seen in 2016, the new DB9 will kick-start Aston’s reinvention with a new look, platform and engines. 2018 - Vantage Vantage replacement will use a shorter version of the new architecture and will again be offered with a choice of V8 and V12 engines. 2019 - Vanquish Flagship Vanquish to crown revamped Aston range by the end of the decade. Expect Mercedes-sourced V12 power. 2020 - Rapide (TBC) A Rapide replacement is not understood to be on the cards at present, but Aston could resurrect it once its new range is established. 2021 - Lagonda SUV (TBC) The Lagonda SUV is not in the Aston model plan, and would only appear if its R&D could be funded by a successful relaunch of the rest of the range. |
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Vehicle Development and Prototype Center Opened
From here: Aston Martin Opens New Prototype And Vehicle Development Center
Aston Martin is keen on ensuring that its next generation cars meet and exceed the requirements of its customer base. To help with that goal, the automaker has opened the doors on a brand new prototype and vehicle development center located within the grounds of the MIRA Technology Park in the U.K. This location serves as a testing bed for a number of automotive brands ranging from Jaguar and Land Rover to Michelin, Bosch, Pirelli, and Continental, just to name a few. Adding this facility will help Aston Martin continue to research and develop new models in a secure environment. MIRA serves as home to a number of brands undergoing the same or similar testing, and its here where these brands can test and prototype their products in a space that allows for a wide range of varying spaces. From its large proving ground track to its 24/7 security group, MIRA Technology Park seems a wise choice for an automaker such as Aston Martin, which is in the process of developing a new platform for its next generation of sports cars as well as other technologies. Here the engineers can prototype and develop without fear of prying eyes... or telephoto camera lenses. It's also an investment in the local area as MIRA Technology Park looks to add at least 2,000 jobs as it continues to grow and add more clients to its roster. |
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...ges-vaughtons/
UK company Vaughtons is hand making hood ornaments in an era of mass production. A bucket of Ts sits atop a weathered wooden bench—months’ worth of production distilled into a single cubic foot. These letters help make up the distinctive Aston Martin script on the back of the DB11, Vantage, and Volante. Each one is punched out by hand on a screw press that looks like it reported for duty before Aston Martin founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford had even joined forces. This definitely isn’t Aston’s state-of-the-art Gaydon factory, or even the company’s Newport Pagnell heritage operations. This is Vaughtons. Located in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, a historic enclave of England’s second city, it’s an appropriate place to find the people behind some of the world’s most exquisite hood ornamentation. Although many luxury automotive brands switched to plastic badges years ago, premium metal still wears premium metal. Bugatti, for instance, prides itself on using as little plastic as possible. Likewise, whether it’s the baby Vantage or the new Vanquish, all Astons don a genuine metal badge produced by Vaughtons. Incorporated in 1819, a quarter century before Carl Benz gasped his first breath, let alone invented the Patent Motor Car, Vaughtons described itself as a “buttonmaker, medallist, and mint.” By the start of the 20th century, thanks to the influence of Howard Vaughton, an English soccer star and grandson of the founder, the company had captured prestigious contracts, including making medals for the 1908 London Olympics and the Football Association Cup. These days, Vaughtons still makes those football medals, along with mayoral chains of office and jewelry for obscenely rich Middle Eastern royalty. Inside the factory, it seems little has changed since the early days. Ancient handpresses sit in rows, their curious mermaid-green color worn away by decades of use. Behind them are dies, stacked ceiling high, that appear untouched for centuries. It’s noisy, dirty, and glorious. “I used to be embarrassed to bring clients here,” says sales director Nick Hobbis, who’s largely been running the show since his father began easing out of the big chair a couple of years back. “I’d visit Aston Martin at Gaydon and think, We can’t compete with that. But they love it. They love the sense of tradition.” Badges have long been part of Vaughtons’s business. The archive of hand-cut dies weighing down racks upstairs testies to previous contracts with Jensen and Lotus. Wind back a century, and Vaughtons was the original supplier of badges to Rolls-Royce. Hobbis is behind the latest push. A pair of tattoos poke mischievously from beneath his shirtsleeves, and a petrol-head passion is clear in the way his eyes widen when he talks about cars in his lilting Birmingham burr. Think Ozzy Osbourne, but with triple the Mensa score. Vaughtons currently works with Overfinch, a Jaguar and Land Rover tuning house, and a contract with McLaren is a possibility. Right now, though, Aston is the main client. Vaughtons sends 2000 components its way every week, the most beautiful of which are winged hood ornaments. Each of those badges starts as a strip of burnt-orange metal. Vaughtons has made 18-karat-gold badges for special cars, and hallmarked silver badges for eight special-edition Vantages built