Latest news with #DB5
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
One-Off Aston Martin Rapide Wagon Is The Real Connoisseur's Family Cruiser
Wagons are getting increasingly rare these days, and high-performance ones like the BMW M5 Touring are even less common. There's one stunning station wagon that puts almost every other to shame in terms of rarity, though, as just a single Aston Martin Rapide wagon exists and it's heading to auction. Aston has a history with ridiculously rare, unbelievably wonderful wagons and shooting brakes, like this exquisite DB5 build and, my personal favorite, an old DBS shooting brake. This one-off wagon is based on the Rapide, which launched in 2010 as the brand's first foray into the "sensible" car category. It had space for four, five doors and even a mildly practical trunk. Oh, and there was a roaring V12 under the hood that could propel the sedan up past 200 mph. Read more: SEMA Was Full Of Wild Concepts In 2002 I'm a big fan of the original Rapide. It looked great and felt like a fresh, forward-thinking car from a slightly stagnating British car company. There's always room for improvement, though, and that's where design house Bertone came in. The Italian company came swooping in and chopped up the rear of a 2013 Rapide to create a real Aston Martin station wagon, called the Bertone Jet 2+2. The conversion kept the slick stylings of the Rapide, and its six-liter, 475hp V12, and added an enormous trunk, as Road & Track explains: The Jet has an extended roofline, when compared with the stock Rapide, and boasts rear seats that fold flat electrically — a first for Aston Martin, and a feature that makes it easier to access the full cargo area. Other neat flourishes on the Jet 2+2 include a full-length glass roof that can be dimmed on command and a custom leather interior that's said to be even softer than the one you'll find in a standard Rapide. The Jet 2+2 was commissioned by Aston super-fan Barry Weir, but when it was showcased to execs at the British automaker they were as smitten as I am. As such, a further 10 shooting brakes based on the Rapide were ordered. Super-rare car fans can breathe a sigh of relief, though, as Bertone tragically folded before the 10 follow up cars could be constructed. As such, the Jet 2+2 that you see here is the only one in existence Why is this stunning station wagon being featured on Jalopnik more than a decade after it launched, I hear you ask? Well, that's because it's finally being sold on, of course. The 2013 Rapide is heading to auction on March 29 with Dore & Rees. With less than 25,000 miles on the odometer and its one-off status, the Jet is sure to command a pretty high price tag when the hammer finally does fall. If the Rapide isn't quite the right Aston Martin wagon for you, then maybe this DB5 shooting brake is more your cup of tea? Or what about the slick Vanquish Zagato shooting brake? You can't have the DBS Estate, though, because that's my dream car. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Khaleej Times
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
2025 Aston Martin Vantage car review: New muscular bodywork is perfect for beast mode
Feast your eyes on the fastest, most driver-focused Aston Martin Vantage in 74 years. Starting in 1950 with the uprated DB2 engine, it became a high-performance DB5 variant in 1964 and evolved into a standalone model in the 1970s. This new iteration embodies the brand's current dynamic era, excelling in F1 2023, dominating GT racing, and preparing for entry into the 2025 Le Mans with the Valkyrie AMR. We had the chance to put this 'once-baby' Aston to the test, and here's what you should know if you plan to shell out your hard-earned cash. DESIGN & AESTHETICS A minute ago, the Vantage was a compact, svelte sports car conceived to play second fiddle to its siblings — but not anymore. While its elegant upswept rear deck and lamps remain, the rest has been transformed, impossibly blending muscularity and sleekness, drawing inspiration from the One-77 supercar. Its face is packed with details — a massive grille and intricately designed almond-shaped LED headlamps. The teardrop-shaped body, seen from above, tapers toward the rear while widening at the haunches to accommodate massive AML-specific 21-inch, 325mm-wide Michelin Pilot S tyres. Furthermore, every panel features strategically placed ducts, grilles, vents, and frills of a complexity beyond the imagination of an ordinary designer. And yes, the large carbon front splitter, and rear diffuser that sit beneath quad exhaust tips, reinforcing its race-inspired aesthetics as before. Simply put, this is Aston Martin's finest work in years — no small feat given its stunning lineup. Whether as a statement piece, a collector's gem, or pure eye candy, the Vantage is a reminder of the beautiful things that money can buy. Beauty runs deeper than the Vantage's exterior, evident in the doors engineered to open at an angle, cleverly avoiding tall curbs. You'll also love cosying up in the sophisticated, dark-themed interior, rendered in a black-blue colour scheme and adorned with carbon fibre trims and artfully designed air vents. The chunky three-spoke steering wheel is one of the most beautifully styled tools ever, sitting ahead of a fairly animated digital gauge cluster that can be customised using the finicky steering controls. Shift focus to the right, and you'll find a 10.25-inch touchscreen atop the Panamera-style sloped centre console. Here, a stubby but cute toggling shifter sits alongside numerous buttons for powertrain and chassis adjustability, as well as roller controls for temperature and fan speed. Despite the busy visuals, these controls are easy to operate. However, even this Aston is not without flaws. Finding the right driving position isn't difficult, thanks to power steering adjustability and 16-way seat adjustment, but the Dark Knight Haircell leather on the seats and door panels don't feel like true luxury hide. Additionally, the side mirror controls are finicky, the central console plastics creak, and the small infotainment fonts may spell trouble for older drivers. POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE The heavily revised twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 sends torque to the rear via a carbon fibre prop shaft. Enhanced cooling, modified cam profiles, and larger turbos boost outputs to a monstrous 665 PS and 800 Nm, a gain of 155 PS and 115 Nm. The V8's thunderous roar demands attention as the Vantage