Archive for Aston Martin
Aston Martin DBS by EDO
Posted by: | CommentsEDO Competition released the 2010 Aston Martin DBS upgrade performance package.
A luxury sports car The Aston Martin DBS, upgraded by edo competition – a truly luxurious sports car.
The 12-cylinder flagship from Aston Martin already produces 517 horsepower and boasts a top speed of more than 300 km/h (186 mph). Improving on those numbers while underlining the elegance and beautiful design of this British knockout and strengthening its sporting credentials was the goal declared by edo competition.
The power output was tackled first. It was agreed that 517 hp and 570 Nm (420 ft-lb) are not quite enough. The engine control unit was modified via software recalibration. Thanks to a new high performance exhaust system, special catalytic converters and high flow air filters, power output was increased to an impressive 550 hp and 600 Nm (442 ft-lb). This is enough power to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). As a matter of principle all modifications performed by edo competition are calibrated and verified on a dynamometer. This way the true power output can be documented.
The high performance exhaust system, which was specially designed for the DBS, incorporates butterfly valves allowing it to produce a fantastically rich and sonorous sound. They further help increase the British luxury coupe’s power and torque output. The exhaust comes with a programmable control system that monitors backpressure inside the exhaust and opens the 70 mm butterfly valves when a pre-determined level of backpressure is exceeded. The unique advantage of this system is that it provides good torque at low engine speeds without sacrificing top end horsepower. The exhaust system is made from stainless steel and the chromed exhaust tips accentuate the elegant design. The driver can adjust the sound of the DBS at any time using a remote control.
The edo competition sports suspension system for the DBS ensures exceptional ride comfort and superior driving dynamics. Thanks to its adjustability in height, compression and rebound damping, the setup can be matched to the customer’s driving style. The new suspension provides more cornering grip while improving high speed stability and comfort.
The interior design of the DBS can be spiced up with the available carbon fiber shifter and shifter console, or the customer can opt for a custom interior in any color or material he desires, including handmade leather interiors.
To provide superior levels of grip, edo competition offers exclusive wheel/tire combinations. Featuring a new wheel design, the DBS is equipped with a set of 21 in. racing wheels. The three-piece wheels come with stainless steel outer rims and the customer can choose the stock tire dimensions or go with a set of Continental tires in the following dimensions: 255/ 30 ZR 21 (front), 295/ 25 ZR 21 (rear)
Performance and safety are a priority, which is why edo competition has developed a new high performance brake system. Front: 405 mm rotors with 6-piston monoblock calipers and performance brake pads. Rear: 380 mm rotors with 6-piston monoblock calipers and performance brake pads, including braided stainless steel brake lines.
As with all edo competition models, we set no limit to our customers’ imaginations. Special interiors or lavish leather upholstery, individual requests are accommodated and executed with quality.
All modifications are carried out exclusively at edo competition Motorsport GmbH in Ahlen.
Aston Martin Cygnet In Detail
Posted by: | CommentsAston Martin released the Aston Martin Cygnet Official details and specs.
ASTON MARTIN CYGNET CONCEPT: THE LUXURY COMMUTER CAR
Urban Context
The challenge for the future is the development of a means whereby history and the 21st century can exist together. The centers of the world’s most cultured, vibrant and exciting cities are dense, layered spaces steeped in history. These cities are untouched by the sweeping changes that marked the introduction and eventual dominance of the private automobile. Yet the fact remains that the most prestigious workspaces, residences, boutiques, restaurants, and museums draw their quality and richness from their location, buried deep within the urban tangle, with little space for parking or manoeuvre. The most vivid and evocative locations exemplify this; London’s Bond Street was laid out in the early 18th century, while Paris’s Marais dates back to the 16th century. Even the great city landscapes that were born out of the modernising industrial impulse of the 19th century, such as Berlin’s Hackescher Markt, dating from the industrial revolution, or Milan’s Quadrilatero della moda, are primarily suited for small cars. All these places share one quality: they are unrivalled for their culture, quality and atmosphere, environments that can never be replicated or imitated.
Nevertheless, the modern city was founded on mobility, a core component of human development. Without mobility, the city withers, and communication and trade ceases. Yet in addition to mass transportation, personal transportation will continue to contribute enormously to society. Travel will remain synonymous with leisure and pleasure, with responsibility and business, with progress and vitality. The need to use the appropriate product for the right time and place is becoming the most intelligent and progressive use of resources.
The car was a late arrival on the urban scene, infiltrating spaces where character, history, geography and culture have thankfully prevailed over reconstruction or dramatic change.
