Monday, February 4, 2008

2005 Aston Martin Vanquish S

---- Specifications ----

Price


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Production


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Engine

6 liter 48-valve V12

Weight

--

Aspiration

natural

Torque

425 lb-ft

HP

520 hp

HP/Weight

--

HP/Liter

86.7 hp per liter

1/4 mile

--

0-62 mph

--

Top Speed

over 200 mph

(from Aston Martin Press Release) With a maximum speed in excess of 200mph (320 km/h) and a 6.0 litre V12 engine developing 520 horsepower, the Vanquish S has been designed to deliver even greater performance, complemented by subtle suspension and steering changes and a number of interior and external style revisions.

“The Vanquish is our flagship model and the standard 460bhp will continue to be built,” said Aston Martin CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez. “However, this derivative makes the car even more exceptional. The latest Vanquish S is not only the fastest Aston Martin ever, but it is the best handling too. It is the ultimate high-performance Aston Martin.”

The Vanquish S has received subtle but effective changes to complement its elegant muscular body. The famous Aston Martin grille has a new rounded and more open appearance for better cooling, and an aerodynamic splitter improves high-speed stability.



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At the rear, a redesigned boot lid featuring a new high mounted stop lamp reduces lift and improves balance and stability, helping to achieve an impressive Cd figure of 0.32.

These differences on the Vanquish S not only improve the appearance but also enhance performance. All the exterior body panels are constructed from aluminium with each individual panel hand tailored to the central structure to ensure a perfect panel fit. Every carefully detailed feature provides graphic evidence of the painstaking craftsmanship and quality, which is invested in its construction at Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell site in Buckinghamshire.

Revised steering geometry provides a 20% quicker response, allowing the driver to apply a reduced input for required steering response. This enables the driver to be more precise with inputs - especially on winding roads - and more accurate feedback from the chassis.

The Sports Dynamics suspension, steering and braking package is now standard on the Vanquish S. This includes stiffer springs and dampers and shorter steering arms.


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The brakes have been upgraded to incorporate larger six piston calipers and larger grooved and ventilated front discs. The rear discs are 2mm wider for improved heat dissipation. The use of floating discs ensures the driver has consistent pedal feel under heavy braking whilst a new brake pedal assembly reduces travel and enhances pedal feel.

Further development of Aston Martin’s low emissions, all alloy, quad-overhead camshaft, 48 valve, 6.0-litre V12 engine has generated an increase in power from 460 bhp to 520 bhp and torque is boosted to 425 lb ft (577 Nm).

Engine enhancements include new cylinder heads with fully machined inlet ports and combustion chambers to improve airflow, revised engine mapping and new fuel injectors.

The overall interior design is a subtle blend of traditional, classic and modern materials with Bridge of Weir leather upholstery matched to contemporary metal interior fittings and finishes. A number of detailed improvements have been made to the interior of the Vanquish S to enhance the overall appeal.

The luxurious but purposeful two seat or optional 2+2 cabin now features supportive all leather trimmed sports seats with many additional and exquisite detail touches which amply demonstrate the truly special nature of this unique hand crafted sports car.



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“The Vanquish S V12 is a combination of state-of-the-art aerospace technology and hand craftsmanship,” said Dr Bez. “It is the flagship model of a confident and growing company that is proud to display its heritage but is also determined to make the most technologically modern and inspirational sports cars in the world.”

Illustrating Aston Martin’s continuing commitment to customer care Vanquish S customers will be eligible for a complimentary Performance Driving Course. This comprehensive one-to-one driving experience can be taken at one of three proving grounds – Millbrook in the UK, Lommel in Belgium, or Romeo, Michigan, in North America.

With the capacity to continue to turn heads, the design of the Vanquish is already established as a modern classic. Since its launch in 2001, the Vanquish has proved to be a huge success for Aston Martin with over 1500 cars built.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

2005 Aston Martin DBR9

---- Specifications ----

Price


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Production


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Engine

6 liter V12

Weight

2425 lbs

Aspiration

natural

Torque

--

HP

600 hp

HP/Weight

4 lbs per hp

HP/Liter

100 hp per liter

1/4 mile

--

0-62 mph

--

Top Speed

--

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(from Aston Martin Press Release) Aston Martin Racing has unveiled the DBR9, which will spearhead the British marque’s return to international motor racing in 2005.

The car was shown to a selected audience for the first time on 4th November 2004 at Aston Martin’s headquarters at Gaydon in the UK. An intensive testing programme now follows for Aston Martin Racing prior to the DBR9’s debut race scheduled for the 12 hours of Sebring, Florida, in March 2005.

Aston Martin Racing will run two cars at Sebring and then move to Europe to prepare for the Le Mans 24 hours in June 2005. This will mark Aston Martin’s return to the race which was won outright in 1959 with Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby. In recognition of this, the DBR9 will follow the Le Mans-winning DBR1 and Works DB3S and carry the same green and yellow livery as the cars which dominated sports car racing in the late 1950s.


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Aston Martin Racing will build 12 Works cars, which will be run by three Works teams in the major international GT series. A limited run of only 20 racing cars, prepared to the same specification, will also be built and made available to selected customers to race or keep in private collections.

The DBR9 GT racing car is based on the latest Aston Martin production sports car - the DB9 - but is significantly modified for competition use. The DB9’s bonded-aluminium body architecture is shared with the DBR9 and provides both with a lightweight rigid chassis. The race engine uses the same aluminium cylinder block and head as the DB9’s 450bhp 6-litre V12 unit, but with racing modification it is expected to produce in the region of 600bhp.

The DB9’s double wishbone suspension configuration is retained on the DBR9, but features up-rated components and a revised geometry for racing purposes. Formula One style carbon brakes are fitted front and rear and a competition, six-speed sequential gearbox is mounted at the rear axle.


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The DBR9 was styled by Aston Martin Racing’s own design team who made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimise the aerodynamics before producing the final body surface. The panels are hand made from carbon-fibre composite, helping the car to meet its 1,100kg minimum weight and giving it a power to weight ratio of 550bhp per tonne - more than double that of the road car.

Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, said: “We need to create heightened awareness for Aston Martin around the world and motor sport will allow us to do this.



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“We took four years to find the ideal partner in David Richards and Prodrive and together have created Aston Martin Racing. The DBR9 is the first step in our return to motor sport and I know that our customers and enthusiasts alike are looking forward to seeing Aston Martin racing again at an international level in 2005.”

Saturday, February 2, 2008

2004 Aston Martin Vanquish Roadster by Zagato



(from Zagato Press Release)
Zagato and Aston Martin: a strong alliance that goes back to the 60s with the legendary DB4 GTZ, continued in the 80s with the Vantage and Volante, and is now firmer than ever in the new millennium with the DB7 Zagato and American Roadster 1.



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These are the cult cars of collectors and enthusiasts, always prime examples of the “instant classic”.

At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Zagato is presenting the Roadster version of the Aston Martin Vanquish, partly leaving unchanged the original project. For the first time, this Milan workshop is not giving an entirely new look to the production model, but is offering an interesting variation of the Vanquish, introducing innovative, futuristic touches of style.


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While the Aston Martin DB7 Zagato and AR1 were initially presented to customers in the form of a limited edition, immediately sold out, the Vanquish Roadster is a “provocation” proposed by Zagato with the backing of Aston Martin itself.

Close cooperation between Nori Harada, Zagato’s Automotive Chief Designer, and Peter Hutchinson, Design Manager at Aston Martin, has resulted in this new car introducing elements that are a sharp break with the Roadster segment.

A decidedly original interpretation that combines the totally unique design of the rear with the introduction of a functional modular cover system.

A hard top for winter, developed to not appear as an add-on but as an integral part that also takes in the rear. On warmer days of the year, its place is taken by a transparent hardened glass and an easily used soft cover.

Developed by Zagato’s engineers, this soft top is easily and simply mounted and, when not in use, is held in the luggage compartment without taking up much space.



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The car has a round rear light cluster, a tapered tail to best feature the wheelbox and a completely new rear bumper. The hardened glass, with its curvy ‘double bubble’ form, emphasises how unique and valued is this proposal, balancing in a different, almost extravagant way, the relationship between the solid and void.

Special care has been applied to the interior trim, made exclusive by the design and type of seaming introduced.
A luggage compartment immediately behind the seats can also be seen through the glass cover.

At the front, the Vanquish Roadster proposal retains the design of the coupe version famous for being James Bond’s most recent car.

Vanquish Roadster

Height: 1265 mm
Width: 1923 mm
Length: 4685 mm
Wheelbase: 2690 mm
Front track: 1572 mm
Rear track: 1584 mm

Engine: V-12
Capacity: 5935 cc
Torque Nm/rpm: 555/5000
Weight/power ratio: 541
Max speed: n.a.