Feb 05
Aston Martin has been forced to recall around 75-percent of all the cars it sold since late 2007, after discovering that parts of its accelerator pedals were made with substandard … Continue reading
Aug 28
Aston Martin makes some beautiful cars, and I have to say that I really like the look of this concept DBC. The low stance and curved lines are reminiscent of a McLaren, and it looks very fast and agile.
The Aston Martin DBC concept was created by Samir Sadikhov, and it feels like a mix between modern Aston Martins and cars like the McLaren MP4-12C.
While it’s improbable that Aston Martin will ever a mid-engine car – since they have stated that their cars are grand tourers – it would be quite amazing to see their brand on a car like this.
All things considered, Aston Martin should definitely create something like this, even if it is just a limited edition. After all, wouldn’t you like to see James Bond driving one of these?
[via Autoblog]
Jul 31
3D printing is pretty amazing. You can create anything you want as long as you have a big enough printer, and plenty of patience. You can even make a 1961 Series II Aston Martin DB4.
That’s what Ivan Sentch from Auckland, New Zealand is doing. He is making his dream car using 3D printing with his second generation Solidoodle printer. The plan is for the full scale replica of the DB4 to have a 250 HP Nissan Skyline drivetrain and fiberglass body with and engine salvaged from a 250 GTO replica. I’d say it is coming along very well judging by the images.
It is estimated the project will cost him about $5,000(USD) and he has been working on this project from almost eight months so far. Not bad, given the fact that an actual DB4 is so rare that it could cost as much as $1.6 million.
[Solidoodle via Motherboard and Engadget via Damn Geeky]
Jul 30
When we first got a desktop 3D printer at Engadget headquarters, we made a Weighted Companion Cube. And then a Mario figure. What can we say? We like to start small. Ivan Sentch, a programmer living in Auckland, is a bit more ambitious with his projects — he sat down and started printing a replica of a 1961 series II Aston Martin DB4 on his second-generation Solidoodle, piece by piece. Sentch has been working on the project off-and-on since Christmas of last year, and is now finished with around 72 percent of the body. Once finished, he’ll make a fiberglass mold of the print. Check Sentch’s blog in the source link below for some insight into the process.
Filed under: Peripherals, Transportation, Alt
Via: Solidoodle
Source: Replica DB4 Project
Jun 19
Aston Martin has taken the wraps – and the roof – off its latest sportscar, the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, dubbed the ultimate grand tourer and the first of the British marque’s drop-tops to feature a fully carbon-fiber skin. Packing the same AM11 V12 565HP engine as the Vanquish Coupe – good for a hair-messing
May 28
Aston Martin has unveiled the upcoming successor to the V12 Vantage, named aptly the V12 Vantage S. Being hailed as second in speed only to the One-77 hybercar, the V12 Vantage S features a 573 PS Aston Martin AM28 6.0-litre V12 engine, and boasts a top speed of 205mph. A variety of tweaks, updates, and changes have been made over the current model, which is in the process of being phased out. We have the specs after the jump.
The V12 Vantage S features improved torque over the current offering, going from 570Nm to 620Nm up to 5,750 rpm. The low rev torque in particular goes to 1000 rpm at 510 Nm over the previous 440Nm. Such changes are said to improve the car’s driveability by “flattening and fattening” the torque curve. Other changes have been made to give the Vantage S a race car edge, such as hollow cam shafts and CNC-machined combustion chambers.
The transmission gets an update as well, going from an auto-manual gearbox to the automated manual Sportshift III AMT transmission. This transmission is controlled via paddle shifters, weighs 25kg less than the current offering, and is hydraulically actuated. Per the announcement, gear changes are fast and cause a torque interruption that can be measured in milliseconds.
The driver can manually switch into a “Sport Mode” option by pressing a button in the center console, which not only changes the timing, gearshift speed, and throttle response, but also alters the exhaust note, allowing owners to “tune the character” of the vehicle. Other changes include a new exhaust system based on the One-77 hypercar, and new ZF Servotronic power-assisted steering.
Said Aston Martin’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ulrich Bez: “The new V12 Vantage S is, simply, pure Aston Martin. It is extreme in its nature yet truly timeless in its design language. Learning from our successes on the track feeds the development of this type of car and I’m proud to launch such an exciting sports car in this, our centenary year.”
SOURCE: Aston Martin
Aston Martin unveils V12 Vantage S sports car is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 23
There’s no doubt about it, but retro-modernism is here to stay. Check out this amazing concept created by Aston Martin to celebrate their 100th anniversary! I can already imagine toupées and hair flying all over the place, as the Speedster zips down the road. One the plus side, once you get one, you will no longer need a blow dryer.
