Latest news with #AstonMartin
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Driving The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage
The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage. Debuting last year, the latest V8-powered Aston Martin Vantage is the badge's most peak form. Sporting more power than ever, an incredibly capable chassis, and some handsome exterior revisions, it's a substantial refresh ready to carry the badge into the future, and contains ample Aston Martin DNA throughout to make sure both enthusiasts and casual observers never confuse it for something else. Starting at $194,086, the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage is both engaging yet comfortable, refined yet rowdy—everything that discerning enthusiasts could ever want in a high-end sports car-slash-small grand tourer. The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage. Up until 2024, the current-gen Vantage's overall look was a point of contention for some time; its shape is quintessential sports car, but impressions were mixed. Especially regarding its small, squinting headlights. For this latest facelifted iteration, it's as if Aston Martin had a checklist typed out in bold with the headlights at the top. The new units are quite sleek and not only fit the brand's current design language well, but are also a visual throwback to Vantages of yore, plus the DB7 and DB5. A traditional grille replaced a wire-mesh version a few years ago, with the latest model's beautifully accompanying the body's side strakes and overall shape when seen from a three-quarter perspective. The rest of the revisions are minor, but they contribute to its toned and athletic appearance. The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage. Inside, Aston Martin's made even more significant changes. Take for instance its infotainment system: It's no longer mildly archaic software from Mercedes-Benz and is tremendously easier to use. Navigating through different settings is a snap, and the screen itself is an unobtrusive 10.25 inches set lower in the dash, rather than up high. Cleverly placed switchgear on the center console means making adjustments to the exhaust tone, drive mode, dampers, and auto stop/start, as well as HVAC and stereo volume requires no extra thought, and the switches themselves feel of substantial quality. In fact, fan speed, drive setting, and volume are all heavy metal wheels that feel so nice and make a satisfying, muffled click. Elsewhere, my tester was trimmed in beautiful black Alcantara and leather, with a substantial amount of carbon fiber mixed in for an additional $6,000. Finally, like the previous, pre-facelift iteration, the Vantage's low-slung driving position and spacious interior dimensions make for excellent overall comfort, particularly for folks above six-feet tall. Visibility is good, though a tad restricted over the left shoulder—standard blind spot monitoring makes up for. All in all, the sense of luxury is higher than ever inside. The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage. The Vantage is a high-performance sports car through and through, especially in how it rolls down the road. Adaptive dampers, 50:50 weight distribution, independent double-wishbone suspension up front, increased chassis rigidity over the previous model, and its front-mid engine placement give the baby Aston solid handling dynamics across the board, whether while taking on a twisty mountain road at high speed or gliding around town. The steering's yaw response is tack-sharp in its immediacy and makes for a very engaging corner-carving experience—in fact, it's the best I've ever experienced in any front-engine fare, ever. Steering feel has great tactility, especially for being tied to an electrically assisted rack, and weight loads up well in corners and while cruising on the highway. Though, I wish the steering wheel's position was less awkward; like the old model, it still sits too high and doesn't have the ability to be brought down low and near the torso for an optimized driving position. The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage. When it comes to ride quality, the latest Vantage excels here as well, with a feeling of refinement and solid variety in its three damper settings—these are essentially sporty, more sporty, and track-ready. On the softer side, you never forget that you're in a focused sports car, but the road's most offensive features are nicely filtered out. Especially speed bumps, expansion joints, and washboard-like surfaces, which shows that Aston Martin probably spent a lot of time perfecting the dampers' compression tuning. With the Bilstein-sourced dampers set to either their softest or middle setting, the Vantage exhibited beautifully neutral handling through high-speed sweepers and tight, technical corners alike, and chassis feel was brilliant. Gigantic carbon ceramic brakes with multi-piston calipers assisted in precisely balancing load on each corner by way of a firm yet easy-to-modulate pedal. The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage. Since 2018, the Aston Martin Vantage's V8 is a Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo mill, but some substantial work's been done to it in this latest model: Bigger turbos, revised internals, and improved cooling enable it to produce an eye-watering 656 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. With 3,847 pounds to haul, the Vantage is ravenous off the line and will hit the 60 mph mark in a hair over three seconds. The power curve has shifted slightly higher over the previous model, but it's still quite rapid all over the tachometer. Throttle response is sharper than before, and Aston's done plenty to differentiate its character from anything with a Mercedes badge. It feels angrier and more motorsports-like, and the sharp V8 music emanating from under the hood and out the quad-tip exhaust pipes is truly excellent. Other new sports- and supercars are too quiet, the Vantage's decibel levels are always just right and give it profound, enthusiast-pleasing character. A close-ratio conventional 8-speed automatic transaxle sits just behind the seats, contributing to the Vantage's 50:50 weight balance, and features excellent overall gearing with close ratios. It's lurchy and unrefined in some instances at partial throttle around town, and its torque converter requires careful throttle inputs to not upset anyone sitting shotgun. Yet, it comes into it own where it counts: ripping off shifts at both wide-open throttle down a long straightaway, and braking hard into tight, technical corners. The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage. Aston Martin markets the latest Vantage as 'engineered for real drivers,' and, for once, such a claim can't be chalked up to just hyperbole. The visceral experience behind the wheel—formed from its responsive chassis, classic sports car proportions throughout, and lively powertrain— doesn't pull any punches in expressing this. There may be a few weak points, but on the whole, it's the best V8-powered Vantage, ever, that truly belongs in the same ranks as every other luxury driver's car on the new car market. And when compared to anything else with its engine up front, it's at the top of the podium.