to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the World War II Spitfire fighter plane, but the regular production badges are formed from a more prosaic copper alloy. Clipped roughly to size, each blank is then stamped twice in a machine press, giving it the clear shape. But not clear enough. After two blows, the metal hardens and further stamping won’t improve the definition, so the blank is annealed—heated to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit—allowing it to soften before returning for more punishment in the press. Much of Vaughtons’s work is carried out using skillfully created hand-cut dies, but all the stuff that goes on four wheels is CAD-drawn, and the dies are CNC-machined by another company close by. Automotive clients demand that level of precision. Following more to-ing and fro-ing between heat and press, during which the ash, or excess material, is removed, the badges travel a few doors up the street. This recently renovated building, with its exposed brickwork and heavy industrial style, looks like the kind of place you’d expect to find hipsters sipping the latest fad coffee as they tend slavishly to their Instagram accounts. Instead, it’s home to eight women—four from three generations of the same family. With hands steadier than a surgeon’s, they apply the first of two coats of enamel to give the badges their distinctive colors. Why all women? “Because they have the patience!” laughs Hobbis. Enamelers like Sue Moore are literally painting with glass, teasing vitreous enamel coloring into the 43 sections of the badge. Difficult enough ordinarily; hugely complicated in the case of the nine badges created for Aston’s 2016 World Endurance Championship racers, each displaying a different country’s flag. Later, in his office, Hobbis shows us a series of badges dreamed up to prove how far the concept can go. One spectacularly baroque project called for 2000 pieces of mother-of-pearl. Another badge is finished in the same green as the brake calipers on the limited-run AMR performance models. You can tell Hobbis and his team are keen to show what Vaughtons can do, rather than simply sit back and wait for instructions, but Aston’s designers are very protective of the badges. Back in the enameling room, the badge is then baked to harden the coating before what’s called linishing, a coarse polishing process that reveals any holes or dips in the coating. Those are then remedied with another coat. Fine polishing follows before the batch is moved to a third unit for electroplating, to deliver the final shine and ensure the exposed metalwork won’t dull. By the time the badge has reached Aston Martin, it has passed through 30 processes and up to 10 pairs of expert hands. The result feels pleasingly weighty, and the detail is incredible. Compared with the plastic carbuncle on the front of a Kia, it might as well be a Fabergé egg. You can’t help but wonder how many Aston owners will realize, even as they lovingly and carefully wipe a soapy cloth over one on a Sunday morning, exactly how much effort has gone into creating the badge. Not that it matters to Vaughtons, which will likely be pressing and painting metal the same way two centuries from now. https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533615989.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533616414.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533615904.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533615795.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533616736.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533616103.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533616807.jpg https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...1533615749.jpg |
https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...6-project-003/
Last week, Aston Martin announced that it would bring out a new hybrid hypercar after it finishes building the upcoming Valkyrie. Not many details on this car, code-named Project 003, were released, but in an interview last week Aston Martin CEO gave a little nugget to UK magazine Auto Express. Project 003 will get a new turbocharged V6 developed in-house by Aston Martin, and there's good reason to expect this engine in other cars, too. In Project 003, Palmer said this V6 will be paired with an F1-style kinetic energy-recovery system (KERS), which captures heat energy created by braking and turns it into electricity to power an electric motor. The Valkyrie will use a KERS system, too, but it'll be paired with a naturally aspirated V12 built by Cosworth. Palmer hinted to Auto Express that this V6 isn't too far removed from the company's new 5.2-liter V12. "We’re demonstrating that in that V12 arena we have mastery, so V12 and V6 is obviously closely related," he said. Building a V6 based on a V12 isn't too difficult—you essentially just halve everything. It's also worth noting that Aston's current V12 uses a 60-degree cylinder bank, which is the ideal angle for a V6. And fun fact: Aston's old 5.9-liter naturally aspirated V12 started life as two Ford Duratec V6s joined together in a common block. So, while we'll definitely see this V6 in Project 003 when it arrives in 2021, we think it'll make an appearance sooner in Aston's upcoming Ferrari 488-rival. A few months ago, Palmer told us this mid-engine supercar would get a bespoke engine, and we think it's this V6, since Aston's current V8 is a Mercedes-AMG unit and a V12 wouldn't likely fit. Aston Martin's DBX SUV will arrive next year, which means we'll most likely see the mid-engine car in 2020. Perhaps it'll pack V6 power, too. |
:rip: V8?