The CC100 Speedster was unveiled this past weekend at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race in Germany. It packs a front-mounted 6.0-liter V12 engine. The rear wheel drive is coupled with an automated manual gearbox. To help keep weight down, the whole upper body is carbon fiber. All of this will make the Speedster go 0 to 60 MPH in 4 seconds, with a top speed of 180 MPH. Of course, at that speed, you’ll need to wear a helmet or some Steampunk-style goggles to keep the bugs from leaving dents in your face.
There’s still no word yet whether the Speedster will be available for sale, but I’m sure that if it ever is, it will be well out of my price range!
[via Wired]
May 19
A new Aston Martin is something worth shouting about, but it’ll take a number of loud (and rich) voices if the one-off CC100 Speedster Concept is to spawn a production version. The pared-back racer, crafted by the British sportscar company to celebrate its centenary, borrows the long, low, lean style of Aston Martin’s 1950s DBR1 racers, but brings the technology up to date with a 6.0-liter V12 engine good for a 0-62mph dash in “a little over four seconds.”
Top speed is an electrically-restrained 180mph, with the CC100 slamming through a six-speed hydraulically-actuated auto sequential manual gearbox. That’s controlled using paddle-shifters on the wheel in the driver’s pod; accommodation in the Speedster Concept is for two, with each getting a separately-braced area in the carbon-fiber cabin.
Although rain and wind might be an issue – there’s no roof, and no windshield – the CC100′s interior is otherwise relatively luxurious for a racing-oriented concept. As well as carbon-fiber there’s Bridge of Weir leather, glass buttons, and the same glass starter-button as on Aston Martin’s production road cars. The slimline doors – more like safety bars – hinge up and out to allow you to squeeze into the hide-covered racing seats.
Aston Martin CC100:
In all, it’s nearly 4.5m long and more than 2m wide, though interestingly shares a lot of the underlying chassis technology with the car company’s more mainstream range. Under the lightweight carbon-fiber is Aston Martin’s Vertical Horizontal Platform, a multi-purpose structure which is specially fettled for each car, whether it be the four-door Rapide or tourers like the DB9.
The CC100 made its public debut this weekend, at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, alongside the same Aston Martin DBR1 that completed the 1959 race. At the wheel of the classic was the same driver who guided it round those 1,000km (621 miles) 54 years ago, racing driver Sir Stirling Moss.
Unfortunately, there are no plans – public, at least – to create a production version of the CC100 Speedster Concept. However, given sufficient demand it’s possible that Aston Martin could relent on that front, and start a small-scale production run in a similar manner to its bespoke One-77 supercar.
Aston Martin CC100 marks centenary with crazy one-off racer is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 01
Last month we discussed Aston Martin’s newest project, a hydrogen-equipped hybrid version of its Rapide S sports car. It’s going to make its official racing debut later this month during the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring, but the car already ended up making history as being the first-ever hydrogen-powered car to take a lap around the historic track.
The car raced around the roughly 15-mile Nordschleife circuit in Germany for about four hours, but the company didn’t reveal lap times unfortunately. However, we’re guessing the car is able to go pretty fast, especially if Aston Martin is confident enough to enter it into the 24-hour race later this month.
The car is powered by a prototype twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 engine that’s capable of running on hydrogen, gasoline, or a combination of the two, allowing it to go the extra distance on zero emissions. This is the same engine that will be in the production Rapide S that will hit show floors in the next few weeks, but without the hydrogen hybrid feature of course.
While the test laps are impressive, the real test for the hydrogen-powered car will be racing a non-stop 24 hours come May 19-20. Nobody’s really sure how the car will hold up for a straight 24 hours, but if the hydrogen portion of the car does end up failing at some point, at least there’s the gasoline portion that will keep on chugging along.
Aston Martin Rapide S first hydrogen car to race around Nürburgring is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Apr 12
Aston Martin is looking to break some records next month, as the company has unveiled the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S race car, which is based off the production 4-door Rapide S. The race car will make its debut at the 41st annual ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race next month, where it will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event, as well as the first zero CO2 emissions car to complete a race pace lap at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.
The car features a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 engine that’s capable of running on hydrogen, gasoline, or a combination of the two. This is the same engine in the production Rapide S that will hit show floors in the next few weeks (without the hydrogen hybrid feature). Aston Martin is hoping that the race car will be able to run a full lap on zero emissions with only water emitted from the exhaust.
The Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S uses a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks, and a proprietary engine management system to make things work, and the four hydrogen holding tanks are made from high-strength carbon fiber, which allow the tanks to hold a total of 7.7 pounds of hydrogen at over 5,000 psi. Two of the tanks are located next to the driver and the other two are in the trunk of the car.
As for the car’s speed, the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S can reach 190 mph and accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just under five seconds, which is fairly impressive, especially since it won’t be burning as much gasoline as the other cars in the field. Of course, the car that burns the least fuel isn’t the one that wins the race, but it’s always great when cars don’t have to use as much fuel.
[via European Car]
Aston Martin unveils Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S race car is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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