The true city environment is not and never has been a place where the traditional sporting qualities of an Aston Martin can excel. Aston Martin’s sports cars thrive in the context of a thrilling open road, the sensation of driving, the pleasure of the journey and the relationship between driver and machine. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept redresses the balance offering Aston Martin qualities and values in a car that is designed for the heart of the city.
The Concept
The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept brings intelligence, innovation and artistry to the small car market. As social and cultural shifts accelerate, the market for diverse mobility products will expand, shifting how the market perceives the small car. Small cars will lose their association with value engineering and economy, and move upmarket.
It is essential that Aston Martin continues to diversify its product offering. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept provides the ultimate city car solution, a solution designed explicitly for the urban context. At the same time, the Aston Martin Cygnet Concept retains the intensely emotional and personal qualities that arise from the Aston Martin customer’s close relationship with the specification and manufacture of their product. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept presents a high degree of feasibility, representing how a series production Aston Martin Cygnet could appear. Aston Martin Cygnet is a tailor-made solution, a car that has been cut from the same cloth as its sports car siblings, using the very best available technology and the finest materials. Initially proposed for the highly environmentally conscious European market, the Aston Martin Cygnet is a both an emotional and an intelligent choice, a car for the Aston Martin owner who demands the best product for every application.
Design
The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is the result of a unique and intelligent collaboration, the coming together of two companies that are leaders in their respective fields. The project has required a close intellectual and engineering partnership, resulting in an inventive solution that unites volume and niche automotive engineering.
The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is small. At just under three metres long, the car is a highly refined piece of packaging, designed to make fast progress within dense European cityscapes. With four seats and a highly intelligent interior, the car can be configured in a number of different ways, allowing for a 2+2 seating system, a 2+1 seating system or a 2-seater with large luggage area.
The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept has a 1.3 litre 4-cylinder engine, offering CO2 emissions of 110g/km and combined fuel economy figures of 58.9 mpg, with a power output of 98bhp. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept has a six-speed manual gearbox, with the MultidriveTM CVT system available as an option. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept comes with an acclaimed technology package as standard, including a satellite navigation system, iPod integration and a powerful six-speaker radio/CD player.
Personalisation
The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is a demonstration of Aston Martin’s unrivalled skill at creating hand-crafted interiors. The rich mix of hand-stitched leather, Alcantara and aluminium is shared with Aston Martin’s sports cars. The company’s extensive experience of traditional processes and richly detailed craftsmanship gives each Aston Martin a unique feel, bringing together detailed design work, high technology and exquisitely tactile materials.
Like all other Aston Martin cars, the Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is not hand-finished out of deference to tradition, but because skilled craftsmanship can achieve a far higher quality of finish than machine production. It also means the Aston Martin Cygnet is fully open to Aston Martin’s personalisation programme, allowing for practically any combination of interior and exterior trim, colour and finish to be completed to an exacting personal specification. In this way, a customer’s Aston Martin Cygnet can be designed to precisely compliment their Aston Martin sports car, sharing the same bespoke specification.
The Future
Aston Martin believes that a market for between 2,000 and 4,000 Aston Martin Cygnets exists in Europe alone, with each car forming a natural extension of existing Aston Martin ownership, a supplementary product that exists in tandem with the company’s range of luxury sports cars. A substantial proportion of Aston Martin owners have several cars in their fleet; almost a quarter own a small car. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept represents the natural choice for those looking for a premium commuter car and initial supply will be prioritised to existing Aston Martin customers.
As part of the brand’s commitment to its future security and stability, Aston Martin Cygnet production will be established at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Using donor cars shipped directly from the Toyota factory in Takaoka, Japan, the Aston Martin Cygnet programme will involve new investment in both facilities and manpower at Gaydon.
The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept points towards an exciting future for Aston Martin, illustrating the potential for highly crafted products with a very specific function without detracting from the company’s commitment to its core business of luxury sports cars. Instead, the Aston Martin Cygnet represents the ultimate luxury city car, a device that not only enhances the qualities of Aston Martin’s sports cars but the urban experience city itself, a tailor-made machine for the most discerning of city dwellers.
As a luxury commuter car that can slip easily and unobtrusively into the city, the Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is a highly intelligent solution to urban mobility. Using tried and tested technology, together with Aston Martin’s acclaimed levels of personalisation and customisation, material quality, craft skill and tactile delight, the Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is innovative and forward-thinking, a genuine solution for future mobility and a natural partner for Aston Martin’s line-up of acclaimed luxury sports cars.
2010 Aston Martin Rapide Pricing Announced
Posted by: | CommentsAs the eagerly awaited Aston Martin Rapide four-door sports car goes through final engineering and testing phases before being launched in quarter one 2010, Aston Martin confirms UK pricing.
The price of the Rapide will start from £139,950 in the UK which features an impressive level of standard specification including: Bang & Olufsen Beosound audio system tailored specifically for Rapide, heated memory seats, dual cast brakes and Adaptive Damping System.
The Rapide is Aston Martin’s first production four-door sports car encapsulating the practicality of a car with extra doors and fusing it with the trademark sports car dynamics synonymous with modern Aston Martins.
Customer deliveries will commence at the beginning of quarter two 2010, and it will be the first sports car to be hand-built at the Aston Martin Rapide Plant in Graz, Austria. The new 17,000 m2 building has been designed to reflect the quality levels established in Gaydon since 2003 permitting the fusion of modern technology, advanced manufacturing processes and hand-built craftsmanship. Each Rapide will take approximately 220 man hours to build and will benefit from timeless craft skills just like the existing range; DBS, DB9, V12 and V8 Vantage do at Gaydon.
It is anticipated that +/- 2000 Rapides will be built in the first year attracting a high proportion of new customers to the brand. Core to this trend is the mix of huge attention to detail throughout the car, ample accommodation for up to four adults and the spacious boot (317 litres with seats up, and 886 litres with seats down) while maintaining Rapide’s elegant beauty and sports car profile.
The Rapide is on sale now available to order from the Aston Martin dealership network around the world.
MANSORY CYRUS Aston Martin DB9 or DBS
Posted by: | CommentsAlready for more than 20 years, the Bavarian company MANSORY has been developing and producing fascinating car modifications for demanding customers all over the world. The latest creation of the top-class manufacturer is called MANSORY CYRUS and is based on the Aston Martin DBS or DB9. Perfect processing and an elaborate technology are the hallmarks of this masculine aerodynamic power pack. A coilover suspension provides the best road holding and emphasises the striking rims in XXL. The refinement is perfected by an exclusive interior programme.
Haute Couture on wheels
Tailor-made processing and perfect surfaces confirm the superb quality of the MANSORY designer outfit. The CYRUS aerodynamics components are made of extremely light „prepreg autoclav carbon” and do not only include wing extensions for the front and back, but also side skirt attachments and linings. At the front axle, a newly designed front skirt with enlarged air inlets provides the optimal ventilation for the twelve-cylinder aggregate. The CYRUS front is visually enhanced with the newly designed carbon bonnet. With its two slotted “power domes” additional fresh air is directed to the front motor. Also at the tail, the refining engineers have invented something extraordinary in order to perfect the visual appearance of the Aston Martin. The newly designed rear skirt with the integrated diffuser emphasises the superior look and provides space for four stainless steel end pipes of the sonorous sport exhaust system.
Design wheels in XXL
The optimal road grip is provided by the 9×20 and 10,5×21 inch rims in combination with Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres measuring 255/30ZR20 at the front and 295/25ZR21 at the back. The design of the ultra-light forged wheel thereby unites sportiness and elegance and perfectly fills out the wheel houses. In addition, an optimally adjusted coilover suspension lowers the centre of gravity of this noble sports car and renders perfect road holding characteristics.
Luxurious atmosphere in the MANSORY super sports car
The CYRUS driver will take his seat in a elaborately refined interior which is nothing short of the exterior. The entire modification includes pedals and foot rests made of aluminium as well as exquisite door sills and head rests with embroidered CYRUS logos. MANSORY enhances the interior with a set of tailor-made carbon parts for the dash board and centre console. Generally, the noble interior is only lined with best quality materials. Decoration stitches by expert hand on the dash board and the seats render visual high-lights and perfect the significantly beautiful overall impression of the complete leather equipment. The ergonomically re-designed steering wheel with airbag lies especially well in the hand.
For more information about the exclusive MANSORY refining programme for the Aston Martin DBS or DB9, please visit the web site www.mansory.com
2010 Aston Martin Le Mans Vantage Racer by Elite
Posted by: | CommentsElite officially released the final concept images for the 2010 Aston Martin LMV/R (Le Mans Vantage Racer). This is a real race car for the streets and it is built on the basis of Aston Martin’s Vantage. The Elite LMV/R is slightly lighter than the factory Vantage due to most of the body panels being made from carbon fiber and it is more powerful as well. The production number of this special Vantage will be limited to only 30 cars.
The Elite tuners used a long list of components to turn a factory Vantage into a LMV/R monster.
Carbon fiber body kit consisting of: front bumper with screens, visible carbon canards, visible carbon front splitter, hood, fenders (2” wider), side skirts, side skirt panels, rear quarter panel extensions (2” wider), trunk lid with visible carbon rear wing, rear bumper with visible carbon diffuser
Matte black 20” wheels and tires for wide body kit
Lowering springs
Big Brake kit
Sport muffler with tips
Sport cats
Sport headers
Carbon fiber engine bay kit
ECU upgrade
Full Alcantara interior
Carbon fiber interior kit
Serial numbered plaque (only 30 cars will be produced)
LMV/R matte black stripes
Installation and full repaint
All Elite LMV/R’s will be assembled in Florida and the Price without a basis car is $194,000. More information on the LMV/R can be requested by Elite’s exclusive distributor, Exotica Motorsports.
Aston Martin DBS Volante Revealed
Posted by: | CommentsAston Martin will premiere the DBS Volante at the Geneva Auto Salon on the 3rd March 2009. Completing the DBS line-up, the new Volante will afford customers the combination of the DBS’s already-established benchmark sports car characteristics with all the thrills of open-air motoring.
-The ultimate open air motoring experience
-Lightweight fabric hood preserving DBS’s purity of lines and beauty
-Class leading handling characteristics and torsional strength
-At home in the town or city as on country roads
Broadening the DBS’s character, the DBS Volante will appeal to drivers who wish to combine the excitement of driving a finely-tuned sports car with the invigorating feeling of being open to the elements. This juxtaposition of ultimate performance and openness stirs the senses on any drive whether an exhilarating jaunt on favoured roads or cruising on lengthy journeys. ‘Volante’, meaning ‘moving with light rapidity’, perfectly defines the performance potential and the dynamic characteristics of the DBS Volante.
Featuring a motorised retractable fabric roof, the DBS’s beautiful profile is preserved whether up or down. When the roof is closed, it provides a warm comfortable ambience and when open, it neatly disappears behind the new tonneau cover at the touch of a button.
Aston Martin’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The DBS Volante delivers the utmost relaxed driving experience with the hood up or down. It combines engineering excellence with design perfection.
“The DBS Volante offers a subtle mix of power and performance. Adding to this, the fine craftsmanship – it is an unparalleled ownership and driving experience.”
Conceived as a Volante from the outset, Aston Martin engineers opted for a fabric hood to closely follow the silhouette of the DBS coupe and due to its lightweight properties, minimise overall weight gain. Fully retractable in only 14 seconds and at up to speeds of 30 mph (48 km/h), the roof will automatically stow under the newly sculpted tonneau, maintaining the DBS Volante’s perfect form – hood up or down.
Power is provided by Aston Martin’s hand-built all alloy 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque with a top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h) and 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 4.3 seconds. The nature of the V12, and in particular the torque available at all engine speeds, serves to provide effortless driving in all situations.
Aston Martin’s 16th convertible in 95 years, the DBS Volante draws on the marque’s extensive experience in designing iconic ‘Volantes’ and is a 2+2 featuring two occasional rear seats, ideal for young people or extra luggage. In standard specification, the DBS has a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox, while an automatic six-speed ‘Touchtronic’ option is also available. As with the coupe, the Volante is offered with carbon ceramic brakes as standard providing exceptional stopping power. Benefitting from materials derived from the motorsport and aerospace industries, the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are made from carbon fibre all helping to reduce weight.
The DBS Volante also comes with Bang & Olufsen’s renowned ‘BeoSound DBS’ in-car entertainment system, featuring 13 speakers as standard equipment. The BeoSound DBS has been expertly tuned by Bang & Olufsen’s Tonmeisters and Aston Martin’s acoustic engineers specifically for the Volante resulting in a system that senses when the roof has been retracted and adjusts the sound stage to compensate for extra wind noise, providing an unrivalled automotive audio experience.
The DBS Volante will be built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire with customer deliveries expected to commence during quarter three 2009 and prices will be confirmed at the Geneva Auto Salon.
DBS Volante Specification
Body
Two-door convertible body style with 2+2 seating
Bonded aluminium VH structure
Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body
Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (main beam)
LED rear lamps and side repeaters
Engine
All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5935 cc V12
Compression ratio 10.9:1
Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
Max power: 380 kW (510 bhp / 517 PS) at 6500 rpm
Max torque: 570 Nm (420 lb.ft) at 5750 rpm
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.3 seconds
Max speed: 307 km/h (191 mph)
Transmission
Rear-mid mounted, six-speed manual gearbox. Rear-mid mounted ‘Touchtronic 2’ six-speed gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system
Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Limited-slip differential
Final-drive ratio 3.71:1 (manual) 3.46:1 (Touchtronic)
Wheels and Tyres
Front: 8.5’’ x 20’’ Pirelli P Zero 245/35
Rear: 11’’ x 20’’ Pirelli P Zero 295/30
Steering
Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
Column tilt and reach adjustment
Suspension
Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Track mode
Brakes
Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter with six-piston callipers
Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston callipers
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
Traction control
Dimensions
Length:
4721 mm (185.9’’)
Wheelbase:
2740 mm (107.9’’)
Width:
1905 mm (75’’) (exc. Mirrors)
2060 mm (81.1’’) (inc. Mirrors)
Fuel tank capacity:
78 litres (17.2 Imp.galls, 20.5 US galls)
Height:
1280 mm (50.4’’)
Weight:
1810 kg
Interior
Full grain leather interior
Matrix alloy facia trim and Iridium Silver centre console surround
Carbon fibre door trims and door pulls
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror & garage door opener (USA & Canada only)
Sports seats with electric adjustment
Memory seats & exterior mirrors (three positions)
Dual-stage driver/passenger front airbags
Side airbags
Heated seats
Heated rear screen
Automatic temperature control
Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
Trip computer
LED map lights
Cruise control
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system1,2
Bluetooth telephone preparation1
Powerfold exterior mirrors
Front and rear parking sensors
Tyre-pressure monitoring1
Alarm and immobiliser
Remote-control central door locking and boot release
Wind deflector
Battery disconnect switch
Battery conditioner1
Tracking device3 (UK only)
Boot-mounted umbrella
Lamy pen and pen holder (Touchtronic only)
In-Car Entertainment
Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS sound system
Integrated Apple iPod® connector
USB connector with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility
3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
Options
20’’ 20-spoke alloy wheels with graphite finish
20” 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels
20” 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels with graphite finish
Satellite radio system (USA only)
Piano Black facia trim and centre console surround
Personalised sill plaques
Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror1
Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror with garage door opener (Europe only)
Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
Tracking device1,3
First-aid kit
Ashtray and cigar lighter
*1 Not available in all markets
*2 Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) in Continental Europe
*3 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK.
Design
Although the DBS was originally conceived as a two-seater sports GT, the potential for a Volante version was always in the minds of the design team. Holding a purposeful stance, the muscular shapes and forms of the DBS have been retained exuding confidence.
Aston Martin’s 16th convertible, learning taken from the engineering of previous soft-top cars has resulted in the DBS Volante possessing Aston Martin’s quietest and most refined roof system to date. When raised, the fabric roof is insulated with a layer of Thinsulate® material relieving cabin noise and protecting the inhabitants from the elements. The hydraulic pump has been cocooned in a noise and vibration enclosure reducing noise when raising and lowering the hood.
The newly choreographed hood has resulted in an opening time of only 14 seconds due to a new five-piston hydraulic pump. The roof effortlessly stows below the newly-sculpted tonneau cover which has been redesigned to enhance the muscular attributes of the DBS Volante. Housing the Roll-Over-Protection-System (ROPS) which deploys two roll bars in the event of the car rolling over, the rear humps lead your eye to the new carbon fibre deck lid which has been re-styled for the DBS Volante. Particular to the DBS, a line flows from the leading edge of the bonnet past the elegantly sloped windscreen flowing into the carbon fibre deck lid and to the rear boot ‘flip’.
As with the DBS Coupe, the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are formed from carbon fibre. Preventing the weave protruding the paint finish, Aston Martin employs a patented ‘surface veil’ technology applying a 200 micron thick layer of epoxy glue to the carbon fibre, before the application of seven layers of paint producing a class A level of finish.
The interior of the DBS represents the epitome of Aston Martin’s commitment to using materials honestly, without disguise or embellishment. Lightweight materials are used throughout to save weight; door pulls are made from carbon fibre, for example, and the carpet has been woven with lighter fibres to save valuable kilograms.
The Volante features 2+2 seating as standard. The beautifully leather trimmed rear seats are ideal for younger persons or extra luggage making the DBS Volante a practical everyday sports car.
Delivered as standard with Bang & Olufsen’s BeoSound DBS audio system and seamlessly integrated into the DBS Volante’s bespoke interior, the system provides the driver and passengers with an unrivalled audio experience. Consisting of 13 individual speakers and Bang & Olufsen’s unique Digital Signal Processing system, the system transforms the DBS Volante into an acoustically sophisticated venue, capable of conveying subtle and striking musical dynamics from every source. The BeoSound DBS has been specifically revised for the DBS Volante and senses when the roof is up or retracted and adjusts the sound stage to compensate for wind noise and change in acoustics.
The Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS system has been developed exclusively for Aston Martin. The system is acoustically and physically matched to the DBS Volante, with a design that follows the inherent quality and material honesty of the Aston Martin interior. The loudspeaker grilles are finished with smoothly contoured aluminium so as to integrate seamlessly with the fluid lines and curves of the cabin. When the system is turned on, the twin acoustic lens speakers emerge silently and swiftly, adding a touch of theatre and technological panache that is the perfect complement to the DBS Volante.
As with the coupe, the Volante affords customers the prospect of specifying the optional 10-spoke 20’’ forged aluminium lightweight wheel with diamond-turned surface – available in either silver or graphite finishes. With an overall unsprung mass reduction of 8 kg, the option aids enhanced handling, improved acceleration, and braking performance.
Performance
The need for high-performance stability, handling ability and low kerb weight defined the DBS’s form and construction. The DBS Volante is powered by the same 6.0-litre V12 engine at the heart of the DBS which was launched in 2007. Producing 510 bhp (517 PS / 380 kW), peak power is delivered at 6500 rpm and the 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque is delivered at 5750 rpm. Tractable at any time, the DBS possesses a ‘flat’ torque curve providing 85% of the torque from 1500 rpm.
The 3.71:1 (manual) and 3.46:1 (Touchtronic) final drive ratio assures that all the DBS Volante’s power is useable, while also enhancing in-gear acceleration.
Adding to the sonorous V12 enhances the aural soundtrack. Special by-pass valves in the exhaust allow a quieter exhaust note at low speeds; at 4000 rpm these open to reduce the pressure in the exhaust system, raising the power output as well as generating a rousing aural accompaniment.
The DBS Volante is available as standard with a rear-mounted 6-speed manual gearbox with gear ratios optimised to extract the very best from the 6.0-litre engine. Providing customers with even greater personalisation capabilities, a ‘Touchtronic’ 6- speed automatic featuring a torque converter is also available as an option.
Derived from the same ZF transaxle unit that was developed for the DB9, the system has been substantially re-engineered to accommodate the power and performance characteristics of the DBS.
System functionality is consistent with that on the DB9, with ‘Park’, ‘Reverse’, ‘Neutral’ and ‘Drive’ modes selected via facia mounted controls.
When in ‘Drive’ mode, pulling either of the leather-trimmed magnesium alloy paddles mounted on the steering column will activate Touchtronic mode, enabling the driver to control gear shifts via the paddles. Touchtronic mode is also accessible directly on engine start-up. Alternatively, the ‘Drive’ mode can be selected at any time by pressing the ‘D’ control on the centre console, engaging a fully automatic mode which will select the most appropriate gear for the speed and driving conditions automatically.
The system also includes a ‘Sport’ mode – activated by a button on the centre console – which engages a more aggressive gear shift strategy as gear changes feel sharper and more forceful, engine speed matching on downshifts is more aggressive and in full automatic mode, upshifts occur at higher speeds. The Sport setting also incorporates a more responsive throttle map to match the high-performance characteristics of the DBS Volante.
Control
Contributing to the class-leading levels of rigidity, the VH-platform (Vertical – Horizontal) upon which all Aston Martins are founded, ensures a dynamically accomplished convertible translating into an exciting and communicative chassis. The VH architecture is a bonded aluminium structure that provides outstanding strength and rigidity. In comparison to its coupe sibling, the Volante retains 75% of the rigidity equating to 20kNm per degree. This has been achieved by rigidly mounting the rear sub frame and optimising the front and rear shear panels. Working together these components contribute to more than 20% of the total torsional rigidity.
Augmenting the DBS Volante’s supreme handling characteristics is the near perfect weight distribution – achieved by mounting the 6-speed gearbox at the rear placing 85% of the weight between the front and rear axle.
To take full advantage of its extremely precise and rigid platform, the DBS employs a sophisticated Adaptive Damping System (ADS) which is specifically tuned for the DBS Volante maximising ride comfort. It uses two separate valves to set the dampers to five different positions, allowing instant adjustment of the car’s ride and handling characteristics. The ADS automatically alters the suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at all times, with the ability to respond instantly to different driving conditions. The dampers can be ‘softer’, with a corresponding improvement in ride quality, or ‘firm’, providing improved body control for more spirited driving.
The damper settings are determined by an electronic control unit which takes sensor readings from the car’s systems, including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel rotation and vehicle speed. This data establishes the prevailing driving conditions and the demands the driver is making on the car.
The DBS Volante’s Adaptive Damping System perfectly captures the car’s sporting character, ensuring that stiffer dampers are available for better handling and control when the car is being driven enthusiastically, without compromising ride comfort during ‘normal’ driving conditions. A designated ‘Track’ mode automatically sets all dampers to their firmest positions, making it ideal for circuit driving. The DBS Volante is fitted with Pirelli P-Zero tyres that have been developed especially for the car.
The DBS Volante also has a revised Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system specifically tuned to the Volante to help maintain maximum traction in challenging driving conditions. In default operation, the DSC is automatically on. Select and press the button for two seconds and DSC ‘Track’ mode is engaged, raising the threshold at which the system intervenes to allow the experienced driver to explore the car’s limits. Hold the button for four seconds and DSC is disengaged entirely.
Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes are featured as standard. Providing shorter stopping distances with excellent resistance to fade in even the most demanding driving conditions, the CCM brakes are some 12.5 kg lighter than a conventional system. This results in reducing the overall weight of the car and, in particular, the unsprung weight and rotational masses, further enhancing the DBS Volante’s dynamics.
2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Official Detail
Posted by: | CommentsAston Martin will present the most potent production sports car in the marque’s 95-year history at the Geneva motor show on 3 March. Based on the hugely successful V8 Vantage, the V12 Vantage will feature a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and 0-62 mph (0-100 kp/h) time of 4.2 seconds.
-Purposeful, striking and functional styling signalling performance capabilities
-Everyday usability associated with a modern Aston Martin
-Race-derived technology used throughout
The latest incarnation of the Vantage family has been designed to provide a unique character, appealing to different driver tastes and complementing the other models in the current Aston Martin line-up.
The original V12 Vantage concept was unveiled to guests at the opening of the Aston Martin Design Studio in December 2007. Continuing the marque’s impressive record of bringing concepts through to production, Aston Martin engineers have brought the V12 Vantage to market in an incredible 12 months.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “This is the ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range, combining our most agile model with our most powerful engine. It represents the definitive driving package; providing spectacular performance to ensure a dynamically thrilling and everyday useable driving experience.
“The V12 Vantage has a unique character, one unlike our other cars. This will appeal to different people with different tastes, allowing more people to enjoy the Aston Martin experience.
“This also illustrates one of Aston Martin’s key strengths – the ability to act quickly and turn concepts and ideas into reality.”
Designed for the focused driver, every component of the V12 Vantage has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. Benefitting from race-developed materials and components, and featuring lightweight carbon fibre; performance and agility have been tuned to perfection.
Visually enticing, the V12 Vantage expresses its performance potential through its purposeful stance created by enhanced aerodynamic and cooling aids optically widening the car, while retaining traditional understated Aston Martin design. Equally inviting, the cosseting interior permits the driver to extract maximum performance ability from the car while also enjoying customary levels of Aston Martin comfort on longer journeys. High levels of power and torque are available at all engine speeds making the V12 Vantage responsive and tractable in any driving situation.
The V12 Vantage will be built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire joining the DBS, DB9 and V8 Vantage model lines which are built in the state-of-the-art production facility combining hi-tech manufacturing processes with traditional hand-craftsmanship. Production will be limited up to 1,000 examples over the life span of the car, making the V12 Vantage a truly exclusive driver’s car.
Deliveries of the V12 Vantage are expected to commence during quarter three 2009 with prices to be confirmed at the Geneva motor show.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage: Specifications
Body:
Two door, two seat coupe body
Bonded aluminium structure
Aluminium, magnesium alloy, composite and steel body
Extruded aluminium door side impact beams
High Intensity Discharge Headlamps (dipped beam)
Halogen projector headlamps (main beam)
LED rear lamps
Engine:
All alloy quad overhead cam 48 valve 5935cc V12
Compression ratio 10.9:1
Front mid-mounted engine, rear wheel drive
Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
Maximum Power:
510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS) at 6500 rpm
Maximum Torque:
570 Nm (420 lb.ft) at 5750 rpm
Acceleration:
0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds
0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds
Maximum Speed:
190 mph (305 km/h)
Fuel Economy:
Urban 11.64 mpg 24.26 l/100km
Extra Urban 24.05 mpg 11.74 l/100km
Combined 17.28 mpg 16.35 l/100km
CO2 388 g/km
Transmission:
Rear mid-mounted six speed manual gearbox. Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Limited slip differential
Final Drive Ratio 3.71:1
Steering:
Rack and pinion
Column tilt and reach adjustment
Suspension:
Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers
Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, dual-rate coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube dampers
Wheels:
Front: 9? x 19?