surges forward with every blip of the sensitive throttle, devouring tarmac like a famished beast. The transmission isn't the quickest, so use the paddles instead of relying on the electronically induced kickdowns. When everything aligns, it can hurl you across football field lengths in mere seconds, making you feel like the pilot of a SpaceX mission. And if you feel its blistering 0 to 100 kmph time of 3.5 seconds doesn't match the 911 Turbo S's, just wait until you're thrown back into your seat by the gut-wrenching torque. On the road, this small car feels larger at first, but the precise EPAS shrinks its size with speed. With 50:50 weight distribution, independent suspension, Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers, and E-diff, it steers tightly through corners, as intended. The ride isn't plush due to the short wheelbase, but you'll manage for your queen and country (maintaining status among peers). Standard steel brakes are adequate, but Carbon Ceramic Brakes (CCB) improve braking, reduce fade, and save 27kg — recommended for track enthusiasts. FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY Aston Martin's upgraded infotainment system is built in-house and paired with a new app for iOS and Android. The 1,170W, 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system delivers detailed sound, though it can be slightly over-synthesised. The navigation will get you to your destination, but I prefer Google Maps. The 360-degree camera helps keep bumper gashes at bay. Boot space is a usable 346 litres, though the central cubby is tiny, holding just two USB-C ports. The seat cooling function is weak, but the heating is sufficient. VERDICT This baby Aston is baby no more. The latest iteration of the Vantage will leave you shaken, not stirred, with its stunning proportions inspired by the lines of the One-77 supercar. It earns a legitimate badge for its sophisticated, dark-themed interior, and the monstrous 665 PS V8 — befitting its muscular proportions — delivers gut-wrenching acceleration on call, with steering accuracy that's on a knife edge. Yes, the ride isn't quite plush, and some controls are finicky, but what's a supermodel without a mole or a suave secret agent without a character flaw? GOOD - Stunning proportions; gut-wrenching torque; thunderous exhaust; upgraded infotainment BAD - Some cheap plastics; finicky steering controls; small infotainment fonts SPECIFICATIONS Body type - 2-seater; 2-door premium high-performance coupe Engine - Front-engine; twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8; rear-wheel drive Transmission -8-speed automatic Peak output - 665 PS @ 6,000 rpm - 800 Nm @ 2,750 – 6,000 rpm 0 to 100km/h - 3.5 seconds (claimed) KT Luxe
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Here's Everything Wrong With A $1.8 Million Aston Martin One-77 That Covered 25,000 Miles
Aston Martin built some pretty incredible models over its 110-year existence like the DB5, which found fame on the silver screen, and the DBR9, which won its class in Le Mans two years running. One of its wildest creations is the One-77, which was meant to show what the British brand could muster when it really put its mind to it. When it premiered in 2009, the One-77 packed a roaring 7.3 liter V12 under the hood and awesome styling that took Aston's design language of the time to the extreme. Just 77 of the incredible cars were sold, each with a price tag of more than a million dollars. Well, that's what Aston told its buyers at the time at least, as a 78th One-77 was sold to a buyer in America and it's one of the highest-mileage examples out there. Read more: Here's How Many Times Toyota Will Let Your Car Start-Stop Before Replacing Your Starter The 78th One-77 started its life as a prototype car Aston Martin built for the development of its new monster. The car was displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and ran on countless race-tracks around the world during development of the One-77, as CarBuzz reports. Once all 77 One-77s were sold, an Aston collector approached the brand about restoring the prototype, as the site explains: Two years later, this One-77 had already covered 22,000 miles. It was even used as a safety car for the Aston Martin Racing Le Mans Festival. It caught fire between its stint as a safety car and 2017, but the damage wasn't severe. By 2017, chassis #10711 had clocked 23,835 miles, and around this time, Aston Martin accepted an offer to restore the car for a large sum. The restoration was pretty extensive, and included the installation of a new grille, new diffuser, new wheels, headlights, taillights and the entire interior as overhauled and replaced. The mechanics of the One-77 were kept intact, however, and the engine and transmission were left "undisturbed" in the process. Because many of the parts on this car were left fresh from the factory, it's needed its fair share of work over the past few years. After roughly 25,000 miles on the odometer, the One-77 racked up a costly list of repairs, which were documented by High Mileage Reviews over on YouTube. In a test drive of the One-77, the channel listed off the required repairs, which include a $45,000 bill to replace the air conditioning pump and a $10,000 windshield wiper motor replacement. The mirror controls have also gone and the motor that controls the pop-up sat nav also has issues, but there's no word on what it costs to fix those parts. Despite the high repair costs, the current owner still drives their One-77, the channel reports. That's good to hear, as this One-77 covered more miles than the three other examples that are currently for sale around the world, so at least one owner is making the most of their 750hp monster. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Is Worth Every Penny of Its $13,000 Price
If you had $13,000 to spend on a new car for model year 1964 (that's about $133,650 in 2025 money), why would you have bought a new Aston Martin DB5? Not because James Bond drove one, because "Goldfinger" didn't show up in theaters until the '65s were hitting showrooms and Bond wheeled an Aston Martin DB Mark III in the original 1959 novel. No, you bought one because a rich fella such as yourself respects the work of the hand-picked craftsmen who shape the DB5's aluminum-magnesium panels by hand and then apply and wet-sand 22 coats of paint. You'll find plenty more of such details— including shout-outs for some of the workers at Newport Pagnell—in this magazine advertisement from early 1964.
