“Our relationship with Zagato stretches back more than 50 years,” said Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez. “Together in that time we have created a series of very special cars. The first – the DB4GT Zagato – is a true icon: fast, beautiful and incredibly desirable. In the V12 Zagato I believe we have captured the spirit of that car and combined it with a confident twist of modernity to give it a character all of its own.”

Check out more news on the Aston Martin V12 Zagato.

After an overwhelming response to the concept, Aston decided to build a strictly limited run of V12 Zagatos – and by strict we mean only 150 units will be produced. starting Q3 2012 (first deliveries Q4 2012). Why only 150? Because creating each Aston Martin V12 Zagato takes about 2,000 man-hours to complete and just like the One-77, it is built from a combination of hand crafted aluminum and carbon fiber. The hood, signature ‘double-bubble’ roof and doors are hand-crafted aluminum, while the front and rear fenders, door sills and trunk lid surrounds are made from carbon fiber.

Power for the production Aston V12 Zagato will come from a 6.0 liter V12 engine making 510-hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Fitted to a 6-speed manual transmission, the V12 Zagato will go form 0 to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph.

Pricing for the Aston Martin V12 Zagato will start at £330,000 ($522,652 USD) in the UK.

- By: Omar Rana

The production version of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato is very similar to the concept and is based on the V12 Vantage with a bespoke carbon fiber, aluminum body work with bulging fenders and a ventilated hood. The model also features a rear spoiler and 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

Inside the cabin of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato gets less sport and more premium than the concept with leather seating, GPS navigation and a rear-view camera. It also features an optional 1,000 watt Bang & Olufsen Beosound sound system.

Power for the production V12 Zagato will come from a 6.0 liter V12 engine making 510-hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, the V12 Zagato will go form 0 to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Cars UK (via WCF)

Aston Martin released some news stating that they’ll be debuting their first production version of the much-anticipated V12 Zagato coupe. The debut is scheduled for the 2012 Kuwait Concours d’Elegance next month.

“We are excited to show the new V12 Zagato for the first time in production form at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance,” said Aston Martin’s CEL, Dr. Ulrich Bez. “Over 50 years since the introduction of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, Aston Martin and Zagato have collaborated to create this modern interpretation which remains true to the original focus of craftsmanship, performance and exclusivity.”

Powering the Aston Martin V12 Zagato is the brand’s infamous 6.0L V12 that’s good for 510hp and 420 lb-ft of twist. Separating the V12 Zagato from other V12 Aston Martins is famous design firm, Zagato’s, own cues and language along with a very unique interior.

Aston Martin will be making only 150 of these unique models, which fetch a hefty price of just £330,000 GBP. So if you’re looking to scoop one of these up, better get one soon.

- By: Chris Chin

According to YouTube marchettino, there’s a time in the summer every year when a bunch of people from the Middle East (mainly Dubai) come to London with their expensive supercars and fill the streets with the most bizarre and expensive toys you’ve probably ever seen.

Of course, the best part about it all is you get to see the cars in action and hear the wonderful noise that comes out of their exhaust. I guess it beats an auto show at Jacob Javitz Center in NYC.

Check out the video after the jump.

Some of the cars from the video:

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
Audi R8 V8 – Chrome and Purple with Tubi Stage 3 Exhaust
Audi R8 V10
Aston Martin DBS
BMW M6 – Eisenmann Exhaust
BMW M5 – Eisenmann Exhaust
BMW X6M Hamann Tycoon EVO
Bentley Flying Spur – Two Tone and Matte Pink
Bugatti Veyron – Chrome and Red that was featured on Top Gear
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport
Ferrari 599 – Matte Red and Turquoise
Ferrari 458 Italia – Red and Matte Grey
Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 Superveloce – Al Thani’s
Maybach Xenatec 57S Coupè
Maybach 57 RRR
Mercedes SLS AMG
Mercedes SLS FAB Design – White and Matte Orange
Mercedes SL65 Ultimate FAB Design
Mercedes SLR Mclaren 722
Mercedes SLR Mclaren Brabus
Mercedes C63 AMG – Hamann exhaust
Koenigsegg Agera R
KTM X-Bow
Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster
Porsche 997 GT2 – Modified 1000hp
Porsche Cayenne Turbo Hamann Guardian
Rolls Royce Drophead
Rolls Royce Ghost

- By: Omar Rana

Word on the street is that Aston Martin will introduce a V12 Vantage Roadster at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Power for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is expected to come from the same V12 in the coupe. The 6.0 liter V12 engine is good for 510-hp with a maximum torque of 420 lb-ft. That gives the coupe the ability to go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 190 mph. Of course, those figures are likely to change for the Roadster.

In other Aston news, CEO De. Ulrich Bez has apparently confirmed that the DBS replacement is in the works and could produce more than 600-hp.

Click here for more news on the Aston Martin V12 Vantage.

We’re glad to see that V8 and V12 engines are still breathing.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: GTSpirit

Aston Martin has released two new films showing that the Cygnet is worth receiving the badge of the luxury sports car maker. The two videos show the Cygnet’s hand-crafted production at the company’s global headquarters in the UK and the luxury compact car traveling the city.

Click here for more news on the Aston Martin Cygnet.

Side note: Aston Martin says that each Cygnet takes about 150 man hours to produce. A waste of time? We think so.

Check out the movies after the jump.

Refresher: Based on the Toyota iQ, the Aston Martin Cygnet will be powered by a 1.3L engine making 97-hp, allowing it to hit a top speed of 105 mph. Aston Martin will make around 1,500 units and will sell them for $49,253.

- By: Omar Rana

When most car nuts or moviegoers hear “’Aston-Martin DB5′, they think of James Bond and though the 280 bhp supercar from the sixties typically goes for $160K-$400K, by adding the name “George Harrison” to the owner list, the price has just shot well over half a million.

Given the car’s condition and other factors, the expected price at the COYS True Greats Auction was $235K shy of the final $546K selling price. This auction was chock full of former celebrity rides: a ‘36 Cord 810 Phaeton owned by Jimmy Page went for $125,000; Bernie Ecclestone’s model 540K Mercedes went for $1.35 million; and a 300SL Gullwing went past its estimate by £100K, ending up at $550,000.

This may be a ‘spoil’ of the unfriendly Eurozone financial climate as more wealthy individuals look to vehicles as investments. Chris Routledge, the auction’s managing director suggested just this, that people may be looking to collector cars now instead of stocks. With just one auction pulling over $7 million, it seems difficult to argue with him.

Even if the collector car outings are rare, this certainly seems like a more entertaining investment than theoretically owning part of a bank or a bathroom appliance company.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

According to Aston Martin’s director for China, a quarter of the global sales for the brand could come from Asia within two years, nearly double what it is now.

Bennett said that Aston Martin entered China nearly three years ago – the region has already become its largest and fastest growing market in Asia. Aston delivered a total of 110 cars in the country in 2010. That could double to 500 units in 2012.

“China is not only the biggest but the fastest growing by a long long way (in the region),” Bennett said. “In 18 months, we will see China and Asia Pacific as a whole really on a par with the other big three markets.”

To win additional customers in China, Aston Martin is introducing the new V12 Zagato in the region with a price tag of roughly 9 million yuan. Many of the brand’s popular models such as the Vantage and Rapide are already available there.

- By: Roman Bronfenbrener

Source: Automotive News

“The car ran like clockwork throughout and we’ve managed really good mileage already,” Turner said. “The feeling of the V12 Vantage GT3 is a massive step forward from the DBRS9. Being based on the smaller Vantage it is more responsive and feels more nimble, giving the driver plenty of confidence to extract all the performance from the V12 engine while also being light on its tyres. It isn’t too physical to drive and I didn’t even break into a sweat during the test!”

Power for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 comes from a 6.0 liter V12 making 600-hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

“With the clean styling and the amazing sounding V12, it’s closer to the core values of Aston Martin’s road cars than any of the racing cars we’ve ever built,” Turner said. “I’m certain it’ll become a favourite among motorsport fans in no time at all.”

Aston says that the V12 Vantage GT3 will be eligible to run in all FIA GT3 and national GT3 championships; the Blancpain Endurance Series; VLN and the Nurburgring 24 Hour endurance race. The company will continue testing into the New Year and beyond.

Check out the vide and technical specs after the jump.

Technical Specifications – V12 Vantage GT3

Engine

Lightweight V12

Dry sump oil system

Power >600bhp

Torque >700Nm

Transmission

Xtrac 6 speed sequential transmission with semi-auto gear change

Limited slip ramp/plate differential

Carbon fibre propshaft

Chassis

Lightweight aluminium chassis

Steel roll cage to FIA safety standards

High speed pneumatic jack system

Suspension

Double wishbone with uniball bearings

2-way adjustable dampers front and rear

Optimised geometry for lower race ride height

Steering

Hydraulic power assisted steering

Fuel system

110-litre fuel cell to FIA safety standards

Twin quick release couplings

Brakes

6 pot front & 4 pot rear calipers with ventilated steel discs

Manually adjustable front/rear brake bias

Adjustable motorsport ABS and traction control

Wheels & Tyres

Front 12.5″ x 18″ 30/68-18

Rear 13″ x 18″ 31/71-18

Cockpit

Six-point safety harness

Adjustable seat & pedal box position

Lightweight battery

Carbon fibre dash

Fire extinguisher system

Driver display and shift lights

Body & Aero

Removable carbon-fibre body panels & aluminium roof

Front splitter

Adjustable full width carbon fibre rear wing

Aerodynamically optimised bumpers, side sills and rear fenders

Weight

Dry weight 1250kg

- By: Omar Rana

“The One-77 epitomizes everything Aston Martin; modern technology fused with traditional hand-craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail,” Aston said in a statement. “A culmination of over 98 years of engineering and styling expertise, the One-77 offers supercar performance in excess of 200mph with a functional yet elegant styled form that is distinctly Aston Martin.”

The Aston One-77 was initially conceptualized in October 2007 with the first unit of a limited 77 rolling off the assembly line in late 2010. Each One-77 takes approximately 2,700 man hours to assemble – built by a dedicated team of 27 technicians.

Click here for more news on the Aston Martin One-77.

The unit making its debut at the 2011 LA Auto Show is a final pre-production engineering development car, which has completed 14,000 miles of testing.

Power for the Aston Martin One-77 comes from a 7.3 liter V12 engine making 750-hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox that allows the One-77 to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of over 200 mph.

- By: Omar Rana

UK auto publication Evo has unveiled its list of contenders for the Car of the Year 2011. Evo’s Car of the Year award has become UK’s gold standard of performance car comparisons, consisting of only the manufacturers of the hottest and most impressive new cars of the year.

This year Evo headed to Portimao in Portugal for their ultimate group test.

evo Car of the Year 2011

• Aston Martin V8 Vantage S
• BMW 1-series M Coupe
• BMW M5
• Ferrari FF
• Jaguar XKR-S
• Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4
• Lotus Elise Club Racer
• McLaren MP4-12C
• Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0
• Porsche Cayman R
• Renaultsport Megane 265 Trophy

Check out a video after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Evo

The Bulldog GT, which comes months after teasers were released, is powered by a 6.0-liter twin-supercharged V12. The massive motor, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, puts out 666-hp at 548 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 3.9 second 0-62mph time and a top speed of 300 mph.

The Bulldog GT has no price tag affixed as of yet. However, HBH is offering 50% of its production and design rights to whomever is lucky enough to pick this model up, to provide the option of limited production or exclusive ownership.

This highly appealing machine is scheduled for completion for 2013.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Classic Driver

Aston Martin has confirmed that 50 units of its rebadged Toyota iQ, known as the Cygnet, will be headed to Hong Kong and Japan.

Prices in will start at $603,578 HKD ($77,649 USD)and ¥4,750,000 YEN ($62,621 USD), the Cygnet will offer buyers in those regions a rebadged Toyota iQ with a restyled exterior, a redesigned interior with leather and Alcantara headliner and a GPS navigation.

“Also offered in two distinctive and limited Launch Editions, Cygnet joins Aston Martin’s established pedigree of cars,” Aston said in a statement. “From the breathtaking One-77 supercar and the elegant yet brutal V12 Zagato to the powerful Vantage range and new Virage to the exquisite DB9, DBS and four-door Rapide, every Aston Martin expresses the core values of Power, Beauty and Soul.”

Click here for more news on the Aston Martin Cygnet.

We’re sorry Aston but we don’t see Power, Beauty or Soul here. If you’re really wondering how much power the Cygnet offers – well it’s the same as the Toyota iQ with a 1.33 liter 4-cylinder engine making 97-hp and 92 lb-ft of torque. That will allow 0 to 62 mph to come in 2 days (11.8 seconds exactly) with a top speed of 106 mph.

Those interested in Hong Kong and Japan can start ordering now. Deliveries should begin in the first quarter of 2012.

- By: Omar Rana

This past July, RRD founder Roberto Ricci wrote off his Aston Martin Rapide while out for a filmed joyride with Mpora editor Dave White. And post-aftermath, Ricci somehow managed to handle the situation with more amusement than reluctance. The accident occurred after Ricci mistakenly disabled the stability control while goosing it around a banked corner. From what could be seen in the video, it appears the car understeered into a guardrail on an off-ramp while ejecting one of its wheels into a field as part of the collision-which Ricci almost gleefully runs out and retrieves.

The driving segment followed a tour of the RRD manufacturing facilities. The company mostly produces recreational items like surfboards, windsurfers, sails and kites. Interestingly, Ricci didn’t seem all that bothered by the accident and rather happy to be alive instead. I would be too.

Check out the video after the jump.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: autoblog.nl

Most company’s President and CEO meet at the golf course to discuss business or get acquainted with each other – well, things are done a little different in the automotive industry.

Aston Martin’s CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez and Toyota’s President and CEO Akio Toyoda recently met up at the famous Nurburgring track to test drive each other cars. Which cars you ask? Toyota handed Bez the keys to the Lexus LFA while Aston Martin gave Toyoda the keys to the new V12 Zagato. Both cars were in race spec.

So how did everything turn out? Not so great… we don’t want to ruin it for you so just hit the jump for the video to see what we’re talking about.

- By: Omar Rana

The concept, known as the Voyage, has been made to go beyond the drawing board to create a fully functional boat available upon request

The concept features eco-friendly materials, all the necessary nautical accessories, and Aston Martin visual details such as lighting, body shapes and a modified front grille. The boat is 55 inches high, and much care was taken to translate elements of the land vehicle into the boat’s design without loosing the integrity of the boats functions.

Let us know your thoughts after the jump.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Luiz De Basto (via Born Rich, AutoBlog)

What’s more exciting then running into some very exclusive supercars on the road? Watching those supercars getting seized by police in Paris.

That’s exactly what happened to YouTube user alexsmolik who ran into a Maserati MC12, Aston Martin V8 V600 Le Mans (only 40 in existence), a Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe and a Porsche 911 Carrera GT. All cars were being seized by police – but for what reason?

Click here for more news on Supercars.

No word on why but the cars apparently belong to the son of the African president of Equatorial Guinea.

Make the jump for the video.

- By: Omar Rana

When I was a little kid I always that Aston Martins were the coolest cars in the world. Well, it seems the UK agrees with me. Aston Martin has been awarded the prize of UK’s coolest brand, making it the fifth time that the brand has one this award.

“Smooth, sexy and sophisticated; British built, high quality and hand finished, let’s be honest, young or old, male or female, opinion former or British public, who wouldn’t aspire to own what is truly the coolest car on the road,” said Stephen Cheliotis, Chief Executive, The Centre for Brand Analysis and Chairman of the CoolBrands Council. “Number one in five of the last six years, this British icon is truly the coolest of the cool.”

Aston Martin beat out other international leading brands including Apple, Bang & Olufsen and other automotive brands.

- By: Omar Rana