https://www.carthrottle.com/post/ast...-straight-six/ The days of AMG V8s in Aston Martins are already numbered, as the British firm is preparing a new straight-six powerplant that could include hybrid technology Aston Martin is developing a straight-six engine that will eventually replace the AMG-sourced V8 across the model range – and it’s likely to be a hybrid. The arrangement with AMG to take its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is a one-generation stop-gap solution while the British firm finishes its own emissions-reducing plans. It marks a return to an engine layout used with great success by Aston in its 1950s and 1960s heyday. Autocar speculates that the new sixer could essentially be one bank of the company’s 5.2-litre V12, possibly with slightly enlarged capacity – or significant hybrid assistance to compensate for the torque deficit. Its electricals would be derived from the Rapide E programme but a plug-in hybrid isn’t likely yet. Slow charging and a clumsy ownership experience could be among the reasons why Aston has said the tech “isn’t premium enough” yet. A closed hybrid system akin to that used with exceptional refinement by Lexus is an option. Meanwhile, the AMG V8 will still feature in the DB11, Vantage and DBX SUV, the latter arriving in 2019. |
https://www.carscoops.com/2019/04/as...percar-coming/
Aston Martin has just filed a trademark for the name ‘Valen’ – which falls in line with the nomenclature for its new-gen supercars that start with a V and might point towards an upcoming model. The British car manufacturer went on a bit of a trademarking spree in 2018, also securing the rights to names such as Valhalla and Varekai. The trademark for ‘Valen’ was filed with the Ministry of Economy and Trade in Lebanon and recently published by the UK’s intellectual property office. The application was made on October 5 last year. If Aston Martin intends on naming one of its future models the Valen, it remains unclear which one it would be. One possibility is that it will be used by the road-going version of the Aston Martin AM-RB 003 unveiled at the recent Geneva Motor Show. That is a hybrid hypercar which will slot below the Valkyrie in Aston’s range and is yet to be given a proper name for production. Could it be the Valen? Possibly. However, chief executive Andy Palmer hinted earlier this month that the Valhalla moniker might be used by the AM-RB 003. We already have confirmation that Aston Martin’s rival to the McLaren 720S and Ferrari F8 Tributo will be dubbed the Vanquish, so the new name could be used on a new, as yet undisclosed, model. Or, maybe, the production version of the DBX crossover. |
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/a...transmissions/
There was a time, believe it or not, when any sports car worth its salt was sold exclusively with a manual transmission, or in some rare cases, with a crappy automatic for profiling purposes. Unfortunately, those days -- aka any time before 2000 -- are long gone, and even stalwart supporters of three-pedal driving are giving it up. The latest of these is Aston Martin, according to a report Monday by Australian website CarSales, which is funny (and sad) because it wasn't all that long ago that it proudly proclaimed that it would be the last sports car company on Earth to still offer a manual transmission. Why would it suddenly change its tune? Well, the change in leadership is a huge part of things. Former Aston boss Andy Palmer viewed the manual transmission as a feather in its cap as other brands of exotics like Ferrari and Lamborghini have long since ceased to offer any models with manuals. Current CEO Tobias Moers (best known as the former head of AMG) sees things differently. "We did a few assessments about that car [manual] – you don't need it anymore," Moers said during a recent media round table. "And you have to maintain it with the new regulations, year by year with the emissions because it's a bespoke powertrain. It makes no sense." This makes a lot of sense given Aston Martin's ongoing financial troubles, but it's still more than a little sad. While automatics and dual-clutch transmissions offer substantial performance benefits, there is a lot to be said for the engagement that using a manual transmission and clutch pedal offers. |
https://www.motor1.com/news/521350/a...db11-electric/
The days are numbered for Aston Martin models using internal combustion engines because the next-gen Vantage and DB11 are switching to electric powertrains, company CEO Tobias Moers tells Automotive News Europe. The first of these EVs should arrive in 2025, although it's not clear whether this would be the Vantage or DB11 replacement. "The succession of our traditional sports segment has to be full electric, no doubt," Moers said. Before going fully electric, Aston Martin will introduce a plug-in hybrid variant of the DBX. There will also be a mid-engine model with a PHEV powertrain that will slot below the Valkyrie and Valhalla. It'll allegedly take styling inspiration from the Vanquish Vision concept. Aston Martin will use its partnership with Mercedes as a source for these EV components but with Aston-specific tuning. They'll have an estimated range of 372 miles (600 kilometers). The models will still retain the brand's character, according to Moers. "How you experience the brand, the customer journey. These are the things that are going to make the difference," he told Automotive News Europe. "It will be about the experience, the driving dynamics, how we are going to serve our customers." In March 2021, Aston Martin's shareholder report said the automaker said that all of its road-going models were going to be electrified by 2030. Specifically, 50 percent of the lineup would be BEVs, and 45 percent would be some form of hybrid by that time. The remaining 5 percent would be combustion-powered but would be track-only models. Aston Martin recently fully introduced its new Valhalla. It packs a Mercedes-AMG-sourced, rear-mid-mounted twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 and an electric motor. In total, this setup makes 937 horsepower (699 kilowatts) and 738 pound-feet (1,000 Newton-meters) of torque. The EV-only range is just nine miles (15 kilometers). |
With the Rapide E sedan canceled before production even started, Aston Martin is fashionably late to the EV party. In a bid to catch up, the British automaker is joining forces with Lucid to gain access to its electric know-how for a new dedicated platform that will be used on a great variety of future models. Aside from sports cars, grand tourers, and SUVs, the folks from Gaydon are also mentioning a hypercar to supersede the Valkyrie. The two automakers have inked a deal for a long-term partnership stipulating Aston Martin will use certain powertrain and battery components for a family of high-performance EVs. The deal is part of a greater effort to make the transition from combustion engines to electric drivetrains. Over the next five years, AM intends to spend over £2 billion ($2.54B) to fund its "Racing. Green." sustainability strategy. All cars will offer an electrified powertrain option by 2026 and the core models will become pure EVs by the end of the decade. Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll says the engineers will do more than just simply borrow Lucid's technology as the goal is to adapt the technology to the brand's "ultra-luxury, high-performance strategy.” To get an idea of what's coming, we should point out the Air Sapphire has a tri-motor setup with a combined output of over 1,200 horsepower for a 0-60 mph run in less than two seconds and a top speed exceeding 200 mph.According to Reuters, Lucid is getting a 3.7-percent share in Aston Marin, which will make phased cash payments to Lucid of approximately $232 million. Speaking of shareholders, it was only last month that Chinese automotive giant Geely more than doubled its stake in Aston Martin, reaching 17 percent. Mercedes has also pledged to boost its share to 20 percent by the end of 2023. Speaking of which, the newly signed deal with Lucid will not put the brakes on Aston Martin's separate agreement with Mercedes. In fact, the same press release issued today mentions the partnership with the German luxury brand will continue, giving AM access to technologies it will use on future combustion-engined cars, but also hybrids and EVs. |
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