UPI
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Heritage sets James Bond memorabilia auction for June 13
1 of 4 | Heritage Auctions announced a collection of James Bond items will go under the hammer June 13, including memorabilia from the eras of every Bond actor, including Daniel Craig. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo May 29 (UPI) -- Heritage Auctions announced an upcoming auction of James Bond memorabilia spanning the character's entire history, both literary and cinematic. The Dallas-based auction house said the June 13 auction will feature items related to both Bond author Ian Fleming and the film franchise that his novels spawned. The items, billed as "one of the most impressive collections of Bond memorabilia ever assembled," includes signed merchandise, posters and rare props from every Bond era and featuring every actor to play the character -- Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. Fleming-related items in the auction include the author's PAN Award, a 1958 copy of Diamonds Are Forever and a signed first edition of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Other items include an Aston Martin promotional British Double Crown from 1965's Thunderball, a rocket prop from 1987's The Living Daylights, a cast-signed international one-sheet from 1979's Moonraker and a clapperboard used in the production of 2002's Die Another Day. "With the franchise entering a new era, there's never been a more exciting time to revisit Bond's legacy," said Alastair McCrea, Heritage's London-based director of entertainment. "These items aren't just memorabilia -- they're milestones in one of cinema's most enduring sagas."
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
F1: Alonso says Aston Martin's big bet on 2026 season will weigh heavily on his driving future
Fernando Alonso says that Aston Martin's all-in bet on next season will play a large part on the looming decision of when he definitely calls it quits from Formula 1. 'It will be very important,' Alonso told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. 'I need to see how motivated I am. 'Every year has its own mood and feeling, how competitive and motivated you are to keep your fitness at a high level,' he said. 'Your personal and family situations, all these things play a role. I know that very important decisions will come when I stop racing.' After winning two F1 titles back in 2005 and 2006, Alonso eventually stepped away from F1 in 2018 when his stint with Ferrari failed to deliver more successes. Seeking new challenges, the Spaniard tried his hand at the 24 Hours Le Mans, Indy 500 and the Dakar rally race, only to return to F1 in 2021. 'For 40 years I have had a steering wheel in my hand and I know that one day I will have to stop,' Alonso said. 'I did stop F1 once in 2018 and I did come back because I needed it, and the next time I do that I will have to be sure.' The former Renault champion is enduring one of the worst seasons of his long and topsy turvy career. He has failed to finish three races, including last weekend's Monaco GP, and has yet to finish in the top 10. The last time he failed to score a point through the first eight races was 2015. ALSO READ | Thailand plans to submit bid for Formula One race in 2028 The context matters, however, and Alonso and his Aston Martin team lowered expectations from the start of the season. They are all concentrated on working with former Red Bull top designer Adrian Newey to put all their energies into making a good car under the rule changes coming for 2026. But sacrificing a year is a big ask for a driver who turns 44 in July and has little tolerance for teams that don't give him a competitive car. The last time Alonso won an F1 race, he did so right here on the same track back in 2013 with Ferrari when he claimed victory No. 32. He also won the Spanish GP in 2006 with Renault. Aston Martin had given him a good car in 2023, when he arrived to the Spanish GP with hopes of winning that allusive 33rd race, but it was not to be. This time he realistically is just hoping to be in the points with his green car struggling and McLaren and Red Bull far, far ahead. That said, this year can't be a total wash, according to Alonso. 'The focus is on 2026, but in order to be confident with 2026 you have to build momentum in 2025 and deliver some parts on track to make the car faster,' Alonso said. 'The biggest steps can only happen in 2026. That is where the hopes are.'