Rear: 11? x 19?
Tyres:
Front: Pirelli P Zero Corsa 255/35 ZR19
Rear: Pirelli P Zero Corsa 295/30 ZR19
Brakes:
Front: Ventilated Carbon Ceramic discs 398 mm diameter with six piston callipers
Rear: Ventilated Carbon Ceramic discs 360 mm diameter with four piston callipers
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
Traction Control
Length: 4380 mm (172.5?)
Width: 1865 mm (73.5?) (excluding door mirrors)
2025 mm (80?) (including door mirrors)
Height: 1241 mm (49?)
Wheelbase: 2600 mm (107.9?)
Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres (17.6 Imp. Gal. / 21.1 US Gal)
Weight: 1680 kgs (3704 lb)
Interior:
Carbon fibre door pulls
Memory seats and exterior mirrors (3 positions)
Sports seats with 10 way electric adjustment, including height, tilt and lumbar
adjustment
Dual stage driver and passenger front airbags
Side airbags (Sports seats only)
Heated rear screen
Automatic temperature control
Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
Trip computer
Cruise control
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system*
Bluetooth telephone preparation*
Powerfold exterior mirrors
Rear parking sensors
Auto dimming interior rear view mirror
Tyre pressure monitoring*
Alarm and immobiliser
Remote-control central door locking and boot release
Battery disconnect switch
Tracking device (UK only)
In Car Entertainment:
160W Aston Martin Audio System
MP3 player connectivity
Options:
Lightweight seats with 6 way adjustment, including front and rear height adjust. (Does not include side airbags or Passenger Airbag Cut-Off Switch)
700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System with Dolby® Pro Logic II®
Piano Black facia trim
Graphite Alloy facia trim
Personalised sill plaques
Garage door opener (Europe only)
Tracking device**
First aid kit
Ashtray and cigar lighter
Boot mounted umbrella
Front parking sensors
Heated seats (Sports seats only)
ISOFIX and fixed-height passenger seat (Sports seat only)
2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Power Upgrade
Posted by: | Comments
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Following the launch of the new Aston Martin 4.7 V8 Vantage this summer, owners of the original 4.3 liter V8 Vantage are now afforded the choice of a retrospective-fit power enhancement and the hugely popular Sports Pack option.
Available immediately through the dealer network, customers will be able to upgrade their existing 4.3 liter V8 engine to an even more potent version of Aston Martin’s already impressive power unit. With the addition of the power upgrade, peak power is raised by 20bhp to 400bhp and torque is increased by 10Nm to 420Nm, increasing top speed to 177mph and delivering a slight improvement in the 0-60mph time.
Developed by the Aston Martin engineering team, the power upgrade is realized through a revised induction system using technology previously introduced on the DBS. The induction system has a pair of switching airbox-valves that open at 5,500rpm allowing additional air into the engine producing more power in a controlled manner. The engine’s control unit has also been re-programmed with new software to optimize ignition timing. In addition the new calibration allows the engine to recognize higher octane fuels, further maximizing performance.
Owing to the overwhelmingly positive response of customers towards the new Sports Pack option introduced on the new V8 Vantage earlier this year – now fitted to half of all V8 Vantages produced – 4.3 liter V8 Vantage customers can now alter the handling characteristics of their car, with the same package of dynamic enhancements.
Developed with the enthusiast in mind, the Sports Pack comprises uprated springs and Bilstein dampers contributing to a superior dynamic response. Lightweight forged aluminum 5-spoke wheels help to reduce the unsprung mass further augmenting the precision handling of the V8 Vantage.
Both options are available through Aston Martin’s global dealer network; customers should contact their local dealership for pricing and availability.
The V8 Vantage is manufactured at Aston Martin’s Headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire, UK, a facility that combines Aston Martin’s renowned hand-built bespoke attributes with the technology required to manufacture the bonded aluminum VH architecture. Exquisitely designed and detailed with class-leading agility and performance, Vantage is a practical two-seater with a large tailgate providing access to a 300 liter rear luggage compartment.
In 2006 Aston Martin added the V8 Vantage Roadster and V8 Vantage N24 GT4 race car to the Vantage family along with an automated manual gearbox option.