San Francisco Chronicle
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
Alonso says Aston Martin's big bet on 2026 F1 season will weigh heavily on his driving future
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Fernando Alonso says that Aston Martin's all-in bet on next season will play a large part on the looming decision of when he definitely calls it quits from Formula 1. 'It will be very important,' Alonso told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. 'I need to see how motivated I am. "Every year has its own mood and feeling, how competitive and motivated you are to keep your fitness at a high level,' he said. 'Your personal and family situations, all these things play a role. I know that very important decisions will come when I stop racing.' After winning two F1 titles back in 2005 and 2006, Alonso eventually stepped away from F1 in 2018 when his stint with Ferrari failed to deliver more successes. Seeking new challenges, the Spaniard tried his hand at the 24 Hours Le Mans, Indy 500 and the Dakar rally race, only to return to F1 in 2021. 'For 40 years I have had a steering wheel in my hand and I know that one day I will have to stop,' Alonso said. 'I did stop F1 once in 2018 and I did come back because I needed it, and the next time I do that I will have to be sure.' The former Renault champion is enduring one of the worst seasons of his long and topsy turvy career. He has failed to finish three races, including last weekend's Monaco GP, and has yet to finish in the top 10. The last time he failed to score a point through the first eight races was 2015. The context matters, however, and Alonso and his Aston Martin team lowered expectations from the start of the season. They are all concentrated on working with former Red Bull top designer Adrian Newey to put all their energies into making a good car under the rule changes coming for 2026. But sacrificing a year is a big ask for a driver who turns 44 in July and has little tolerance for teams that don't give him a competitive car. The last time Alonso won an F1 race, he did so right here on the same track back in 2013 with Ferrari when he claimed victory No. 32. He also won the Spanish GP in 2006 with Renault. Aston Martin had given him a good car in 2023, when he arrived to the Spanish GP with hopes of winning that allusive 33rd race, but it was not to be. This time he realistically is just hoping to be in the points with his green car struggling and McLaren and Red Bull far, far ahead. That said, this year can't be a total wash, according to Alonso. 'The focus is on 2026, but in order to be confident with 2026 you have to build momentum in 2025 and deliver some parts on track to make the car faster,' Alonso said. 'The biggest steps can only happen in 2026. That is where the hopes are.'
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Alonso says Aston Martin's big bet on 2026 F1 season will weigh heavily on his driving future
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Fernando Alonso says that Aston Martin's all-in bet on next season will play a large part on the looming decision of when he definitely calls it quits from Formula 1. 'It will be very important,' Alonso told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix . 'I need to see how motivated I am. 'Every year has its own mood and feeling, how competitive and motivated you are to keep your fitness at a high level,' he said. 'Your personal and family situations, all these things play a role. I know that very important decisions will come when I stop racing.' After winning two F1 titles back in 2005 and 2006, Alonso eventually stepped away from F1 in 2018 when his stint with Ferrari failed to deliver more successes. Seeking new challenges, the Spaniard tried his hand at the 24 Hours Le Mans , Indy 500 and the Dakar rally race, only to return to F1 in 2021. 'For 40 years I have had a steering wheel in my hand and I know that one day I will have to stop,' Alonso said. 'I did stop F1 once in 2018 and I did come back because I needed it, and the next time I do that I will have to be sure.' The former Renault champion is enduring one of the worst seasons of his long and topsy turvy career. He has failed to finish three races, including last weekend's Monaco GP , and has yet to finish in the top 10. The last time he failed to score a point through the first eight races was 2015. The context matters, however, and Alonso and his Aston Martin team lowered expectations from the start of the season. They are all concentrated on working with former Red Bull top designer Adrian Newey to put all their energies into making a good car under the rule changes coming for 2026. But sacrificing a year is a big ask for a driver who turns 44 in July and has little tolerance for teams that don't give him a competitive car. The last time Alonso won an F1 race, he did so right here on the same track back in 2013 with Ferrari when he claimed victory No. 32. He also won the Spanish GP in 2006 with Renault. Aston Martin had given him a good car in 2023, when he arrived to the Spanish GP with hopes of winning that allusive 33rd race, but it was not to be . This time he realistically is just hoping to be in the points with his green car struggling and McLaren and Red Bull far, far ahead. That said, this year can't be a total wash, according to Alonso. 'The focus is on 2026, but in order to be confident with 2026 you have to build momentum in 2025 and deliver some parts on track to make the car faster,' Alonso said. 'The biggest steps can only happen in 2026. That is where the hopes are.' ___ AP auto racing:
